A novel that is specifically written to pay homage to or imitate the style of 1940s-1950s film noir. While many of the classic film noir movies of the period were themselves based on novels written in the noir style, these books would not be considered true Novel Noir because they would have been considered standard mystery/crime works in their own time. In other words, they weren't written with the tropes of film noir as we now know it in mind.

A key characteristic of Novel Noir is that it is consciously intended to emulate the gritty, shadowy black and white atmosphere of the classical Noir period. This is what sets the genre apart from works of contemporary mystery. The cutoff date for a true novel noir would likely be any time after the end of the classical American Noir era (generally accepted as the end of the 1950s).

A Novel Noir aims to recreate as closely as possible the elements of classic film noir. While certain aspects of a film can't be perfectly replicated in written form, novel noir works are characterized by vivid descriptions and deep immersion in the time period (often the 1930s, 1940s, or 1950s). Other characteristics are essentially the same as film noir: private eyes, morally gray scenarios and characters, crooked cops and shady gangsters, and of course, the mysterious and vexing femme fatale.
While film noir has faded in popularity since the end of the 1950s, authors continue to keep the genre alive by writing excellent works of novel noir.
by Alex-2598 November 22, 2020
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Okay like if you didn't like hawkmoth from miraculous ladybug than you will love shadow noir tho.
Spoiler for this one but Thomas always spoilers so eh
Okay like hawkmoth gets the cat miraculous and fuses all three together ( the butterfly, peacock and cat) AND OMG HE IS SO FUCKING GOOD LOOKING like I swear you MUST love him after that.
Anyway :D
Person 1: omg did you saw shadow noir?
Person 2: no..??
Person 1: *shows pic*
Person 2: o.m.g
by SimpForDilfs November 23, 2021
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1. A French saying, usually referring to a person, that you particularly despise. Not often seen in common use, and not often easy to slip into a sentence. Generally, a fun but difficult term.

2. The primary antagonist of an Undertale animated series called ‘Glitchtale’ by Camilla Cuevas. (Even less often used)
P1: You know John?
P2: Yeah, that bastards my Bête Noir.
P1: That sounds stupid.
by Octagonal Revolver April 2, 2022
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Musical micro genre of dark textures that is still in some way psychadelic.
Herb: "Alp what would you say Chasin Ghosts by Epehemrals is?"
Alp: "Ah I think it's Psychedelic soul noir ."
by olivemondegreen December 2, 2020
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