Coming soon. Sheena is currently working on her supernatural noir series for Crimson PulpFic.
What is supernatural noir, and how does it connect to the pulp tradition?
Supernatural noir blends traditional noir elements—hardboiled detectives, moral ambiguity, atmospheric settings, and crime plots—with supernatural beings and paranormal elements. The gritty, atmospheric settings of classic noir translate seamlessly into supernatural crime fiction, where vampires, werewolves, and other creatures operate in the shadows alongside human criminals. The line between good and evil blurs as characters navigate webs of deception, betrayal, and supernatural politics.
Supernatural noir draws from two major pulp traditions: the hardboiled crime fiction of Black Mask magazine and the weird supernatural tales of Weird Tales. The occult detective—a detective who investigates paranormal mysteries—emerged as a pulp staple in the 1940s. Manly Wade Wellman's John Thunstone stories pioneered the genre, bringing contemporary characters and American settings into supernatural fiction. This fusion of detective pulp and horror pulp created what we now call "Fantastic Noir."
Urban fantasy combines fantasy conventions with modern settings, typically major cities. The genre features supernatural elements, mythology, and magic operating within our contemporary world. Urban fantasy often borrows from noir and police procedurals, featuring gritty action, atmospheric settings, and procedural plots. Key examples include Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (a wizard detective in Chicago) and Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series. Supernatural noir is urban fantasy's darker, crime-focused cousin.
The occult detective investigates paranormal mysteries using both detective skills and supernatural knowledge. The tradition includes Manly Wade Wellman's John Thunstone (1940s pulps), Kat Richardson's Greywalker series (a PI who sees ghosts), Mike Carey's Felix Castor (a London exorcist), and Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden (Chicago's only professional wizard). These protagonists bridge the gap between hardboiled detective fiction and supernatural horror, solving crimes that regular cops can't explain.
Sheena Murphy writes where the undead walk the mean streets and justice has fangs. Her stories blend the shadows of classic noir with supernatural edge—vampires, werewolves, and monsters who are just as morally complex as the humans around them. With sharp dialogue, atmospheric tension, and creatures navigating a world where humans and monsters share the same streets, Murphy delivers supernatural noir that doesn't flinch. This is pulp fiction with bite.