Cover of Democracy Noir: dark European city scenes with red and pale lettering.

Political Noir Stories

Democracy Noir

Europe in Transition

Democracy Noir tells stories about people who witness democratic principles coming under pressure. Stories of power and corruption, conformity and resistance, personal guilt and social responsibility. Political noir from a Europe in transition.

Stories

Stories

Illustration of a rainy memorial scene outside a Slovak cultural center, with fictional characters and depicted memorial portraits.
AI-generated illustration for a fictional story. The memorial portraits shown are not authentic photographs of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová.

Slovakia · Political Noir

The Friend

Eight years after the murders of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, a Slovak data auditor discovers irregularities in a public construction project. The trail leads to an old friend who once stood beside her at demonstrations for a better future.

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