Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder is a wildly creative mix of science fiction and classic noir, packed with humor, mystery, and plenty of surprises. When an alien crashes into the Devine family’s suburban home, it absorbs human culture through their television and ends up looking like 1940s Hollywood icons Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. What starts as a strange but exciting encounter quickly turns into a tangled mess of crime, corruption, and chaos. Told through the eyes of twelve-year-old genius Michelle 'Mike' Devine, the story unfolds with interstellar bounty hunters, nosy neighbors, and a top-secret NASA task force all closing in—leading to a mind-bending finale that twists time itself and changes the Devine family’s fate forever.

Rich Leder does an amazing job of blending different genres, keeping the story both hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time. The mix of dark humor and classic noir makes this book feel fresh and completely original. I especially loved Mike Devine as a main character—ridiculously smart but still relatable while trying to make sense of the madness. The plot moves fast, packed with unexpected twists that keep you guessing while still making perfect sense. What stood out to me was how Leder weaves philosophical ideas into the story without ever making it feel heavy—there’s always plenty of fun and adventure to keep things moving. Overall, I’d highly recommend Extraterrestrial Noir to anyone who loves stories that mash up genres, make you laugh, and keep you thinking long after you turn the last page.

Connie Devine, a Paramus, New Jersey businessman, and his wife Maggie were having quite the summer. With two teenage kids – twelve-year-old genius Michelle ‘Mike’ Devine and fifteen-year-old hormonally consumed punk rock band member Danny – it was not easy for the couple dealing with a failing marriage and a financial crisis. They were about to lose their house from their enormous debts. However, their lives take a turn when a silver box shoots out from the sky and crashes into their home. The silver box, an alien, claims to have a plan to save the Devine family from their troubles. Mike quickly discovers that this is a ploy and that the alien has a secret diabolical agenda that sucks her parents into more chaos, crime, and conspiracies and threatens the fate of the world. Mike is the only one with the wits to stop the alien. But how will she do it? Find out in Rich Leder’s Extraterrestrial Noir.

You will not put down Rich Leder’s Extraterrestrial Noir until you have flipped from cover to cover. Weaving an intriguing plot, Leder whisked me away from reality and dropped me into a world of endless magnificent imagination. The evocative depictions colorfully brought the scenes to life, making me feel like I was next to the cast, closely watching the scenes unfold. The lively conversations with an edge of dark humor had references to pop culture. They were fun and hooked me. Leder accompanies the narration with sentiment, allowing me to experience the well-crafted cast’s intricate emotions. Alongside their complex traits, all this made it easy to connect with them. Lovers of fast-paced noir fiction and sci-fi novels with a touch of crime, extraterrestrial intrigue, government conspiracies, suspense, and drama will love this page-turner.