African American Fiction Mystery

Some of the best-known and most influential pieces of crime fiction have been from African American writers. Be it Walter Mosley's great Detective Easy Rawlins, or the mean streets of Harlem at the hands of Chester Himes, the stories and characters in this anthology have shaped the mystery genre with their own unique viewpoints and styles. Contributors to the collection include Robert Greer, Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, Cary Phillips, Frankie Bailey, and Richard Wright.

Monday's life has been an uphill battle from his very first breath. Born mute to a neglectful mother who prioritized her own desires over his well-being, he grew up in one of the most violent neighborhoods in New York City. His inability to speak made him an easy target for teasing and bullying from his peers, turning every day into a struggle for survival. After witnessing a gruesome murder outside his building, committed by two local boys, Monday is approached by Detective Brian, a seasoned veteran on the force. Despite the trauma he has endured, Monday refuses to provide any information,...

At twenty-nine years the beautiful Deja Rayne has only been in three serious relationships. With her last two relationships leaving her brokenhearted, Deja never imagined herself dating, or engaged to a drug dealer. After months of being pursued, Deja could no longer say no, to Prime irresistible sex appeal or his bad boy charm. Now three years, and a baby later Deja is starting to regret her decision. Prime is spending less time with his family, and more time in the streets. What Prime doesn’t know breaking Deja's heart comes with deadly consequences. She promised herself if Prime is in ...

A Heartfelt Short Story SeriesLiving in the hood of Birmingham is not some childhood fantasy. It’s a harsh reality for teenager Draya, and her younger sis Porsha. They’ve witnessed things kids shouldn’t see, and heard things kids shouldn’t hear! Raised by a trick h**, and an alcoholic; Draya vows to be nothing like her mama Trixie. Determined to be a better person, Draya’s main focus is school, and her younger sister Porsha. Secretly, Draya has developed a hatred for all men. Mainly, because of her mama’s despicable lifestyle. All she’s ever seen is a horny man between her ...

The Mrs. Holmes mystery series distinguishes itself by offering stories that can be enjoyed in just a few minutes. It is the ideal series for fans of cozy mysteries, thrill-seekers, busy people, and those who prefer quick reads over lengthy 50,000-word novels. Opening this book quickly turns into a whirlwind of intrigue with “Slumber, Sneakers, and Stardust: Mrs. Holmes and the Mall Mystery.” On the busiest shopping day of the year, known as Black Friday, a mysterious man with a soldier-like vibe enters a mattress store and lies down. However, when he fails to wake up, the cozy ...

In this fascinating tale set in 1919, the Thomas family leaves New Orleans for Chicago as part of the Great Migration, seeking equality denied in the South. They are confident and optimistic. But hope is extinguished when they are met by 6,000 National Guard troops deployed to quell an earlier race riot. Linda and Ben prepare their nephew Trey to lead the family through the treacherous landscape of a big city plagued by segregation, police violence, and corruption. Is he ready? They devise a risky plan to challenge real estate covenants banning Blacks from buying homes in white ...

In this mind-blowing finale, Spade’s loyalty to his gang is put to the ultimate test. A close relative is involved in a heated feud with his gang, leaving Spade with an urgent decision to make. He must choose between his family or the gang, and there is no way around it… What should he do? The million-dollar question. Bo has reached the highest level of a gang member after years of banging. He’s established, sitting comfortable in his throne of power. Nearing his release from prison, he wonders what he should do when he gets back on the streets. Should he continue as a gang member? Or...

In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.

Stacy has always been the good girl from her Brooklyn neighborhood, balancing her studies and dreams of a better life while navigating the gritty reality of project living. But everything changes when a traumatic event shatters her innocence, pushing her into the depths of a world she wanted no parts of. In the wake of her violation, Stacy’s perspective on life flips upside down; the streets that once seemed dangerous now feel like her only escape. Desperate for connection and understanding, she finds herself drawn to Ace, a charismatic yet hardened boy from her projects who knows the ins...

She had left their hearts in pieces, and now, for better or worse, she was back. When Jennifer left, she had taken part of Aaron with her. The twin had cried for days, and Aaron, well, he had no other choice but to be strong for them. But when she returns, Aaron sees a chance at the future he had dreamed of. They can finally be together as a family, and the comfort of having her back is like the feeling of finally being made whole. However, things quickly become complicated when Jennifer begins behaving strangely. She’s not the same woman he fell in love with before. She’s hiding ...

Max Reddick, a novelist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter, has spent his career struggling against the riptide of race in America. Now terminally ill, he has nothing left to lose. An expat for many years, Max returns to Europe one last time to settle an old debt with his estranged Dutch wife, Margrit, and to attend the Paris funeral of his friend, rival, and mentor Harry Ames, a character loosely modelled on Richard Wright.

Kurt has ascended to unimaginable power, his influence suffocating the entire city of New York. But as his brainchild spirals out of control, the very empire he built threatens to consume him. Locked away, Monk grapples with the haunting legacy of his and Kurt’s creation. Disillusioned and yearning for freedom, he finds himself increasingly at odds with the man he once called a brother. Yet, no matter how hard he tries to sever ties, the shadows of their past refuse to release him. As the city teeters on the brink of mayhem, both men must confront their demons. Will Kurt's thirst for ...

"Captivating, suspenseful & raw. An accurate depiction of life during that time. Incredible!" When Danny Jackson says "the N-word" on his fifth birthday his grandmother tells him their family doesn't use that word, though he's learned it from his father. There's a mysterious grave in their woods, and all he's ever heard it called was "the N-word Grave." Thus begins a family saga and coming of age story as an Appalachian grandmother tries to change her family's trajectory regarding race relations. Danny and Martin Noble Peoples, a descendent of the murdered black man, team up to uncover the ...

Is anything truly beyond redemption, beyond the hope of repair, restoration, or renewal? Absolutely not! Jacqueline Vance might beg to differ, as her life spirals out of control. In her thirties, navigating the complexities of marriage and the ache of childlessness, she finds herself at the heart of a murder mystery in Southern Hills. Amidst the darkest betrayal, she discovers that no one, not even her occasional ally Yolanda, is beyond God's reach for redemption. Through this ordeal, Jacqueline learns to confront her current struggles with resilience, eyeing the possibility of what lies ...

Sarah Myers has a great job! A governess for a rich wealthy Bay Area family comes with its added benefits. A car, a home in a trendy San Francisco neighborhood. Life is divine --until it truly isn’t and the cards fall apart. An unexpected affair and an insane proposal from the wealthy patriarch... and everything hits the fan. Now she is unable to tell what her role is in this mansion. She is surprised by the wealthy wife’s acceptance of her relationship with their perfect doctor husband. She confides in her best friend, a girl she has known since childhood about her love and the strange...

After mysterious homicides of an Atlanta hip hop legend and a med student, the stage is set for the chess match between Detective Aisha Sawyer and a mastermind killer. Sawyer mixes it up with a diverse suspect list, from a world-renowned surgeon to a hip hop vixen scorned. As the death toll rises, Sawyer notices the victims share one immoral trait, which means that their killer is a vigilante, an agent of karma. High stakes, political vendetta, the detective risking the badge for the sake of justice: things you might find in an epic struggle between a mastermind killer and a hardnosed ...

Yoshi Lomax loves playing dirty. She'll do whatever it takes to win a case - including bribing cops, sleeping with her superiors, and convincing her DEA pals to make evidence disappear. But when Yoshi runs out of tricks while defending a Haitian mob boss, the gangster makes one thing clear: Yoshi either wins the case or loses her life.

And they all lived happily ever after…Or do they? Real life is not always a fairy tale and Amina quickly finds out as she tries to keep her family together. Newlywed, mother to a beautiful little girl and a college student, she does all she can to keep things running smoothly. But when her husband and child are involved in a violent crime that threatens their safety, everything falls apart. Following in her sister’s footsteps, Tamika is also a newlywed to Reggie, her knight and shining thug. Her marriage seems to be a dream until Gina, Reggie’s long lost mother, returns with her ...

With a race against time and evil oozing from every surface, Shatina and Max are in for the fight of a lifetime. Will they get Shatara back, or will Shatina lose her twin sister forever?"

In 1998 Spade established the United Gangster Crips in his neighborhood to combat the nefarious Bloods gang holding the city siege. His brainchild blossomed into an iron rose; UGC had become a force to be reckoned with. He’d played a major role in changing the urban status quo in Brooklyn. When Spade is arrested for a firearm, Sue Blue takes control of UGC. She builds a tight bond with a subordinate, Royal, who opens her eyes to many things about being a real Crip, given her an entire new outlook on gang banging. Implementing new rules among UGC members, Sue Blue’s actions creates a ...