African American Fiction Mystery

Blanche White is a plump, feisty, middle-aged African-American housekeeper working for the genteel rich in North Carolina. But when an employer stiffs her, and her checks bounce, she goes on the lam, hiding out as a maid for a wealthy family at their summer home. That plan goes awry when there's a murder and Blanche becomes the prime suspect. So she's forced to use her savvy, her sharp wit, and her old-girl network of domestic workers to discover the truth and save her own skin.

On a rainy spring day in Los Angeles, Homicide Detective Elouise "Lou" Norton is called away from a rare lunch date to Bonner Park, where the body of 13-year-old Chanita Lords has been discovered. Chanita was interested in photography and, much like Lou, a black girl destined to leave the housing projects behind. Her death fits a chilling pattern of exceptional African American girls - dancers, artists, honors scholars - gone recently missing in the same school district, the one Lou attended not so long ago.

The protectors. They'll risk their lives to protect a woman in danger. But will they risk their hearts? When his stepbrother disappears and his niece and nephew are in danger, wealthy security expert Brett Jarvis doesn’t hesitate. His responsibility is keep the twins safe. Even when they come as a package deal with their pretty, faith-filled nanny. Being forced to spend more time with her convinces him he’s not the man for her. She’s a forever kind of girl, and as he can’t offer her that. Ashley Lamott won’t leave the children she cares for when their lives are threatened. But ...

Blanche White is working as a temporary cook and housekeeper for a right-wing Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate, Alistair Brindle, when someone tries to blackmail him. It's an ugly mess that Brindle's political team is eager to sweep under the carpet and that Blanche can't resist cleaning up herself...especially after a young black man is killed who knew too much about Brindle's dirty laundry. Her investigation raises dark secrets involving sex, environmental contamination, and political corruption, difficult stains that someone is trying to remove with murder.

The Network and its affiliates used to be one of Oklahoma City's most organized crews. No one knew exactly where they got the money to buy up businesses and real estate, but everyone on the streets respected them. Their criminal enterprise is unraveling quickly, though, as member loyalty is challenged and betrayal becomes the name of the game.

Jackson Bedeau is the leader of a highly skilled and sophisticated crime organization. He desperately wants to find and complete what is dubbed as the “last job” so that he and his team can retire from the street life forever. Unbeknownst to him, his employer Oliver “Ollie” Monk, London’s most notorious crime lord, is made aware of his plans, and begins to mastermind the removal of Jackson and promoting his overly ambitious, money hungry cousin Julius. 12th Ward Police Chief Devin “Finn” Finnegan receives vital information from Oliver to arrest Jackson for the murder of ...

Florida, 1955... Two men are missing. The sudden disappearance of Pete Demopoulos is front-page news. A bloody crime scene points to violence, and everyone wants to know what happened to the successful husband, father, and heir-apparent to his family's chain of grocery stores. Hucklebuck Jones is missing, too. When he's not doing odd jobs for pocket change, Hucklebuck, a Negro deaf mute, lives alone in the swamps. Despite his cheerful demeanor, Hucklebuck scares folks. His disappearance goes unnoticed. If only the truth were known. Maryland, 1960... Twinton County has never seen the likes ...

Delighted by a surprise invitation, Miriam Macy sails off to a luxurious private island off the coast of Mexico, with six strangers - an ex-cop, a chef, a financial advisor, a nurse, a lawyer, and a young widow. Surrounded by miles of open water in the gloriously green Sea of Cortez, Miriam is shocked to discover that she and the rest of her companions have been brought to the remote island under false pretenses - and all seven strangers harbor a secret. Danger lurks in the lush forest and in the halls and bedrooms of the lonely mansion.

For elite assassin Nena Knight, eliminating dangerous players on the world stage is part of the job. The Tribe, a powerful business syndicate in Africa, ensures that she has those opportunities. But for Nena, the Tribe is more than just her employer; it’s an organization that supports the African people—until it turns on itself.

Black rookie cop Trevor “Finn” Finnegan aspires to become a top-ranking officer in the Los Angeles Police Department and fix a broken department. A fast-track promotion to detective in the coveted Robbery-Homicide Division puts him closer to achieving his goal. Four years later, calls for police accountability rule the headlines. The city is teeming with protests for racial justice. When the body of a murdered black academy recruit is found in the Angeles National Forest, Finn is tasked to investigate.

Little Black Girl Lost Book 4: Captive is the latest episode from the fertile imagination of Keith Lee Johnson's original epic tale. Captive introduces drop-dead gorgeous Lauren Renee Bouvier, a youthful teenager, the African Root of Johnnie and Marguerite Wise. Its survival of the fittest on the mean streets of 18th Century New Orleans. With her life and virtue constantly in danger, how does she survive the ruthless Monarch of Bouvier Hill?

On a cold December evening, Autumn Spencer's twin sister Summer walks to the roof of their shared Harlem brownstone and is never seen again - the door to the roof is locked, and no footprints are found. Faced with authorities indifferent to another missing woman, Autumn must pursue answers on her own, all while grieving her mother's recent death. With her friends and neighbors, Autumn pretends to hold up through the crisis. She falls into an affair with Summer's boyfriend to cope with the disappearance of a woman they both loved.

Hired to cater a fitness event in the small town of Fall River, bakery owner Tia Bliss is surprised that the fitness gurus wanted a tasty treat. While she is busy supplying the event with her famous cupcakes, the affair however is suddenly rocked when at its conclusion the dead body of a young woman is found. Upon further investigation Tia realizes the woman Natalie Evans, is one of two women she overheard in a heated argument earlier. But that's only the beginning, this investigation of the vicious and heinous crime concludes in just 48 hours. Which is exactly how much time Tia has to put ...

After Kerrick Khumalo's wife is murdered in their home, he migrates from Africa to America for better opportunities. But his thick accent and dark skin makes him unaccepted. Unable to find legal employment, he discovers that the drug trade can be a lucrative business for the man who is willing to do anything, including kill. Self-possessed, he quickly rises to the top and becomes the most fearful man in Baltimore.

Cops can make mistakes, even when they're not rookies. Deeply traumatized by a shooting incident, Cass Raines resigned from the Chicago PD, leaving one less female African-American on the force. Now she's the head of a one-woman private investigation agency. She also plays chess with the only father figure she's ever known, Father Ray Heaton. When Father Ray asks Cass to look into a recent spate of vandalism at his church, she readily agrees to handle the case. But only hours later she's horrified to discover his murdered body in the church confessional, a dead gangbanger sprawled out nearby.

Jason Gaines, better known as Hot Shot, has just buried his mother, father, and little brother after a home invasion. Now the only thing on his mind is finding the people responsible and punishing them severely for taking all that he cared for in this world. Before he can take action, he has to get his money right, and that means turning up his hustle. So, Dallas is off to get money from the streets. He has the connections to get him anything from drugs to weapons. His hustle has to remain on point, so he can then redirect his focus on finding the people who murdered his family.

Here's a possible description for your story: In the gritty streets of Detroit, Detective Ray "Hardfart" is hot on the trail of two dangerous criminals—Big Tee and Nice—who have managed to evade capture for far too long. With the city reeling from a devastating water crisis and a recent discovery of a large cache of illegal weapons, tensions are at an all-time high. As Ray delves deeper into the shadows of the Motor City, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten to consume him. Will he be able to bring the fugitives to justice, or will the darkness of Detroit prove too much ...

Widowed and officially retired, Eugeena Patterson throws herself into organizing the neighborhood association. This presents a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and get to know new neighbors, like recently widowed Amos Jones - that is until Eugeena stumbles upon her estranged neighbor’s dead body. Eugeena’s daughter is fingered as a prime suspect, but where is she? Determined to find her missing daughter, Eugeena and Amos sort through a list of neighbors with shady or unknown backgrounds.

Smoke Kings is a powerful and propulsive novel with a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters. Like Steph Cha's Your House Will Pay it explores decades of racial tensions through a fictional landscape where the line between justice and revenge is blurred.

Sage is no longer the street wise girl from the hood struggling to rise above her circumstances. She's made it out and is now living the life she could only dream of when she was growing up in Watts, hustling with her girls, and dating dope boys for a come up. Now, she is the come up. However, Sage will soon learn money can't buy happiness. When She gets bored, and starts looking for excitement, Sage begins to take risks that will compromise everything she's worked hard for; and as with any bad decision, there will be consequences to pay. Babygirl has quickly become a fan favorite for urban...