African American Mystery Suspense

Doing Time: For the prison writers whose work is included in this anthology, it means more than "serving a sentence"; it means staying alive and sane, preserving dignity, reinventing oneself, and somehow retaining one's humanity. For the last quarter century the prestigious writers' organization PEN has sponsored a contest for writers behind bars to help prisoners face these challenges. The contest honors the best short stories, plays, essays, and poems among hundreds submitted annually by men and women nationwide.

At twenty one years old, Kandy Kane is young, and the epitome of beauty. Growing up in a small, town, called Gadsden, Alabama; she had everything she's ever wanted. As the only child, of a notorious Drug Lord; she never wanted for nothing. Unfortunately, everything changed ten years ago, when her father was brutally murdered by his best friend. Craving her old lifestyle, Kandy started using what she had, to get what she wanted. She knew she'd hit a diamond mine, after one freaky night with Dr. Nikolas Kane, he proposed the very next day. The doctor thought it was love at first sight; but in...

I’m a wolf who can’t shift, and because of that, I’ve been treated like nothing my entire life. I was tired of it—tired of staying in a place where I was constantly overlooked. The night I decided to leave it all behind, I found him—broken, bloody, and abandoned in the woods. I broke the rules and snuck him back to his side of the territory, knowing it could cost me my life. I wasn’t expecting him to want to get to know me. We’re from different packs, packs that have been on the verge of war for as long as I can remember. But despite it all, I fall fast and hard for him.

**Previously Published as The Protector's Promise** No matter how strong love is, every love story has its challenges. The same rings very true for Karmen and Desmond. Their love has been a rollercoaster from the beginning, but when Desmond’s past resurfaces, it makes their ride even bumpier. Desmond moved back home, trying to outrun his demons. Soon he realizes there’s only so much running he can do before they catch up with him. When they do, they threaten the life of Karmen and his own. Karmen’s past relationship caused her to keep guys at arm’s length. She’s lived by the motto...

Thirty-year-old Holland Strokes was thrust into a lifestyle she had no idea existed after she said the words I do. Her life now is all about glamour, keeping up with the Joneses, and knowing at all times when to stay quiet and submit. The only thing that keeps her focus, besides the allotted time she’s awarded away from her chaotic life, are the pottery lessons she teaches. That’s until a mystery fellow joins her class with the skill and passion of an omega man, but the heart of an alpha. Thirty-six-year-old Flyte Tyme had always lived a lowkey lifestyle. He’s seen before heard and an...

Gangsta Divas puts listeners on the streets of Memphis, where gang wars are heating up thanks to the arrival of dangerous new players - the Cripettes. Ta’shara is planning to knock her sister off her perch and climbing to the top of the game. Qiana’s deal with the devil places her directly in the crosshairs of forces ready to take her out. And Queen G LeShelle’s list of enemies keeps on growing. But for these gangsta divas, it’s all part of the game - one they’re determined to win.

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...

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 ...

If she could rename herself, Tashay would go by the sex goddess. For her, nothing beat the thrill of seduction and the money that followed. Super thick! Sexy! With a pretty face and a waist that turned heads. Every time! The attention fueled her confidence, and she loved every moment of it. It was such a blessing to be a bad bitch! Raised in Brooklyn among the d-boys, she naturally became entwined in their world, eventually forming a reluctant relationship with a demanding sidepiece known as Slow. Yeah, he took care of her well. Financially. Dicked her down. Stupendously! But he was a nag, ...

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 ...

Katrina – A Dark and Thrilling Romantic Suspense 💀 She was their victim. Now, she’s their worst nightmare. 💀 By day, Detective Frank Gilford hunts criminals. By night, he’s consumed by an obsession—the elusive assassin known as The Phantom. For months, he’s tracked her kills, watching as she eliminates traffickers, corrupt politicians, and untouchable criminals. She’s not just a killer. She’s delivering justice the law can’t reach. Then, she calls him. Her voice is calm. Controlled. Dangerously familiar. She warns him about an enemy lurking in the shadows—the ...

Nate Noble has it all--a thriving business, a loving fiancée, and a bright future. But his world takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Marvin Waters, the childhood best friend he hasn't seen in thirty years. Marvin is a man beaten down by life, haunted by a troubled past and barely scraping by. Driven by guilt and a desire to do the right thing, Nate extends a helping hand, offering Marvin a job and a fresh start.

Joe King Oliver’s beloved Grandma B has found a tumor, and at her age, treatment is high-risk. She’s lived life fully and without regrets, and now has only a single, dying wish: to see her long-lost son. King has been estranged from his father, Chief Odin Oliver, since he was a young boy. He swore to never speak to the man again when he was taken away in handcuffs. But now, Grandma B’s pure ask has opened King’s heart, and through his hunt, he gains a deeper understanding of his father as a complicated, righteous man—a man defined by women, a man protected by women, a man he wants to know.

Have you ever heard of a family of lies and secrets? Well the Wood family who's made of Ash, Cherry, Teak and the matriarch of the family Simon Wood is each carrying their own secret that will snatch the heartbeat right out of the family. Simon raised his three kids to be strong and mighty because that’s the only way he knew how but what he didn’t realize is that raising them to be so strong also taught them to be cold and disconnected. When they were kids he had his own version of Simon Says but as all three kids grow up and each dive into their own harsh realities the kid version of ...

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 ...

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.

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 ...

What happens when fear is no longer enough to hold us back? When the justice system fails to hold his son’s killer accountable, a grieving father is pushed to the brink. Faced with an impossible choice, he must decide: accept the system’s failure—or unleash the beast the world has created. In this gripping, heart-stopping thriller, “JUNETEENTH” explores the devastating cost of justice denied. As the line between vengeance and justice blurs, one man’s actions will challenge everything we think we know about right, wrong, and the price of fighting back.

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.

The Road Beasts: Cougar – A Gritty, Mature MC Romance 🔥 She’s the only woman in a world of outlaws. He’s a man with secrets that could destroy them both. Bailey "Cougar" Parks has spent years proving she belongs in the Road Beasts MC—stronger, tougher, and smarter than the men who ride beside her. She’s built walls around her heart, knowing that love has no place in a world of violence, loyalty, and betrayal. But when Diego Antonio Peña walks into her life, those walls start to crack. Diego isn’t just another drifter looking for a club—he has an agenda. His past is a ...