Chester Himes emerged as a master of the Harlem detective novel, crafting gritty narratives that explored the complexities of race and urban life. His works are distinguished by a stark, unsentimental style that unflinchingly confronts themes of racism, violence, and the harsh realities of the American experience. Himes skillfully blended thrilling plots with profound character studies, offering sharp social commentary that resonated deeply. His unique voice and compelling storytelling cemented his legacy as a significant chronicler of mid-20th century Black America.
A white cop's violent outburst triggers a high-stakes pursuit to eliminate a witness, setting the stage for a gripping standalone crime thriller. The narrative delves into themes of justice and morality, exploring the consequences of unchecked power and racial tensions. As the tension escalates, readers are drawn into a world where survival hangs in the balance, showcasing the author's knack for creating intense, character-driven stories.
Set against a backdrop of a tumultuous weekend filled with sex, alcohol, and violence, the narrative explores the intense and destructive relationship between two individuals. As their lives intertwine, the story delves into the darker aspects of desire and the consequences of their choices, culminating in a tragic outcome. The acclaimed author, known for the Harlem Detectives series, weaves a gripping tale of passion and peril that examines the fragility of human connections.
Robert Jones has a lot going for him ? a steady job, a steady relationship and plenty of prospects... until a white woman accuses him of rape and, all of a sudden, his prospects seem a lot less bright. Immediately recognised as a masterful expose of racism in everyday life, If He Hollers Let Him Go is Chester Himes? first book, originally published in 1945.
A special edition of A Rage in Harlem, a ripping introduction to Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, who patrol New York City’s roughest streets in Chester Himes’s groundbreaking Harlem Detectives series. Featuring an introduction by James Ellroy. For love of fine, wily Imabelle, hapless Jackson surrenders his life savings to a con man who knows the secret of turning ten-dollar bills into hundreds—and then he steals from his boss, only to lose the stolen money at a craps table. Luckily for him, he can turn to his savvy twin brother, Goldy, who earns a living—disguised as a Sister of Mercy—by selling tickets to Heaven in Harlem. With Goldy on his side, Jackson is ready for payback. “Himes’s Harlem saga vies with the novels of David Goodis and Jim Thompson as the inescapable achievement of postwar American crime fiction.” —The New York Times A Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Special Edition
The shocking and explosive hardboiled classic: From murderers to prostitutes, corrupt politicians and racist white detectives, Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones, Harlem's toughest detective duo, must carry the day against an absurdist world of racism and class warfare.
In this chaotic and darkly humorous novel from Chester Himes's Harlem Detectives series, detectives Coffin Ed and Grave Digger Jones face relentless challenges. They deal with excessive force discipline, a hoax about Grave Digger's death, and a rising body count, all while chasing a massive heroin operation led by the enigmatic Pinky.
A Rage in Harlem is a ripping introduction to Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, patrolling New York City’s roughest streets in Chester Himes’s groundbreaking Harlem Detectives series. For love of fine, wily Imabelle, hapless Jackson surrenders his life savings to a con man who knows the secret of turning ten-dollar bills into hundreds—and then he steals from his boss, only to lose the stolen money at a craps table. Luckily for him, he can turn to his savvy twin brother, Goldy, who earns a living—disguised as a Sister of Mercy—by selling tickets to Heaven in Harlem. With Goldy on his side, Jackson is ready for payback.
Outside the apartment where a wake is going on, the manager of the A & P across the street is robbed. Reverend Short, a storefront preacher addicted to opium and brandy, is watching from a bedroom window in the flat. He leans too far and falls out; a bread basket, sitting outside the bakery below, saves him. Back inside, he ways he sees a vision of a dead man. Outside, in the very basket Short landed in, lies the body of Valentine Haines. Who murdered Val? It is up to Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson to find out.
When Harlemites set about each other with knives, it's an everyday kind of happening. But when a white man is shot dead in a Harlem street one steamy evening it means trouble, big trouble.Plenty of people had motives for killing Galen, a big Greek with too much money and too great a liking for young black girls. But there are complications - like Sonny, high on hash, found standing over the body with a gun in his hand that fires only blanks, a street gang called the Moslems, a disappearing suspect, and the fact that Coffin Ed's own daughter is up to her pretty neck in the whole explosive situation...
"Black flim-flam man Deke O'Hara is no sooner out of Atlanta's state penitentiary than he's back on the streets working the scam of a lifetime. As sponsor of the Back-to-Africa movement he's counting on the big Harlem rally to produce a big collection for his own private charity. But the take is hijacked by white gunmen and hidden in a bale of cotton that suddenly everyone wants to get his hands on. As NYPD detectives "Coffin Ed" Johnson and "Grave Digger" Jones piece together the complexity of the scheme, we are treated to Himes's brand of hard-boiled crime fiction at its very best."--back cover
