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mnboyer's review against another edition
3.0
A fun, yet somewhat slow read. The first half of the book requires a great deal of learning characters, which is normal in a crime/mystery novel, but Fisher's content sometimes requires you to trudge through some lines. That being said, it is still a fun read, and if you enjoy mystery/crime/detective novels this would be a good recommendation--as it was the first African-American story of its kind. That being said, you may see the ending coming if this is your genre of choice or you watch a lot of detective-style television series. But, you'll have a good time.
erinsbookshelves's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dotorsojak's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting read, but not a very good solution to murder mystery. Very much a cozy. The first 150 pages are set in one house over the course of about 2 hours, and this is not a strong way to begin. Later we get out onto the streets of Harlem. Much more interesting when this happens. Setting and scene are somewhat similar to to early parts of Autobiography of Malcolm X. Overall not a great book, but Fisher was young when he wrote it and I feel sure would have gotten better if he had lived.
larobertson's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pageglue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
eklsolo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rileyc16's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
agmaynard's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
On my radar for a number of years. Thanks to a buddy read, I now have read it! A puzzler, involving sleight of hand of sorts, science, and detective work by a doctor, a cop, and a budding private eye. Colorful characters and settings. First detective novel by a Black author that featured an all-Black cast of characters. This needs to be filmed, stat!
tylovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5