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A review by mg_in_md_
The Conjure-Man Dies: A Harlem Mystery by Rudolph Fisher
4.0
Originally published in 1932, this Harlem-based novel is the first detective novel written by an African-American. It was an absolute delight from start to finish and my only regret is this is only novel written by this author. He seamlessly integrated his own medical training and knowledge into the story, bringing an added dimension and layer of authenticity. This would have made for a wonderful detective series. The edition I read I included a short story featuring the two main characters, which showed just how much potential there was.
The two main characters are Perry Dart, one of Harlem's ten black police detectives, and Dr. John Archer, a black physician. The two meet when Dart is called to investigate the murder of an African conjure-man in a consultation room across the street from Dr. Archer. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter between the two and how they worked together to solve the complex crime which is linked to the conjure-man's past. They are helped and, at times, hindered by two local neighborhood boys, Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins. I found the mystery to be complex, compelling, and well-paced throughout. I could not wait to find out how the mystery would be resolved and was left guessing until the final reveal.
The publishers decided to maintain the original language used when this novel was originally published and notes at beginning that it may be jarring to a modern reader. While it was reflective of the time, there is a fair amount of language that would be considered racist if used today. Even with the word of warning, I was still taken aback early in the reading experience but kept this in mind. I will add that it did not detract from my reading experience and I highly recommend this novel to fans of classic detective stories and those who are interested in learning more about life in Harlem in the early 1930s.
I was one of the lucky winners of a HarperCollins sweepstakes and received a paperback edition of this novel as well -- many thanks to HarperCollins! I'm so grateful they republished this American classic and given a new generation a chance to discover this hidden gem.
The two main characters are Perry Dart, one of Harlem's ten black police detectives, and Dr. John Archer, a black physician. The two meet when Dart is called to investigate the murder of an African conjure-man in a consultation room across the street from Dr. Archer. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter between the two and how they worked together to solve the complex crime which is linked to the conjure-man's past. They are helped and, at times, hindered by two local neighborhood boys, Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins. I found the mystery to be complex, compelling, and well-paced throughout. I could not wait to find out how the mystery would be resolved and was left guessing until the final reveal.
The publishers decided to maintain the original language used when this novel was originally published and notes at beginning that it may be jarring to a modern reader. While it was reflective of the time, there is a fair amount of language that would be considered racist if used today. Even with the word of warning, I was still taken aback early in the reading experience but kept this in mind. I will add that it did not detract from my reading experience and I highly recommend this novel to fans of classic detective stories and those who are interested in learning more about life in Harlem in the early 1930s.
I was one of the lucky winners of a HarperCollins sweepstakes and received a paperback edition of this novel as well -- many thanks to HarperCollins! I'm so grateful they republished this American classic and given a new generation a chance to discover this hidden gem.