African American Crime Fiction

In 1992, Los Angeles burned. In the aftermath of the Rodney King beating and subsequent riots, a ground-breaking ceremony at the infamous intersection of Florence and Normandie unearths the body of a Korean liquor store owner. Black private eye Ivan Monk searches for the killer—many suspect the motives for the murder were racial. But then another body turns up, and while the FBI and the Rolling Daltons, the largest gang in the city, dog Monk’s trail, Monk questions who the real perpetrators are and whether he can prevent more from dying, including himself, before he uncovers the truth.

1959 - Greensboro, North Carolina - White family in a well-to-do part of town hire a young black woman to be their maid – cleaning, cooking and washing etc. Over a few months, the maid realizes the man of the house is a Pedophile. But it’s 1959, he is wealthy with friends in high places. She’s a poor black woman. No one believes her. She goes on a quest to expose him.

This drive through the dark streets of the Motor City “is one of the best in Akashic Books’ noir series. You cannot go wrong with this anthology.”—Reviewing the Evidence From cri….

Liliana grew up in a small town in Colombia. Her family was part of a powerful Cartel. She grew up learning the family business along with her older brother. A war between the two most powerful families led her family to relocate to the United States. Trying to fit in was difficult but with the help of her two best friends, she was able to navigate through high school and live a normal life. Until her eyes landed on Sean. She was intrigued by the tall, brown, handsome man. The Knight Crime family has been running things since the ’70s. Father Gavin wants to step down from being the boss ...

Kimera Davis finds comfort in dating married men. It's easier that way. Her needs are taken care of, and she doesn't have to give more of herself than she wants to. No messy feelings involved. But when the man she's seeing poses an unexpected question, Kimera quickly realizes she's not the only woman pulled in by his charm. Their new arrangement doesn't require much from Kimera, but she soon discovers someone else is pulling the strings. She's not looking for complications, yet she can't help feeling there's something devious at play.

Riley James was just elected the CEO of Petro Incorporation. Things seem to be going good in her life. She has who she thinks is the perfect fiancé. Life has a way of showing you differently; especially for Riley. Davin Sumpter is a jealous man on a mission after Riley’s father grants her the position that he thought was meant for him. With Riley’s best friend Larissa being on his back about taking care of her, he does what he as to do to make things happen.​ Davin calls upon someone that he hung with back in the day. Mecca Anderson was hired and paid fifty G’s up front to kidnap ...

Award-winning author William Kent Krueger has gained an immense fan base for his Cork O’Connor series. In Ordinary Grace, Krueger looks back to 1961 to tell the story of Frank Drum, a boy on the cusp of manhood. A typical 13-year-old with a strong, loving family, Frank is devastated when a tragedy forces him to face the unthinkable - and to take on a maturity beyond his years.

"Captivating, suspenseful & raw. An accurate depiction of life during that time. Incredible!" When Danny Jackson says "the N-word" on his fifth birthday his grandmother tells him their family doesn't use that word, though he's learned it from his father. There's a mysterious grave in their woods, and all he's ever heard it called was "the N-word Grave." Thus begins a family saga and coming of age story as an Appalachian grandmother tries to change her family's trajectory regarding race relations. Danny and Martin Noble Peoples, a descendent of the murdered black man, team up to uncover the ...

Waiting to enter a movie theater to see "Dr. No," the first James Bond movie, Simon sees a cute Black girl standing in a separate line that leads to the balcony, the "colored" section. A friend tells him, "You're in the South. Stick with your own kind.” Simon doesn't. It's the steamy summer of 1963. Simon Klein has moved with his family, Jews from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Pickettville, Alabama, where his father has taken a job at a nearby Army base. He is as mystified of the South as Southerners are of a Jew While gathering information for a story he is writing for his school paper, Simon ...

Experience the Authentic Pulse of City Life. From Trap House Baby's street-level survival to Shepherd's Shadow's church corruption to Blood on the Block's twenty-year reckoning, Author TARU examines how power hides behind good intentions. Not every book is street lit. All of them are true. Cleveland's East Side will chew you up and spit you out. Marcus Johnson was about to get swallowed whole. East 105th and St. Clair. Four years on the corner. Four years of watching dreams die slow, watching good people make bad choices, watching the city eat its young. Marcus swore he'd be different. He ...

A 2026 Audie Awards finalist for Audiobook of the Year! “Narrator Adam Lazarre-White masterfully voices a wide range of characters. Listeners will be captivated by the layered storytelling, morally complex characters, and the powerful interpretation of a narrative steeped in pain, violence...

Nikki Ashford had it all. Not only was she drop-dead gorgeous with a figure to match, but she was smart – a top student at one of the most elite high schools in town. Moreover, Nikki was used to getting her way. As an only child, she was spoiled rotten by parents who had worked their way out of the hood in order to give her everything she ever wanted. The only problem was that Nikki wanted everything: clothes, money, jewelry... But at the top of the list was Quilon – who, shockingly, didn’t want Nikki. Unfamiliar with being denied what she wanted (and certainly not accustomed to being...

College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same. Carl is a dying Vietnam veteran-and a convicted murderer. With only a few months to live, he has been medically paroled to a nursing home after spending thirty years in prison for the crimes of rape and murder.

Snatch and Demon are small-time hustlers with kingpin dreams. Snatch’s dad was big-time before the Rico Act got him a life sentence, and now Snatch wants to follow in his pop's footsteps minus the prison sentence. With his partner, DEMON, ten toes down with him, Snatch is primed to reach his hood dreams, but a major beef threatens to disrupt his goals. Just as things seem headed downward, Snatch gets plugged in with a major supplier, but could this be a gift and a curse? On the road to riches Snatch and Demon recruit their homegirl, Action, whose prowess for whipping dope is unmatched. ...

There are many ugly things in this world, but Julius Graves is considered one of the ugliest of those things. His Big Lips, Big Nose and Jet Black Skin have always been the perfect recipe for nasty stares, cold shuns, and violent beat downs his entire life. Once Julius moves to a new neighborhood, the torment he thought he escaped gets far worse when he becomes targeted by a menacing crew that’s led by an egomaniac that’s determined to make Julius’ life a living hell! Julius finds refuge in an unlikely ally that sends his life spiraling even more out of control at the cost of losing ...

The fast-paced, hood drama continues in Heart of a Thug 2. The walls are closing in on Markell. He doesn't know who to trust. Or which direction to turn. But he's certain about one thing: He's got to make things right for Kayla and her baby girl. Assistant District Attorney Amber Barton will do everything in her power to bring down Markell, even if it means breaking the law. Kayla and her daughter are innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of a battle that has nothing to do with them. But it's too late. They're already in too deep. Assistant D.A. Barton threatens to take Kayla’s ...

Why did I decide to put together a Bundle of my FOUR BBW Urban Fiction Series? Each series shows Plus Size Women as main characters. They aren’t sidekicks, ugly ducklings, or undesirable third wheels. Their beauty is up front and center. These BBWs are not late-night booty calls. And they’re not their lovers’ last options. Sexy, dangerous, street ninjas love and desire them. These are the most attractive men on the market. And they're willing to do anything to get their hands on the Big Beautiful Woman who is the object of their desire. Of course, as a writer, I want everyone to read ...

Some names should stay buried. Some stories refuse to die. Behind the concrete walls of Phillips State Correctional Facility, survival isn't about strength—it's about strategy. Dejuan Rivers has transformed his 6x8 cell into a criminal empire, orchestrating an intricate web of manipulation that reaches far beyond the prison gates. With nothing but letters, contraband cigarettes, and psychological warfare, Dejuan controls a network of desperate women on the outside—each believing she's the only one who truly understands him. Sandra sends money orders. Keisha wires cash. Patricia smuggles...

In the gritty urban landscape of Brooklyn, a tale of loyalty and betrayal unfolds, where alliances are tested, and lives hang in balance. Bucktown Hittaz delves into the life of Blood, a fearsome youngster whose unwavering loyalty is put to the ultimate test. Blood, a product of the tough streets of Brooklyn, has always stood by his mentor, Big, a well-respected figure in their neighborhood. But when Big is unjustly incarcerated, Blood finds himself thrust into battle against a ruthless group of old heads led by a notorious gangster, Duke. As Blood fights to protect his mentor’s legacy ...

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝑭𝒂𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑮𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆? After their mother’s sudden death, Destiny is forced to become everything for her younger brother; provider, protector, and parent. But love doesn’t pay the bills, and the streets are calling his name louder than she ever could. Desperate to keep him from a life that destroys young men every day, Destiny fights to hold their world together. Until one mistake lands her brother in serious trouble, the kind that...