• The Real Cool Killers

  • A Grave Digger & Coffin Ed Novel
  • By: Chester Himes
  • Narrated by: Dion Graham
  • Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (178 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Real Cool Killers  By  cover art

The Real Cool Killers

By: Chester Himes
Narrated by: Dion Graham
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.95

Buy for $17.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

To detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, it looked like an open and shut case. After all, Sonny Pickens was still standing over the body of Ulysses Galen, smoking gun hanging from his hand. Only one problem: Sonny's gun was loaded with blanks.

There were plenty of people who wanted Galen dead, but who was responsible? Sonny? A jealous husband? Or one of the street toughs from a gang calling themselves the Real Cool Moslems? Coffin Ed and Grave Digger pound the mean streets of 1950s Harlem in search of the Real Cool Killer.

©1959 Chester Himes, copyright renewed 1987 by Lesley Himes (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

".... Real Cool Killers is a picturesque story to which Graham gives expert treatment. " ( Audiofile)

What listeners say about The Real Cool Killers

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    114
  • 4 Stars
    50
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    116
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    98
  • 4 Stars
    41
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!

What made the experience of listening to The Real Cool Killers the most enjoyable?

Chester Himes.

What did you like best about this story?

Coffin Ed and Gravedigger Jones.

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

You really forget its a book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All of it.

Any additional comments?

I WANT MORE!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read.

If you could sum up The Real Cool Killers in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyable, haunting, true

What did you like best about this story?

The ability to truthfully characterize people in the black community before the 80's. The characterizations remind me of my childhood.

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

Really like his voice. Captures what I feel are the inner essences of the characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Too Cool For School

A big white man is murdered in cold blood in the streets of Harlem in front of countless bystanders. But who is the killer? The drunken crazed man who's chased him from a bar, or a member the Real Cool Muslims, a gang of kids dressed up as arab sheikhs? Why was he killed? Out of anger, just for kicks, or did he have it coming? Detectives Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed are on hand to apprehend the culprits, but one of the kids is killed when Grave Digger thinks one of the Real Cool Muslims is throwing acid into his already burned face, a prank gone very wrong: it was only perfume. Then his young daughter turns out to be embroiled in this mess, ensuring that the Harlem detective duo will do what needs to be done to save her and resolve what turns out to be a truly sordid case. This third instalment of the Harlem Cycle was entertaining, but I felt, not as strong as the two previous books in the series. However, I know that there are more great reads further ahead, so I'll carry on and go wherever Chester Himes takes me; the journey is sure to be filled with unique individuals and plenty of surprises.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Rough killers and rougher cops

Black noir brought to life by Chester Himes’ authentic 50’s Harlem and Dion Graham’s flawless narration… well, almost flawless (the Police Chief’s Irish accent, yeesh). Grave Digger and Coffin Ed get split up, and the entire force divides and conquers, as they solve the case by knocking heads, literally. If you can’t handle cops who come in like bulls in a glass shop, or race, religion, and cultural stereotypes, then this series isn’t for you. This is the type of writing that birthed Shaft or Foxy Brown, can you dig it?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterful storytelling

This story is so rich with characters and dialogue. The plot keeps developing with twists that are not expected. Mr. Graham’s voicing of the characters is spot on and adds to the color. Tremendous!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A fun fast read

This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last. it is a fast fun fairly easy read. There are great characters lots of action and it's definitely written from another era. It can be rough in some of the language and action it's not PC by todays standards but it's a product of its time and worth the time I have half a dozen other books on my to read list from this author. The narrator is great too throughout.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a fun mystery. I loved Dion Graham's narration. He is fabulous!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Real Cool Killers?

I loved all the dialogue. Dion Graham did a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life.

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

Everything. He is awesome at making the character's real. His pace, diction, animation, accents, inflections, and tone. He is a talented orator.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I kept wanting to listen to it.

Any additional comments?

This was my first audible book experience and I'm pleased. It was enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It's what I expected from Chester Himes

Himes' novels are gritty yet simple and captures the essence of Harlem. 👮🏾🌆🔫
Narration was cool!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Great from start to finish.Mr Himes did it again. Dion Graham turns the book into a movie that plays in your mind!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic narrator

Love the amazing Irish accents of the cops! What a performance. And a great and twisty story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!