The Conjure-Man Dies: A Harlem Mystery

By: Rudolph Fisher, Stanley Ellin - introduction

Narrated by: JD Jackson, John Chancer

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

One of Buzzfeed’s Most Anticipated Books of 2021

A unique crime classic: the very first detective novel written by an African American, set in 1930s New York with only Black characters.

When the body of N’Gana Frimbo, the African conjure-man, is discovered in his consultation room, Perry Dart, one of Harlem’s 10 Black police detectives, is called in to investigate. Together with Dr Archer, a physician from across the street, Dart is determined to solve the baffling mystery, helped and hindered by Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins, local boys keen to clear themselves of suspicion of murder and undertake their own investigations.

The Conjure-Man Dies was the very first detective novel written by an African American. A distinguished doctor and accomplished musician and dramatist, Rudolph Fisher was one of the principal writers of the Harlem Renaissance but died in 1934 aged only 37. With a gripping plot and vividly drawn characters, Fisher’s witty novel is a remarkable time capsule of one of the most exciting eras in the history of Black fiction.

This crime classic is introduced by New York crime writer Stanley Ellin and includes Rudolph Fisher’s last published story, ‘John Archer’s Nose’, in which Perry Dart and Dr Archer return to solve the case of a young man murdered in his own bed.

©2020 Stanley Ellin, Rudolph Fisher (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"A well-constructed thriller of a little-known side of Harlem life, with a Black detective to solve the crime and with just enough humour on the side." (Rumana McManis, New York Times)

"A detective story of the first class, written with adroitness, humor, and a clever plot." (Boston Transcript)

"...a puzzling mystery yarn which is at the same time a lively picture of Harlem...." (New York Times)