African American Crime Mystery

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.

With a drug addict mother and a drug lord father, Aphtan learns how to fend for herself at an early age. Being the princess of an empire has its perks - until her father gets arrested. From stealing clothes and food to committing fraud, Aphtan does what she has to do to take care of her mother and herself. But when her schemes prove problematic, she turns to a new hustle: dancing at Pearl Tongue, the most notorious strip club in Texas.

She was loved by many… and envied by more. Reese Hamilton was the kind of woman who seemed untouchable, respected professor, brilliant in the classroom, admired by her friends, desired by men who should’ve known better. But when she’s found dead, everything unravels. Detective Jordan Cross is pulled into a case where every suspect has a motive: jealousy, betrayal, obsession, greed. Reese’s friends, her lover, even her family, no one is above suspicion. Secrets spill. Lies crack. And the truth, when it finally comes to light, is darker than anyone imagined. Sometimes the people ...

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.

“No badge, no problem. Michael Lister’s first swing at the modern private eye novel is a home run. The Night Of is an instant classic with rich characters and storytelling that grips your heart from first page to last.” - #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly Lucas Burke and Alix "Blade" Baker: A Pair of Determined Detectives In the sun-soaked expanse of Panama City Beach, Florida, Lucas Burke and Alix “Blade” Baker are the area's most tenacious private investigators. Specializing in missing persons cases, their work is more than just a job—it’s a personal ...

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….

Meet the gang; Wynn, Daena, Kaiman, and Teion. They’ve been thick as thieves since the third grade and blood couldn’t make them closer. While time seemed to sail by, friendship turned into love, and lust morphed into infatuation. Unbeknownst to the gang, the sins of their parent’s past have created a prowler that’s willing to do anything he can to obtain his heart’s desires; including kill. On the night deemed as a rite of passage for teenagers, tragedy is struck. Leaving everyone wheeling, friendships torn, and lovers scorned. Buckle up, because this two part series is about to ...

"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 ...

Cleveland Noir joins Columbus Noir as the Akashic Noir series continues its tour of Ohio and navigates the dregs of the North Shore.

Lady, a young woman with dreams bigger than the Polo Grounds Towers projects in Harlem, New York she calls home, finds herself drawn to the charismatic Drac. Their connection is undeniable, but their love story unfolds against the backdrop of a brutal criminal underworld. When Drac takes over the notorious DuPont crime family, Lady is thrust into a world of violence, power struggles, and dangerous loyalties. Drac’s leadership is challenged by his ambitious cousin, igniting a bitter rivalry that threatens to tear the family apart. When Drac is incarcerated, Lady steps out of the shadows ...

Winner of the 2024 Audie Award for Thriller/Suspense! "Lazarre-White masterfully portrays people of multiple races, old and young. He also delivers Cosby's reflections on family, grief, and faith with genuine introspection and without distracting from the tense plotlines...This is a gripping...

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.

Miamor is fighting for her life in the belly of the beast. She’s been kidnapped, and she’s staring death in the eye. Is the reign over for the head of the Murda Mamas? Carter is in federal custody and leaves the Diamond empire to Zyir and Mecca. When the past comes back to haunt Mecca and the truth finally comes to light, will the Cartel rise or fall? Breeze is in the clutches of the crazed Ma’tee, and she desperately searches for a way out. Will she escape or die his love slave? The answers are revealed here.

The Cartel runs Miami, and loyalty to their organization runs deep, but when someone breaks the rules, things may be beyond repair. A snitch in the crew has dismantled the notorious Cartel, and now disloyalty threatens to tear the family apart. Young Carter is in the fight for his life as he faces drug kingpin charges due to the treachery of his best friend, Ace. Kidnapping, murder, deception, and seduction fill this thrilling sequel. Will Zyir find out that Breeze is still alive? Will Mecca be exposed as his brother’s killer?

Carlton “Big-Carl” Watts made his name in the streets by robbing and terrorizing drug dealers in order to provide for his family. That is, until he was murdered by a close friend. Leaving his wife to raise their two sons, ‘Champ and Mook’, alone in a poverty-stricken environment where only the strong survive. After their father's untimely demise, brothers, Champ and Mook, find themselves knee-deep in street life at very young ages. Burdened with the pressures of providing for their family as well as living up to the ruthless legacy their father left behind, they decide to dive head-...

The Akashic Noir series’ forensic study of Southern California sharpens its focus on one of Los Angeles’ most recognized neighborhoods.

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 ...

Tony Carter built an empire on blood money—controlling the city’s drug trade with ruthless precision while hiding behind the facade of a legitimate real estate developer. He has everything… Power. Wealth., Connections to a dangerous cartel. Everything except control over the one woman who controls his heart. The only person in the world with the capability to destroy him!

In this explosive fourth installment of The Thugtress of Harlem, Lady reigns supreme over the DuPont crime family after the death of Drac. Firm in her newfound position, she controls the family with an iron fist. Confined to federal lockup, fighting unbeatable charges, Big Bear’s infuriated when learning that mostly everyone has flipped on him. Tension rises behind bars, and he strikes a powerful Harlem figure. This move brings forth chaos in the streets, causing many to flip on the DuPont’s for his actions. With Harlem turning on the DuPont’s, and even their own soldiers flipping, ...

Austin joins Dallas and Houston in Akashic's deep dive into the Lone Star State's darkest dimensions. Featuring brand-new stories by: Gabino Iglesias, Ace Atkins, Amanda Moore, Jeff Abbott, Scott Montgomery, Richard Z. Santos, Alexandra Burt, Lee Thomas, Miriam Kuznets, Jacob Grovey, Chaitali Sen, Molly Odintz, Amy Gentry, and Andrew Hilbert.