African American Fiction Crime Thriller

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.

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 ...

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

The system was built to protect them. Now, it’s the very thing destroying them. Jessie Logan created a fragile sanctuary... a therapy group for girls who aged out of foster care. It's a circle of scuffed floors and mismatched chairs where secrets can finally be spoken. But when a new member, Devon, calls from a motel room bleeding after an illegal procedure, that sanctuary is ripped wide open. What Jessie uncovers leads to something far worse: underground clinics, anonymous threats, and an adoption agency that thrives by keeping vulnerable girls silent. As the precinct scrambles for leads...

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….

African American Romance Collection that includes 10 books. The Snow Series: What happens when everything seems perfect and peaceful, but all of a sudden you, your family, or your surroundings is threatened by something or someone that will rob you of what you've always know? This happens to many people, from all walks of life, each and every day. No one is exempt from the trouble that can cause one to have his or her own personal meltdown. Some are able to overcome their meltdown? Others, however, are not so fortunate. They find themselves stuck, trying hard to deal with the meltdown of ...

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-...

Delighted by a surprise invitation, Miriam Macy sails off to a luxurious private island off the coast of Mexico, with six strangers - an ex-cop, a chef, a financial advisor, a nurse, a lawyer, and a young widow. Surrounded by miles of open water in the gloriously green Sea of Cortez, Miriam is shocked to discover that she and the rest of her companions have been brought to the remote island under false pretenses - and all seven strangers harbor a secret. Danger lurks in the lush forest and in the halls and bedrooms of the lonely mansion.

"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 ...

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.

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 ...

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

After avenging his homeboy’s shooting, MARQUAN is given a ten-year sentence on a murder charge. Locked up, he takes the time to reflect on his life and the decisions that have put him in unfortunate circumstances. Coming to the conclusion that he must change for the better, Marquan decides to turn his life around and live righteously. But his past comes back to haunt him, and he finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful cars behind the walls. They’re looking to take his head to right an injustice. Meanwhile, life on the outside isn’t what it’s cracked up to be for his ...

Doing Time: For the prison writers whose work is included in this anthology, it means more than "serving a sentence"; it means staying alive and sane, preserving dignity, reinventing oneself, and somehow retaining one's humanity. For the last quarter century the prestigious writers' organization PEN has sponsored a contest for writers behind bars to help prisoners face these challenges. The contest honors the best short stories, plays, essays, and poems among hundreds submitted annually by men and women nationwide.

Petagaye, a fierce and resilient young girl, is forced to flee Jamaica after a violent incident, ultimately finding herself in America. The heart of Philadelphia becomes her new home, where she quickly learns that the streets are just as treacherous as those she left behind. In this new city, the Young Mafia—a ruthless gang known for instilling fear—holds sway over many. However, Petagaye remains undeterred by their menacing presence, despite warnings from friends she encounters from Jamaica who have also settled in Philly. As the daughter of a powerful crime lord back home, she carries...

Robyn and Aries are "The Murder Mamas", contract killers from Los Angeles who take no prisoners. It doesn't take them long to link up with Hollywood's biggest drug kingpin, who hires them to take out a snitch and a judge. But the plans backfire, and they complete only half the job. Robyn is caught and put on death row, and Aries goes on the run. She winds up in the islands, where she takes up a new life as a mother and wife and tries to forget who she once was.

Los Angeles, 1948: Easy Rawlins is a black war veteran just fired from his job at a defense plant. Easy is drinking in a friend's bar, wondering how he'll meet his mortgage, when a white man in a linen suit walks in, offering good money if Easy will simply locate Miss Daphne Money, a blonde beauty known to frequent black jazz clubs.

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, ...

He owns the game. She’s the only variable he can’t control. Zola Dubois doesn’t play for money. She plays for blood. A mathematical prodigy with a heart of ice and a poker face carved from stone, she has spent years honing her skills for one purpose: to infiltrate The Obsidian. Deep beneath the neon glare of Las Vegas lies The Cellar, where the buy-in isn't cash—it's Kompromat. Leverage. Secrets that destroy empires. Zola needs that leverage to shatter the corporate conspiracy that left her father rotting in a federal prison. She has a perfect plan, a perfect disguise, and a perfect...