African American Fiction Crime Thriller

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.

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.

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….

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.

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.

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

"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 ...

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 ...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In this gripping thriller, truth and justice are called into question when a Black man is gunned down in cold blood—the first novel in a riveting series from renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump. “A sensationally good crime and legal thriller . . . This is...

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-...

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...

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

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

When San Francisco Police Officer Mickey Driscoll is gunned down in the driveway of his suburban Bay Area home in broad daylight, the suspects are numerous. Was the murder committed by someone close to him? An arrestee seeking revenge? Or was it one of the many rioters, activists, and militant groups harassing his family since he accidentally shot and killed an unarmed African American honor student? TV investigative reporter Topher Davis, the only Black journalist on that beat, has exactly three weeks to do one final story before his position is eliminated due to corporate budget cuts.

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.

He lost the love of his life as a casualty of the war between the drug cartels. Now KING must face his demons with the loss of Selena, the guilt of killing his parents, and the fact that the two women that were always in his corner have married and moved on with their lives. When his Colombian connect states he needs to move more product and meet an improbable deadline, KING reaches out to the two people he trusts most, the mothers of his two sons. He not only needs to move more weight; he needs to teach the heir apparent to the Colombian Empire how the game works. KING wants to go ...