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Black Noir

Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction by African-American Writers

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Black Noir

By: Otto Penzler - editor
Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Sean Crisden
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About this listen

Some of the best-known and most influential pieces of crime fiction have been from African American writers. Be it Walter Mosley's great Detective Easy Rawlins, or the mean streets of Harlem at the hands of Chester Himes, the stories and characters in this anthology have shaped the mystery genre with their own unique viewpoints and styles. Contributors to the collection include Robert Greer, Chester Himes, Walter Mosley, Cary Phillips, Frankie Bailey, and Richard Wright.

©2009 Otto Penzler; Introduction copyright 2009 by Otto Penzler; “Corollary” copyright 1948 by Hughes Allison; “The Canasta Club” copyright 2000 by Eleanor Taylor Bland; “Oprah’s Song” copyright 2009 by Robert Greer; “The First Rule Is” copyright 2009 by Gar Anthony Haywood; “Strictly Business” copyright 1942 by Chester Himes; “Old Boys, Old Girls” copyright 2005 by Edward P. Jones; “Black Dog” copyright 1997 by Walter Mosley; “On Saturday the Siren Sounds at Noon” copyright 1943; renewed in 1969 by Ann Petry; “House of Tears” copyright 2006 by Gary Phillips; revised in 2008; “I’ll Be Doggone” copyright 1998 by Paula L. Woods (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books African American Anthologies & Short Stories Modern Detectives Mystery African American Suspense African American Crime Mystery
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Providing information and histories for each author offered greater context for each story. There were a wide variety of stories that gave sense and nuance to these historic and often violent times. At times the main narrator galloped a bit ..though this doesn't detract from a great collection of important and rich stories. Thanks for this.

Good context...Great variety of voices ...

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The quality of the stories and narration was brilliant. There are many new writers who may be unfamiliar to some readers who balance of male

A real gem! A must for lovers of African American fiction

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