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  • The Real Cool Killers

  • A Grave Digger & Coffin Ed Novel
  • By: Chester Himes
  • Narrated by: Dion Graham
  • Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)
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The Real Cool Killers

By: Chester Himes
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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Summary

To detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, it looked like an open and shut case. After all, Sonny Pickens was still standing over the body of Ulysses Galen, smoking gun hanging from his hand. Only one problem: Sonny's gun was loaded with blanks.

There were plenty of people who wanted Galen dead, but who was responsible? Sonny? A jealous husband? Or one of the street toughs from a gang calling themselves the Real Cool Moslems? Coffin Ed and Grave Digger pound the mean streets of 1950s Harlem in search of the Real Cool Killer.

More mayhem? Listen to another Grave Digger & Coffin Ed Novel.
©1959 Chester Himes, copyright renewed 1987 by Lesley Himes (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

".... Real Cool Killers is a picturesque story to which Graham gives expert treatment. " ( Audiofile)

What listeners say about The Real Cool Killers

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not a patch on Rage in Harlem (sorry)

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

After listening to Rage in Harlem, the 1st of Chester Himes Grave Digger and Coffin Ed novels, I wanted more. Chester Himes seems to have changed his style from a hard but poetic prose to something a bit more procedural and simple. No great flashes of description and the story is not as gritty and visceral. It feels a bit plodding. If you haven't read Rage in Harlem then it might be an ok listen.

Has The Real Cool Killers put you off other books in this genre?

No, I love hard-boiled noir and would be interested to see if Chester Hime's flair returns in the next novel as I loved Rage in Harlem and wanted to read the whole series

What does Dion Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Great characters and a great tone

What character would you cut from The Real Cool Killers?

the only dodgy accent is the Irish (at least I think that's what he's trying to do) police commissioner

Any additional comments?

I guess I was spoilt with book 1 and expected something similar. This is a bit more pulp noir and Rage in Harlem was a cut above it

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic from Himes, now for the others

A gripping story, those familiar with Walter Moseley will love it. Now for the next

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