On Interbellum Black Crime Yarns

Too-infrequent Rap Sheet contributor Gary Phillips has a terrific new article in the Los Angeles Review of Books about black crime fiction of the 1920s and ’30s. He mentions not only several novels penned during that period (such as Dr. Rudolph Fisher’s The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem), but also more recent works of detective fiction set between World Wars I and II (including Robert Skinner’s Wesley Farrell mysteries). Phillips’ piece is definitely worth an examination. Be warned, though: it may well inspire you to add some of the books referenced to your reading pile.