The Real Cool Killers
by Chester Himes
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Book Summary Information
Author: Chester HimesEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1988-11-28
ISBN: 0679720391
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Vintage
Book Reviews of The Real Cool Killers
Book Review: A busy night in Harlem.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Real Cool Killers, a novel by an African-American about African-Americans, is a remarkably well written example of pulp fiction. It features NYPD detective Grave Digger Jones who is called upon to solve the murder of a white man shot to death while running from pursuers on a busy Harlem street.
Author Chester Himes succeeds in grabbing the reader's attention with a superbly composed first chapter. It's a chapter that plays out like a masterfully choreographed ballet. A violent and bloody ballet but a ballet nonetheless.
After that the reader is treated to a fast paced, interesting narrative that expertly touches upon the many social ills that plague those forced by racism to live in urban slums. The many characters are vividly drawn and the plentiful dialogue is remarkably authentic. As one reads the lines of dialogue, it's quite easy to "hear" the inflections and other nuances in the voices of the various characters.
True to the conventions of pulp fiction, Himes has crafted a work that is violent, cruel and unapologetically downbeat in its depiction of the lives lived by the characters. I think it would be fair to say that Himes pulled very few punches in describing the dysfunctional aspects of 1950s Harlem.
With a narrative that unfolds over the course of just a few hours, The Real Cool Killers, is also notable for its well structured plot, its effective use of humor despite the seriousness of the subject matter and its overall respect for the intelligence of the reader.
An outstanding novel. Highly recommended.
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