"The Conjuste-Man Dies" is a particularly well written mystery novel authored by a fully mature and accomplished author, Rudolph Fisher. It was published in 1932. It is the last novel of Rudolph Fisher who died shortly after finishing the novel. It is set Harlem and is generally considered the first African American Detective Novel. It is on the shorter side of medium length and is sophisticated while remaining very easily read. I really liked novel, found it very clever, and there were times I did not want to put it down.
I wish to emphasize that I really enjoyed this novel strictly as a detective novel. I do not easily find this novel easy to compare to,other detective novels written in America at the time in question. It is not a "Noir" type novel such as a Dashiell Hammett or a Raymond Chandler work. It is combines an elegant Police Detective, working alongside a traditional physican interacting with characters from the streets of Harlem. The plot is somewhat complex and clever.
The novel is also very interesting to me individually as an African American work. I study African American Literature as a specific area of interest, not to the exclusion of other Literature. My literary interests are eclectic. Rudolph Fisher is a member of an Art and Literature Movement known as The Harlem Renaissance. Many of these individuals are highly educated and sophisticated. Their work reflects that. My favorite author of The Harlem Renaissance is James Weldon Johnson. From reading James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography, I know these two gentlemen knew each other. I don't know how well. But their elegance, sophistication, and style of composition of fiction remind me of each other. James Weldon Johnson's novel "An Autobiography of An Ex Colored Man" remains my favorite African American Novel. This novel under review compares favorably with James Weldon Johnson.
In summary I really liked this novel. If one enjoys mystery novels, this novel is a fun, clever work. It is not "Noir". As far as I am concerned it is also significant in the context of American Literary History. I am really glad to have come across this fine novel. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.
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A must have
This is a page Turner. It was written during the Harlem Renaissance but it is timeless. Interesting twists and turns. The author used great descriptive words and storytelling for the reader to visualize what going on. This would be a good movie. It’s and entertaining story.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2021
This is a page Turner. It was written during the Harlem Renaissance but it is timeless. Interesting twists and turns. The author used great descriptive words and storytelling for the reader to visualize what going on. This would be a good movie. It’s and entertaining story.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2010
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2016
Top reviews from other countries
Kindle Customer
Fantastic mystery, keeps you guessing to last moment
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2018
Teddy Hayes
Really nice to look back to the beginning of black detective ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2017