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eliznhenry's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
v4mpirem0ney's review against another edition
4.0
typical landlord behavior to be totally chill with a tenant dying since he wasn't behind on rent
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
Originally published in 1932, this Harlem-based novel is the first detective novel written by an African-American. It was an absolute delight from start to finish and my only regret is this is only novel written by this author. He seamlessly integrated his own medical training and knowledge into the story, bringing an added dimension and layer of authenticity. This would have made for a wonderful detective series. The edition I read I included a short story featuring the two main characters, which showed just how much potential there was.
The two main characters are Perry Dart, one of Harlem's ten black police detectives, and Dr. John Archer, a black physician. The two meet when Dart is called to investigate the murder of an African conjure-man in a consultation room across the street from Dr. Archer. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter between the two and how they worked together to solve the complex crime which is linked to the conjure-man's past. They are helped and, at times, hindered by two local neighborhood boys, Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins. I found the mystery to be complex, compelling, and well-paced throughout. I could not wait to find out how the mystery would be resolved and was left guessing until the final reveal.
The publishers decided to maintain the original language used when this novel was originally published and notes at beginning that it may be jarring to a modern reader. While it was reflective of the time, there is a fair amount of language that would be considered racist if used today. Even with the word of warning, I was still taken aback early in the reading experience but kept this in mind. I will add that it did not detract from my reading experience and I highly recommend this novel to fans of classic detective stories and those who are interested in learning more about life in Harlem in the early 1930s.
I was one of the lucky winners of a HarperCollins sweepstakes and received a paperback edition of this novel as well -- many thanks to HarperCollins! I'm so grateful they republished this American classic and given a new generation a chance to discover this hidden gem.
The two main characters are Perry Dart, one of Harlem's ten black police detectives, and Dr. John Archer, a black physician. The two meet when Dart is called to investigate the murder of an African conjure-man in a consultation room across the street from Dr. Archer. I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter between the two and how they worked together to solve the complex crime which is linked to the conjure-man's past. They are helped and, at times, hindered by two local neighborhood boys, Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins. I found the mystery to be complex, compelling, and well-paced throughout. I could not wait to find out how the mystery would be resolved and was left guessing until the final reveal.
The publishers decided to maintain the original language used when this novel was originally published and notes at beginning that it may be jarring to a modern reader. While it was reflective of the time, there is a fair amount of language that would be considered racist if used today. Even with the word of warning, I was still taken aback early in the reading experience but kept this in mind. I will add that it did not detract from my reading experience and I highly recommend this novel to fans of classic detective stories and those who are interested in learning more about life in Harlem in the early 1930s.
I was one of the lucky winners of a HarperCollins sweepstakes and received a paperback edition of this novel as well -- many thanks to HarperCollins! I'm so grateful they republished this American classic and given a new generation a chance to discover this hidden gem.
jbrins1's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
maddiepalmer443's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
heyimaghost's review
5.0
I love the way he writes. He's extremely clever--sometimes too clever for me--and very witty. Going in to this, I wasn't expecting it to be as funny as it was. I was drawn in by the mystery of the main story and also by the short story included at the end, but I have to say the conclusion to both was just not nearly as satisfying as I expected. My copy contains both The Conjure-Man Dies and John Archer's Nose. I finished the short story standing in my kitchen and just started shouting 'What!?' My girlfriend was alarmed. It came out of nowhere. It was the same with The Conjure-Man Dies. I feel like the endings could've been better, but the writing prose deserves five stars. I don't usually like American authors, though I'm kind of coming around on that. I also don't usually go for this time period, but also, coming around on that. It's all about finding the right authors and the right novels. I highly recommend this novel.
ebonyutley's review against another edition
I didn’t know The Conjure Man Dies was the first mystery written by a black author. They had me at conjure and Harlem. I like to read the places I live, and I like to read about that mystic life so it was a no brainer. For a murder mystery, the book is incredibly funny. The dialog is witty and smart, so smart sometimes the rabbit holes are distracting, but all in all it was worth it. I spent the whole book asking “Who killed Frimbo?” And up until the last few pages there were surprises. Usually, I get to the end of a mystery or a thriller like, “yeah, okay, saw this coming,” but I honestly didn’t see this conclusion. For that, I give Fisher his props. Also his vocabulary is impressive. Rarely do I read a contemporary novel and need to look up a word, but the Conjure Man made me pull out the electronic dictionary, and I loved it. My critique is that the African stereotypes are offputting for sure and some of the escapism was farfetched, but when Fisher writes about what he knows, I trust his construction of Harlem and look forward to visiting the places he describes in present day.