Delia C. Pitts’ “Black and Blue in Harlem”: A Review of the #DiverseDetectives Series

I highly recommend Black and Blue in Harlem to fans of crime/mystery novels and diverse detectives.

Book Review: Black and Blue in Harlem by J.M. Pitts

Pub. Date: February 4th 2019 I FriesenPress I Pages: 144 I Crime/Mystery I CW: Alcohol addiction

SJ Rook is a hard-luck private eye in Harlem, trying to rebuild his life after hitting rock bottom. But when he arrives home one night to find his apartment building is a crime scene, he joins forces with his friend Detective Archie Lin to investigate the death of his neighbor Nomie George. Was it a suicide or a brutal murder?

Black and Blue in Harlem is the third book in the Ross Agency mystery series and it’s a great read. Pitts does an excellent job of bringing Harlem alive for the reader and the characters are all round characters with lives and problems of their own. Rook is a complex character who struggles with alcohol addiction, so please check the content warning before reading.

I highly recommend Black and Blue in Harlem to fans of crime/mystery novels and diverse detectives. Don’t forget to add the books to your Goodreads TBR here for the next book in the series, Pauper and Prince in Harlem, which is slated for release in summer 2019!

Archives
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me – The Colin Clark Diaries
Uncategorized
admin

The Prince, The Showgirl and Me – The Colin Clark Diaries

‘The Prince, The Showgirl and Me’ are a set of extracts from the Diaries of Colin Clark for the six months he was on the sets of a movie starring Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. The movie, ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ was shot in its entirety at Pinewood Studios, on the outskirts of London and … Continue reading The Prince, The Showgirl and Me – The Colin Clark Diaries…

Read More »
February 22, 2023 No Comments
Book Reviews
admin

Marjorie Grant’s 1921 Novel “Latchkey Ladies”

I have been having a rather good month reading things for #ReadIndies all of which have turned out to be great. Latchkey Ladies by Marjorie Grant was a Christmas present from family, and one of three Handheld Press books I have tbr. I am glad I chose this one as it turned out to be […]…

Read More »
February 21, 2023 No Comments
Book Lists
admin

Picture Books to Prepare Kids for the School Year

Back-to-school season is always so exciting. I remember the thrill of new backpacks, new pencils and notebooks, and even new shoes! But, not every kid finds the season as fun as some do. For some kids, it can be depressing, scary, or just plain intimidating to return to a new or old school. The great thing about books, however, is that they strive to cover a wide range of experiences — and that’s what this list of back-to-school picture books is about. Whether your kids love school or dread the first day of school, there’s an encouraging tale for them on…

Read More »
February 21, 2023 No Comments
1930s
admin

D.E. Stevenson’s Novel “The Empty World”

Did you know that D.E. Stevenson had written a post-apocalyptic novel? I didn’t, until I read the description of this one and was intrigued by how different it sounded from her usual light romances and family sagas. First published in 1936, it’s available in ebook format from independent publisher Lume Books. I’m not sure whether … Continue reading The Empty World by D.E. Stevenson…

Read More »
February 21, 2023 No Comments
Book Lists
admin

Exploring Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Girls

Graphic novels are such a unique format — for kids and adults alike — and I cannot make enough lists about them. Really, we have an entire series of graphic novel recommendations by age (for ages eight, nine, ten, and eleven). This list of middle grade graphic novels for girls is for graphic novels featuring female protagonists. Of course, the books on this list aren’t only for girls but may appeal more to them!
The post Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Girls appeared first on Reading Middle Grade….

Read More »
February 20, 2023 No Comments

Exploring the Historical Accuracy of Real People and Fictional Characters in Musings #78

Welcome to my monthly post on all things historical fiction! This month, I’m going to look at two different kinds of historical novel – those that insert fictional characters into historical settings and those that focus on real historical figures. The second type of book is sometimes referred to as a ‘biographical novel’ and ranges … Continue reading Historical Musings #78: Real people or fictional?…

Read More »
February 19, 2023 No Comments