Mysteries by Black Authors

Technically, this is not a short story. It is an excerpt from Hurston's Novel "Moses: Man of the Mountain". The novel is Zora Neale Hurston's retelling of the story of Moses. I will say that after reading this excerpt, I want to read the full novel.

This story begins with the last plague that struck Egypt.

Throughout the story, Hurston links the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt to Black people gaining freedom by writing in a southern Black voice. Hurston makes this a Black story just by using dialect. The way she handles how the Israelites would have handled the sudden realization of freedom is perfect. I know these people and I can see them very clearly. The way the Israelites were quick to complain and give up, is right in line with how people react to sudden change. Even when the change is for their benefit.

Hurston is a master of saying so much in so few words. I am looking forward to reading the next short story "The Tablets of the Law" which is also an excerpt from the Novel.

Sept of 2021 was the last episode in this series. Started in May 2020.

Returning to finish/ Three more stories to go.

Go to ifoundthisgreatbook.com/zora for all of the previous discussions of Hurston’s short stories.

Alice Ruth Moore was born in 1875 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Part of the first generation of black people born after the abolishment of slavery. Her mother lived her early life in enslavement. Alice comes from a heritage of Black and Creole.

Alice is a woman more people should research and read. She achieved as a musician, teacher and later writer. Her poems, essays and short stories are part of the building blocks that formed the Harlem Renaissance.

In 1898 Alice eloped with Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Their marriage ended during to the abusive behavior of Paul. In 1902, Alice separated from Paul. Paul died in 1906. Alice latter married poet and civil rights activist Robert J. Nelson. Thus the reason why she is remembered as Alice Dunbar-Nelson.

Alice should be remembered for the works of literature she produced during a time when society and tradition were forces opposing her. Her talent and determination made a way for her to create works that have lasted over 100 years.

In “Summer Session” we have a short story that starts out as a story of two men fighting for the attentions of a woman and has a twist that turns it into a police thriller. All this in 5 pages. The story starts with an argument between Elise and Logan about if she was flirting with a taxi driver who stopped to help Elise navigate the congested streets. There is a tension created by Elise having conflicted feelings about Logan who is a school principal and has the power to affect her teaching career. Then there are new found feelings for the taxi driver who is referred to as “the Taxi Adonis”.

Passion grows, there is a physical confrontation between Logan and “the Taxi Adonis”, a city wide kidnapping alert, and a captivating twist.

This short story will make you want to read more of Alice Dunbar-Nelson’s works. Her ability to tell a captivating story is inspiring.

You can find this story in Paula L. Woods anthology of Black mystery, crime and suspense fiction of the 20th century, “Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes”. This book is a good way to get an overview of the history of Black crime fiction writers by reading short stories and excerpts of their works.

A collection of short stories by Alice Dunbar-Nelson is available in ebook and paper back. You can also find collections of her poetry. She was also an accomplished writer of essays.

https://bookshop.org/a/6792/9781528719995

Episode 153

Nicole Glover

The Seekers

4th book in The Murder and Magic Series

Book Blurb:

In the 1960s, the world was caught up in reaching beyond our planet and into the cosmos. It felt impossible—but there was nothing science, math…and magic couldn’t make possible. The race to space was on, and the Moon was what everyone had their eyes on.

Including Cynthia Rhodes, a brilliant arcane engineer at NASA’s Ainsworth Research Labs. Talented in math and magic, she hosts a magical educational show... a job she took mostly for a chance to regularly see the dashing Theodore Danner, a professor of arcane archeology.

She is also an amateur sleuth—something that has run in her family for generations.

When a cursed museum curator nearly interrupts a broadcast of their show, Cynthia finds an eager sleuthing partner in Theo. Pairing up, they begin investigating the strange behavior of the curator and a mysterious theft at the arcane history museum—until one of Cynthia’s own coworkers perishes right in front of her in a major lab accident that endangers Ainsworth’s role in the space race.

Certain it was murder instead of an accident, Cynthia sees this as a separate case at first. However the more she and Theo investigate, Cynthia uncovers a surprising link between the two incidents. The museum theft and murder are part of a larger equation—one that includes deadly enchantments, rumored pirate treasure, a peculiar plant, and a dire threat to the space program as well as everything she holds dear.

Interview with Ms. Glover after her first book in the series

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/interviews/a-conversation-with-mystery-author-nicole-glover/

Bryan Patric Avory

The Spy in the Gymnasium

The Spy at the Zoo

The Spy in the Museum

The Spy in the Library

4 books - the Junior Spy series

Main characters - Kat and Harry

Blurb for “The Spy. In the Gymnasium:

The Junior Spies are at it again! This time, Kat and Harry go undercover on their school’s basketball team. Their mission is to protect the star player, Remy. But when Remy gets kidnapped, the Junior Spies suspect a R.A.V.E.N. agent might be in their midst. Can they find the hoops hero and uncover the evil agent hiding in their school? Young readers will find out in this hi-lo spy adventure! With a high-interest topic and text written below the targeted grade level, every book in the Junior Spies series supports phonics skills and fosters reading success.

Valerie Wilson Wesly

The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum

Historical Mystery - new series - A Harriet Stone Mystery

1926: Harriet Stone, a liberated, educated Black woman, and Lovey, the orphaned, biracial, 12-year-old she is bound to protect are Harlem-bound, embarking on a new, hopefully less traumatic, chapter in their lives. They have been invited to move from Connecticut by Harriet’s cousin, Junetta Plum, who runs a boarding house for independent-minded single women. It’s a bold move since Harriet has never met Junetta, but the fatalities of the Spanish flu and other tragedies have already forced her and Lovey to face their worst fears. Alone except for each other, they have little left to lose—or so it seems as they arrive at sophisticated Junetta’s impressive brownstone.

Her cousin has a sharp edge that makes Harriett slightly uncomfortable. Still, after retiring to her room for the night, she finally falls asleep—only to awaken to Junetta arguing with someone downstairs. In the morning, she makes a shocking discovery at the foot of the stairs. What ensues will lead Harriet to question Junetta’s very identity—and to wonder if she and Lovey are in danger as well. It will also tie Harriet to five strangers. Among them, Harriet is sure someone knows something. What she doesn’t yet know is that one will play a crucial role in helping her investigate her cousin’s murder...that she will be tied to the others in ways she could never imagine...and that her life will take off in a startling new direction....

Tracy Clark

Edge

Fourth book in the Detective Harriett Foster series

Chicago’s finest are scouring the city for a tainted new opioid making the rounds, but they’re coming up empty. With five people already dead—a college kid, a new mother, and three poker players—all they really know is the drug’s name: Edge. Where it’s coming from is still anyone’s guess.

Detective Harriet Foster doesn’t have time for guessing games. She needs answers. And when the next overdose hits Homicide where it hurts most, Harri is determined to get what she wants. But keeping her eyes squarely on the prize proves harder than expected.

Still reeling from her last case (and the stain of suspicion it left on her career), Harri finds herself at a tipping point. The drug isn’t the only edge she needs to worry about. If she can’t come back from her own, there’s no telling whether this investigation will lead to a satisfying conclusion…or her own demise.

I have had the honor to interview Ms. Clark.

After the publication of the fourth book in her Chicago Mystery series “Runner” https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/interviews/talking-with-mystery-author-tracy-clark/

And after the publication of the first book in the Detective Harriet Foster series “Hide” https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/interviews/tracy-clark-hide/

Barbara Howard

Code War Cleveland

In the heart of Cleveland's tech scene, two brilliant minds are about to collide - two rivals, one conspiracy, zero margin for error.

Kennedy Wyatt's cybersecurity firm is her life's work, built from the ground up to protect minority-owned businesses from digital threats. But when a mysterious wave of attacks begins targeting companies like hers, she discovers a conspiracy that runs deeper than mere code. Enter Isaiah Binutu, a charismatic rival CEO whose innovative software seems suspiciously similar to Kennedy's latest project. As their professional rivalry heats up at Cleveland's prestigious TechCLE conference, a series of escalating threats forces them to consider the unthinkable: working together. With their families under attack, their companies at risk, and a shadowy corporation pulling strings, Kennedy and Isaiah must navigate a maze of betrayal, corporate espionage, and their own complicated feelings for each other. The stakes? Their companies' futures-and their lives. From the bustling West Side Market to the serene shores of Lake Erie, this romantic suspense races through Cleveland's landmarks as two competitors-turned-allies fight to expose a conspiracy that threatens everything they've built. But in a world where digital footprints can be erased, identities stolen, and time is running out to separate friend from foe. Can they really believe in each other?

In a digital battlefield, trust is the ultimate hack.

Angela Henry

Nobody Heard A Thing

New Thriller

I was the only one there that day. I saw it all. I heard her cry.

It’s been twenty-five years since she vanished. Whoever took Brooke has walked free for all those years, watching the chaos as guilt consumed my life.

Now a documentary maker is digging into the cold case. They want to finally solve the mystery no one else could. But the person behind Brooke’s disappearance would do anything—even kill—to keep their secrets hidden.

And they know I’m the only witness…

V.M. Burns

Murder From A to Z

Extensive Cozy Mystery Series

New book in the Mystery Bookshop series - book #11

When Michigan bookshop owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington and her sister, Jenna, agreed to host a class for seniors on estate planning, they didn’t plan on discovering shady doings at Shady Acres Retirement Village . . .

Nana Jo has volunteered her lawyer granddaughter, Jenna, to teach estate planning to retirees—with Sam providing her bookshop as the venue. But during the seminar, entitled Getting Your Ducks in Order, it quickly becomes clear someone’s up to Fowl Play. When elderly Alva Tarkington, accompanied by her niece, sits down for a consultation, Sam realizes the woman’s frequent blinking is actually Morse Code—S.O.S. The sisters get her alone, and Alva tells them she believes her life is in danger and must change her will . . .

Unfortunately, Alva is found dead the next day—seemingly from natural causes. But Nana Jo and the sisters suspect otherwise. In between penning her latest historical mystery, set in 1939 as England declares war on Germany and Lady Elizabeth Marsh pursues stolen paintings and a traitor, Sam teams up with the senior sleuths of Shady Acres to search for motives—beginning with Alva’s family. They soon learn not everyone is who they say they are, and someone is more than qualified to teach a class on cold-blooded murder . . .

I had extreme honor of interviewing Ms. Burns in 2020 - https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/interviews/vm-burns-interview/

Items to check out

Cheryl Head is the winner of this year's Saints and Sinners Literary Festival fiction contest with her story "By Any Other Name")

There is a great interview with Ms. Head on The Short Mystery Fiction Society Blog. Link in the show notes.

The society is the home of the Derringer Awards.

It is free to join. They have discussion groups and submission calls.

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is for writers, editors, publishers, agents, reviewers, readers - anyone interested in short crime fiction.

You can check it out at shortmystery.blogspot.com

Updates on the podcast and website

I am rebuilding my directory of Black Crime Writers and their books. I currently have 302 books in the directory. I have over 400 more to add.

You can check out the directory by going to ifoundthisgreatbook.com/bmad

In this episode I discuss the second book in Angela Henry's Xavier Knight series, Knight's Shade.

I also discuss three new books I recently added to my directory of crime fiction by Black authors.

Finally, I discuss why the podcast has been on such a long pause and what are my plans for the podcast in the future.

You can find all the books discussed and more here:

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/podcast-episode/knights-shade-angela-henry/

For the second time, I have had the honor to interview award winning mystery author Tracy Clark. We talk about the first book in her new Detective Harriet Foster mystery series, "Hide".

Tracy provides some great insights into the creation of her new sleuth, Harriet Foster. Listen to this interview to find out why Ms. Clark gave her sleuth three incredible heavy burdens to carry while she attempts to hunt down a serial killer who is targeting red hair women with deep blue eyes. You will also discover why her sleuth, Harriet Foster, must be paired with the one person in the detective squad everyone tries to avoid. We learn why for Harriet it is this job or nothing. Tracy provides some great insights into how she gets into the mind of the serial killer.

And so much more.

Tracy Clark, author of "Hide"- Interviews - I Found This Great Book

You can find Tracy Clark on Twitter @tracypc6161 and her website: www.tracyclarkbooks.com

Fay Snowden's Website: Noir mystery writer | Faye Snowden

I had the immense pleasure to talk with mystery author Faye Snowden. Her latest book is "A Killing Rain" and features her sleuth, Raven Burns. "A Killing Rain" is the second book in the Raven Burns series of mysteries.

We Discuss

My final discussion of the novels by Jessie Redmon Fauset is with Tonia Ransom from The Nightlight Podcast. We dig deep into Fauset's novel "Comedy: American Style". This novel explores the desires of a family matriarch's commitment to passing for white and the effect it has on her children. Faucet presents the dynamics of passing from several different perspectives. Tonia's deep and personal views on the story are a delight to hear. We also delve into how Fauset presents the world of the Black middle and upper class of Philadelphia in the 1920s. Our conversation also explores the way Jessie depicts the lives of women during this period of history.

Tonia Ransom is the creator of the Nightlight podcast. The podcast is dedicated to showcasing horror fiction by Black authors. You will hear new and classic horror fiction by Black authors professionally read. If you have an interest in horror and always wanted to find stories in the genre that center Black people, this podcast is perfect for you. Tonia also features interviews with many of the authors of the works presented. In 2021, the podcast earned the IGNYTE award for Best Fiction Podcast. When Tonia is not producing an award-winning podcast, she is busy writing her own horror fiction.

You can explore the Nightlight podcast here. NIGHTLIGHT – A Black Horror Podcast (nightlightpod.com)

Also, you can listen to a previous interview I conducted with Tonia here.

A Conversation with Mystery Author Nicole Glover - I Found This Great Book

Nicole Glovers books "The Conductors" and "The Undertakers" are historical mystery set in post civil war Philidelphia. The sleuths Hetty and Benjy solve murder mysteries with magic.

• 03:00 – Nicole discusses her motivation for creating The Conductors.
• 04:13 – Nicole provides details on her research process. She provides some insightful information on the fact and myths of life during the Pre and Post Civil War period.
• 14:13 – We discuss the magic system created for The Conductors and The Undertakers.
• 19:33 – We discuss the relationship between Benjy and Hetty. Nicole gives insight on how she includes a romance story thread in her books.
• 24:51 – We explore how Hetty and Benjy work together as a team to solve the murder mystery.
• 27:39 – We talk about how Nocole Glover's Magic and Murder series uses post civil war Philidelphia as its setting. Especially the lesser-known Black community.
• 30:23 – We discuss the second book in the series, The Undertakers.
• 42:28 – Nicole gives us insight into her writing process.

Alverne Ball

https://www.ifoundthisgreatbook.com/interviews/a-conversation-with-alverne-ball-mystery-and-graphic-novel-author/

Author of the Frank Calhoun police procedurals series

• Only the Holy Remain
• Blue Religion

And the New Graphic Novel – "Across the Tracks: Remembering the Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street"

We discuss

Alverne's sleuth Frank Calhoun who has some heavy demons he is fighting. Alverne provides insight into the character and his reasons for creating Frank Calhoun.

We discussed the relationship between Frank Calhoun and his partner Fred Lions. How two Black police officers are seen by others as similar when the reality is so very different.

Alverne shares the details on his research process of this book.

We learn how the city of Chicago plays an important role in both books in the series.

Alverne digs deep into how his mysteries explore the relationship between the Black community and the police force. Also, the relationship between Black police officers and the community.

We discuss the new graphic novel ("Across the Tracks:") by Alverne Ball and illustrator Stacey Robinson.

Alverne explains how this graphic novel brings a new approach to telling the story of the Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street.

Alverne shares some news about his future projects

Related Links

5 Things I Learned About Writing From Watching Soap Operas - Writer's Digest (writersdigest.com)

https://youtu.be/UaDZyhvow_o

Follow Alverne Ball on social media

Twitter: @AlverneBall

Facebook: /AlverneBall

Instagram: @alverneball

Dani and Mollie from the Black Chick Lit podcast join me to discuss Jessie Redmon Fauset's third novel, "The Chinaberry Tree". A fascinating novel that explores the lives of three black women in a small suburban town in early 1900s New Jersey. The novel explores their desire for respectability and security through marriage. But a family secret lingers in the background of their lives and threatens to disrupt all their dreams.

In the first 30 minutes we have a spoiler free discussion of the book and Molli and Dani provide great insights on how Faucet's classic work share similarity to some contemporary literary genres. The remaining portions of the discussion dig deep into the characters and the dynamics of life depicted in this novel.

Dani and Molli bring great wisdom and fun to the discussion of this novel.

Black Chick Lit is a bi-monthly podcast that talks books by and about black women. Each month, they host an in-depth look at a title written by a black woman and its author. Dani and Mollie read across genres and forms, including literary fiction, non-fiction, YA, poetry, and urban fiction. Previous episodes include Queen Sugar, by Natalie Baszile; The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas; and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

In between book discussion episodes, they host Black Chit Lit Chats. Each month, they ask listeners to share their opinions about different aspects of reader life. Check out this episode where we discuss books every black woman should read.