Best Black sleuths, Detectives and gumshoes

1.
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) 3.87 avg rating — 29,362 ratings
2.
Tales of the Astonishing Black Spark
Tales of the Astonishing Black Spark 4.02 avg rating — 100 ratings
3.
Blind Corners
Blind Corners 4.06 avg rating — 18 ratings
4.
5 shots
5 shots 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings
5.
JUDGES: When The Light Lay Still
JUDGES: When The Light Lay Still 3.37 avg rating — 60 ratings
6.
Dying in the Dark (Tamara Hayle, #7)
Dying in the Dark (Tamara Hayle, #7) 4.05 avg rating — 323 ratings
7.
A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1)
A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1) 3.89 avg rating — 7,429 ratings
8.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1) 3.81 avg rating — 273,177 ratings
9.
Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White, #1)
Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White, #1) 3.76 avg rating — 5,131 ratings
10.
Murder in G Major (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries, #1)
Murder in G Major (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries, #1) 3.79 avg rating — 3,060 ratings
11.
Watson and Holmes #1
Watson and Holmes #1 3.64 avg rating — 80 ratings
12.
Blanche Cleans Up (Blanche White #3)
Blanche Cleans Up (Blanche White #3) 4.11 avg rating — 1,287 ratings
13.
Blanche Among the Talented Tenth (Blanche White #2)
Blanche Among the Talented Tenth (Blanche White #2) 3.98 avg rating — 1,810 ratings
14.
Land of Shadows (Detective Elouise Norton, #1)
Land of Shadows (Detective Elouise Norton, #1) 3.85 avg rating — 2,713 ratings
15.
The Left Hand of God
The Left Hand of God 4.07 avg rating — 45 ratings
16.
Chicago Blues
Chicago Blues 3.89 avg rating — 66 ratings
17.
Time of the Assassins
Time of the Assassins 4.21 avg rating — 43 ratings
18.
A Darker Shade of Crimson (Ivy League, #1)
A Darker Shade of Crimson (Ivy League, #1) 3.67 avg rating — 157 ratings
19.
Violent Spring (Ivan Monk, #1)
Violent Spring (Ivan Monk, #1) 3.73 avg rating — 131 ratings
20.
Sex, Murder and a Double Latte (Sophie Katz Murder Mystery, #1)
Sex, Murder and a Double Latte (Sophie Katz Murder Mystery, #1) 3.74 avg rating — 8,373 ratings
21.
Cold Medina
Cold Medina 4.11 avg rating — 209 ratings
21.
Fearless Jones (Fearless Jones, #1)
Fearless Jones (Fearless Jones, #1) 3.92 avg rating — 3,291 ratings
23.
Watson and Holmes - A Study In Black
Watson and Holmes - A Study In Black 3.73 avg rating — 470 ratings
24.
Watson and Holmes: Volume 2
Watson and Holmes: Volume 2 3.81 avg rating — 68 ratings
25.
Harlem Redux
Harlem Redux 4.01 avg rating — 236 ratings
26.
Dead Time (Marti MacAlister, #1)
Dead Time (Marti MacAlister, #1) 3.80 avg rating — 188 ratings
27.
Violent Crimes
Violent Crimes 3.81 avg rating — 54 ratings
28.
Mama Solves A Murder
Mama Solves A Murder 3.92 avg rating — 48 ratings
29.
Inner City Blues (Charlotte Justice, #1)
Inner City Blues (Charlotte Justice, #1) 3.60 avg rating — 197 ratings
30.
Going Nowhere Fast (Joe & Dottie Loudermilk, #1)
Going Nowhere Fast (Joe & Dottie Loudermilk, #1) 3.46 avg rating — 294 ratings
31.
The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1)
The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) 4.20 avg rating — 190,826 ratings
32.
Nairobi Heat
Nairobi Heat 3.26 avg rating — 778 ratings
33.
Shades Of Black: Crime And Mystery Stories By African-American Authors
Shades Of Black: Crime And Mystery Stories By African-American Authors 3.92 avg rating — 106 ratings
34.
Cold Lick (Atlanta Homicide Squad #2)
Cold Lick (Atlanta Homicide Squad #2) 3.18 avg rating — 11 ratings
34.
The Head That Wears The Crown (The Crown Series Book 1)
The Head That Wears The Crown (The Crown Series Book 1) 4.42 avg rating — 19 ratings
34.
Rivers of London (Rivers of London, #1)
Rivers of London (Rivers of London, #1) 3.85 avg rating — 143,991 ratings
34.
A Free Man of Color (Benjamin January, #1)
A Free Man of Color (Benjamin January, #1) 3.98 avg rating — 3,540 ratings
34.
Bluebird, Bluebird (Highway 59, #1)
Bluebird, Bluebird (Highway 59, #1) 3.84 avg rating — 29,015 ratings
34.
Skies of Ash (Detective Elouise Norton, #2)
Skies of Ash (Detective Elouise Norton, #2) 3.94 avg rating — 1,308 ratings
34.
Blue Like Me
Blue Like Me 4.11 avg rating — 631 ratings
34.
Standalone
Standalone 3.71 avg rating — 17 ratings
34.
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes 3.72 avg rating — 284 ratings
43.
Kremlin Tide (Atlanta Homicide Squad #1)
Kremlin Tide (Atlanta Homicide Squad #1) 3.60 avg rating — 15 ratings
43.
Gotham Central, Book One: In the Line of Duty
Gotham Central, Book One: In the Line of Duty 4.35 avg rating — 5,436 ratings
43.
Under Color of Law (Trevor Finnegan, #1)
Under Color of Law (Trevor Finnegan, #1) 4.07 avg rating — 3,808 ratings
43.
Scavenger
Scavenger 4.11 avg rating — 65 ratings
47.
The Crew #1
The Crew #1 2.73 avg rating — 11 ratings
47.
A Reference to Murder (A Book Barn Mystery, #2)
A Reference to Murder (A Book Barn Mystery, #2) 4.05 avg rating — 227 ratings
47.
Every Reasonable Doubt (Vernetta Henderson, #1)
Every Reasonable Doubt (Vernetta Henderson, #1) 4.13 avg rating — 1,761 ratings
47.
The Gone Dead Train (Detective Billy Able, #2)
The Gone Dead Train (Detective Billy Able, #2) 3.63 avg rating — 611 ratings
47.
Trail of Echoes (Detective Elouise Norton, #3)
Trail of Echoes (Detective Elouise Norton, #3) 3.99 avg rating — 1,074 ratings
52.
Black Panther & The Crew: We Are The Streets
Black Panther & The Crew: We Are The Streets 3.80 avg rating — 900 ratings
52.
District X, Volume 1: Mr. M
District X, Volume 1: Mr. M 3.70 avg rating — 274 ratings
52.
The Company You Keep (Kendra Clayton Mysteries, #1)
The Company You Keep (Kendra Clayton Mysteries, #1) 3.56 avg rating — 489 ratings
55.
The Conjure-Man Dies
The Conjure-Man Dies 3.83 avg rating — 1,209 ratings
55.
Hollywood Homicide (Detective by Day, #1)
Hollywood Homicide (Detective by Day, #1) 3.61 avg rating — 2,828 ratings
55.
Saga, Volume 1
Saga, Volume 1 4.16 avg rating — 354,282 ratings
58.
Power Man and Iron Fist, Vol. 1: The Boys are Back in Town
Power Man and Iron Fist, Vol. 1: The Boys are Back in Town 3.80 avg rating — 860 ratings
58.
Sleepy Hollow, Vol. 1 (Sleepy Hollow Comics, #1)
Sleepy Hollow, Vol. 1 (Sleepy Hollow Comics, #1) 3.26 avg rating — 131 ratings
58.
Black Orchid Blues (Lanie Price #2)
Black Orchid Blues (Lanie Price #2) 3.86 avg rating — 323 ratings
61.
Gotham central: Josie Mac
Gotham central: Josie Mac 4.30 avg rating — 10 ratings
61.
Detectives Inc.
Detectives Inc. 3.62 avg rating — 8 ratings
63.
Shaft
Shaft 3.48 avg rating — 286 ratings
63.
Savage Season (Hap and Leonard, #1)
Savage Season (Hap and Leonard, #1) 3.83 avg rating — 8,659 ratings
65.
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1) 4.13 avg rating — 480,589 ratings
65.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: The Salmon of Doubt, Vol. 1
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency: The Salmon of Doubt, Vol. 1 3.71 avg rating — 225 ratings
67.
Soul Circus (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #3)
Soul Circus (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #3) 3.92 avg rating — 2,874 ratings
67.
Wynonna Earp Volume 1: Homecoming (Wynonna Earp #1-6)
Wynonna Earp Volume 1: Homecoming (Wynonna Earp #1-6) 3.93 avg rating — 545 ratings
69.
The Defenders, Vol. 1: Diamonds Are Forever
The Defenders, Vol. 1: Diamonds Are Forever 3.91 avg rating — 1,073 ratings
70.
Dead Of Winter (Louis Kincaid, #2)
Dead Of Winter (Louis Kincaid, #2) 3.97 avg rating — 1,507 ratings
70.
Night Shade - The New Racket [Illustrated]
Night Shade - The New Racket [Illustrated] 3.35 avg rating — 17 ratings
72.
Black Noir: Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction by African-American Writers
Black Noir: Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction by African-American Writers 3.86 avg rating — 160 ratings
73.
Swing Low, Sweet Harriet (Pharoah Love, #2)
Swing Low, Sweet Harriet (Pharoah Love, #2) 3.32 avg rating — 31 ratings
74.
In the Heat of the Night (Virgil Tibbs, #1)
In the Heat of the Night (Virgil Tibbs, #1) 3.92 avg rating — 3,106 ratings
75.
Goldie Vance Vol. 1
Goldie Vance Vol. 1 3.91 avg rating — 6,001 ratings
76.
Precious and the Monkeys (Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases, #1)
Precious and the Monkeys (Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases, #1) 3.86 avg rating — 3,437 ratings
77.
Fat Tuesday (Thomas Black, #4)
Fat Tuesday (Thomas Black, #4) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 393 ratings
77.
Hagar's Daughter (Black Classics Series)
Hagar's Daughter (Black Classics Series) 3.70 avg rating — 121 ratings
79.
Graveyard Dust (Benjamin January, #3)
Graveyard Dust (Benjamin January, #3) 4.11 avg rating — 1,389 ratings
79.
Penny Black (Penny Wanawake #1)
Penny Black (Penny Wanawake #1) 3.27 avg rating — 56 ratings
81.
Blood Red Blues: A Devil Barnett Novel
Blood Red Blues: A Devil Barnett Novel 3.67 avg rating — 12 ratings
81.
Clio Browne: Private Investigator
Clio Browne: Private Investigator 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
83.
Fear of the Dark (Aaron Gunner, #1)
Fear of the Dark (Aaron Gunner, #1) 3.62 avg rating — 106 ratings
84.
Scared Money
Scared Money 3.56 avg rating — 41 ratings
85.
Too Beautiful to Die
Too Beautiful to Die 3.51 avg rating — 47 ratings
86.
A Dangerous Road (Smokey Dalton, #1)
A Dangerous Road (Smokey Dalton, #1) 4.28 avg rating — 968 ratings
86.
Never Kill a Friend
Never Kill a Friend 4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings
88.
Mumbo Jumbo
Mumbo Jumbo 3.85 avg rating — 4,796 ratings
88.
Bewaji's Ankara Adventures (The Aso-Ebi Chronicles, #1)
Bewaji's Ankara Adventures (The Aso-Ebi Chronicles, #1) 3.38 avg rating — 32 ratings
90.
Black Hornet (Lew Griffin, #3)
Black Hornet (Lew Griffin, #3) 3.92 avg rating — 408 ratings
90.
The Barrakee Mystery (Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte #1)
The Barrakee Mystery (Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte #1) 3.80 avg rating — 726 ratings
92.
The Last King: A Maceo Redfield Novel
The Last King: A Maceo Redfield Novel 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
92.
The Steam Pig (Kramer and Zondi Mystery #1)
The Steam Pig (Kramer and Zondi Mystery #1) 3.50 avg rating — 427 ratings
94.
Bloody Harvests
Bloody Harvests 3.65 avg rating — 65 ratings
95.
A Carrion Death (Detective Kubu, #1)
A Carrion Death (Detective Kubu, #1) 3.70 avg rating — 2,195 ratings
96.
Wife of the Gods (Darko Dawson #1)
Wife of the Gods (Darko Dawson #1) 3.78 avg rating — 3,852 ratings
97.
Moonlight Downs (Emily Tempest, #1)
Moonlight Downs (Emily Tempest, #1) 3.80 avg rating — 774 ratings
98.
Nightstalkers #1
Nightstalkers #1 3.64 avg rating — 14 ratings
99.
Green Lantern Corps, Volume 1: Fearsome
Green Lantern Corps, Volume 1: Fearsome 3.94 avg rating — 2,156 ratings
100.
Nick Fury #1
Nick Fury #1 3.39 avg rating — 41 ratings
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