Customer Reviews

Real Cool Killers

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chester Himes stands a bit apart- and perhaps a bit above- most of the mid-century crime and suspense novelists that this re-issue series collects. The action and the energy level are the equal of any writer in the genre, and for pure readability he's one of the most entertaining. But there is clearly some valid literary intent here as well, and as a result bookstores have never been quite sure where to place the few novels he wrote about Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones.

Himes' background as a black ex-convict (and eventual expatriate) add to his interesting perspective as he tries to capture- or, more accurately, caricature- the violence and the "comic chaos" (his phrase) of the Harlem Renaissance. Coffin Ed and Gravedigger are two ruthless detectives caught between their own people and the white law that employs them; they really don't fit into any group other than themselves. They are outsiders who believe strongly in order and in the guns they carry, but are often conflicted, and occasionally even divided.

This is probably the best and the tightest of Himes' stories with these characters; it is a fabulous read and one I will return to often over the years. The world Himes conjures is savage and disturbing, and the characters are eccentric to the point of being circus freaks, but are always believable and compelling. This is the kind of book that will leave you trying to describe scenes to your friends.

Coffin Ed and Gravedigger may be the greatest individual creations of a very rich genre. I'd say start here.

These mid-century crime novels are a favorite genre of mine, but I didn't know much about Chester Himes before picking this one up. The mystery itself is interesting but secondary in importance to the setting of Harlem and the many characters that live there. Himes has a great style and he uses dialect just enough to give us a sense of setting.

Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Johnson have names that sound like a couple of cops that don't mind putting the occasional criminal under the grass -- and they do. They're introduced shortly after the opening murder and they prove themselves immediately tough and competent.

Gravedigger and Coffin learn that the mystery goes deeper than one shooting. (It usually does in these kinds of novels). What's interesting is the way the people of Harlem respects these black cops, but still don't trust them. Their ability is even respected by the white cops that don't mind uttering the frequent racial slur towards the casual citizenry. Gravedigger and Coffin are in a world between the white establishment and the everyday people of Harlem. The conflict creates the same kind of tension that Marlowe and Spade have with the regular police.

You can also give Himes credit for not stereotyping any of the characters black or white. The white cops aren't all corrupt and the blacks aren't all angels. The book made for a quick and interesting getaway.

Based on this book (the only one of his that I have read so far), Himes is an excellent stylist. The prose is tough and muscular, rough-hewn and perfectly suited to the subject matter. In its own way, it equals the prose of Jim Thompson. Himes' view of a morally-decrepit urban setting is the standard stuff of noir, but seen through a kind of angry be-bop lens. Excellent symbolism is present as well, particularly in the character of the old grandmother, who haunts me still.

You never know what's going to happen next. Easy and quick read. Great for a short trip. Set in the 50's but racial messages still apply today. Unsettling in a societal sense.

Although the dialogue is terrific and snappy, the plot is pointless and kind of ludicrous. Also, this one shows its age.

"Gravedigger" Jones and "Coffin Ed" Johnson are the best cop duo ever. They will stop at nothing--and I mean nothing--to solve a crime and bring justice to a 1960s Harlem where white cops won't even go. They are the antidote to today's politically correct sleuths who have to gush their feelings all over the place before they can solve a crime. These guys are refreshingly raw and brutal, and if you don't know Himes work, do yourself a favor and pick up THE REAL COOL KILLERS. No author has influenced my writing more than this man. Check him out.

The book I ordered was in great condition and is a good, hardcore crime novel and an exciting read. I will definitely order another, Chester Himes book from this book dealer. Thanks!

The Real Cool Killers, a novel by an African-American about African-Americans, is a remarkably well written example of pulp fiction. It features NYPD detective Grave Digger Jones who is called upon to solve the murder of a white man shot to death while running from pursuers on a busy Harlem street.
Author Chester Himes succeeds in grabbing the reader's attention with a superbly composed first chapter. It's a chapter that plays out like a masterfully choreographed ballet. A violent and bloody ballet but a ballet nonetheless.
After that the reader is treated to a fast paced, interesting narrative that expertly touches upon the many social ills that plague those forced by racism to live in urban slums. The many characters are vividly drawn and the plentiful dialogue is remarkably authentic. As one reads the lines of dialogue, it's quite easy to "hear" the inflections and other nuances in the voices of the various characters.
True to the conventions of pulp fiction, Himes has crafted a work that is violent, cruel and unapologetically downbeat in its depiction of the lives lived by the characters. I think it would be fair to say that Himes pulled very few punches in describing the dysfunctional aspects of 1950s Harlem.
With a narrative that unfolds over the course of just a few hours, The Real Cool Killers, is also notable for its well structured plot, its effective use of humor despite the seriousness of the subject matter and its overall respect for the intelligence of the reader.
An outstanding novel. Highly recommended.

All of the Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson books are worth reading. This might be a good place to start, as you'll learn more here about the protagonists' personal lives than you will in other novels. Himes was a great stylist, and one of the most important post-WW 2 American writers.

This is the proverbial "it". The characters, the action, the dialogue, everything is here and it all works perfectly. A true classic. Like jazzed-up Chandler or Moseley with a sense of humor.