Books like Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
In 1971, amid escalating crime and a violent clash between the NYPD and the Black Liberation Army, ex-fence Ray Carney struggles to keep his furniture store afloat. When his daughter needs Jackson 5 tickets, he turns to his old police contact, Munson, whose requests pull Carney deeper into the city’s underworld. By 1973, the counter‑culture is reshaping New York, and Carney’s partner Pepper takes a side job protecting a blaxploitation film crew in Harlem, exposing them to Hollywood stars, comedians, and drug dealers. In 1976, as the city burns and Bicentennial celebrations loom, Carney’s wife campaigns for a rising politician while a fire injures one of his tenants. Together, Carney and Pepper confront a corrupt metropolis, balancing criminal enterprise with personal loyalty.
"Crook Manifesto" blends crime thriller elements with a vivid portrait of 1970s New York, exploring themes of racism, politics, and the criminal underworld.
First publish date: 2023
Genre: Crime Fiction/Criminal Underworld
Authors: Colson Whitehead
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