Crook Manifesto

by Colson Whitehead

First published 2024

It's 1971 in New York City. Trash piles up, crime is rampant, and furniture store owner Ray Carney tries to keep his head down. But his old sidekick Pepper drags him back into a world of hijackings, heists, and shady characters. As the city descends into chaos, Carney must navigate a crumbling metropolis run by the corrupt and violent to protect his family. At the core, Carney just wants a normal life, but his past refuses to stay buried. Fans of gritty urban crime sagas will be riveted.

Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, 21st-century

Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family

Setting: Harlem (New York, N.Y.)

Period: the 1970s

336 pages · Paperback · Vintage

Content warnings: violence

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