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All Shot Up

By Chester Himes
Penguin Classics
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.85 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
All Shot Up by Chester Himes plunges readers into the chaotic and gritty underworld of Harlem. Amidst a backdrop of racial tension and social upheaval, detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones unravel a complex web of crime, corruption, and intrigue. Their quest to restore order is marked by fast-paced action, vivid characters, and sharp humour, reflecting the turbulent 1960s American landscape.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to gritty urban landscapes and hard-edged crime narratives. Its fast-paced plot and vivid depiction of Harlem, along with sharp social commentary, make it a thrilling read for fans of noir fiction.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A gritty, hilarious detective novel from Harlem's master crime writer.

A golden Cadillac big enough to cross the ocean has been seen sailing along the streets of Harlem. A hit-and-run victim's been hit so hard she got embedded in the wall of a convent. A shootout with three heistmen dressed as cops has left an important politician in a coma—and a lot of money missing. And Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are the ones who have to piece it all together.

All Shot Up is chaotic, bloody—and completely unforgettable. Chester Himes wrote detective fiction darker, dirtier and more extreme than anyone else dared.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

All Shot Up by Chester Himes is lauded as a significant work in American crime fiction, often compared to the likes of Raymond Chandler's style. Reviewers praise Himes for his stunning descriptive prowess, chaotic yet compelling plots, and surreal, often grotesque characters. Esteemed as a master in the crime genre, his novels are described as powerful reflections on the human condition, blending a tough yet nuanced narrative with elements of both comedy and tragedy.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241521120

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 157g

Pages: 208

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Chester Himes Crime & Thriller Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books New Release Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: Crime & Thriller Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Chester Himes was born in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1909 and grew up in Cleveland. Aged 19 he was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to 25 years in jail. In jail he began to write short stories, some of which were published in Esquire magazine. Upon release he took a variety of jobs, from working in a California shipyard to journalism to script-writing, while continuing to write fiction. He later moved to Paris where he was commissioned to write the first of his Harlem detective novels, A Rage in Harlem, which won the 1957 Grand Prix du Roman Policier. In 1969 Himes moved to Spain, where he died in 1984.

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