After two Pulitzer Prizes, this is a totally different book than either “The Nickel Boys” or “The Underground Railroad” and totally unexpected. I understand it’s more like Mr. Whitehead’s previous books — more lighthearted and actually a crime caper type story set against the backdrop of Harlem in the 1960s. Well crafted and told via interconnected stories in three “books. The lead character, Ray Carney, is delightful. He’s a successful furniture salesman, but he does have a side hustle dealing with an occasional stolen appliance, thanks to family drama and a cousin who’s a small time gangster. Ray is trying to do the right thing for family (but sometimes for the wrong reasons). I envisioned him as a type of typical Tom Hanks movie character (if Tom were African American). You can’t help not liking Ray and rooting for him.

4.5 stars for the surprise of a lighter story than expected from an already well known great storyteller. The vividness of Harlem during the civil rights era is a character of its own. Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the advance copy.

I received this book as an ARC and here is my review. Colson Whitehead has blended the amazing world of Harlem in the 60’s with characters who are so realistic and flawed they jump out of the page. I loved this book - a departure from his two previous masterpieces. The story flows with a continuity that pulls the reader right into the middle of the action. I totally recommend this story to anyone who enjoys mystery, murder and mayhem with an historical perspective.

Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for allowing me to delve into 1950s Harlem and mostly into Colson Whitehead's unique, vibrant, and powerful storytelling. I appreciate how Mr. Whitehead can tell such powerful stories that are unique from each other yet layered with powerful writing and a strong literary style; this book is different in tone, context, and characterization as compared to previous works but to me that shows a range for a writer that I celebrate.

I am a reader who appreciates themes on shades of grey and in this book the main character has links to a crime world via a heist (whether he wants that connection or not) and his daily life with his family and work. How does a man, living in a world of racial tension and riots, manage these dual and competing worlds? How do you become your own person yet still connected to a criminal life via a father and a cousin? Do you accept that you can perhaps achieve more for your family, even move then away from this life, because of criminal actions that bring in financial support? This storytelling also reflects on the context of Harlem, a world in which this dual life is mirrored in the sociopolitical structure with business owners paying off both gangsters and police at the same time; who is actually providing protection and helping a business grow and thrive?

This book is rich, complex, and filled with a tension that is well executed and effective. I enjoyed the layered and embedded in two worlds experience that Ray has, how Mr. Whitehead allows for a nuanced examination of Ray's life within the specific world of Harlem and race riots, and the exploration of conflict and compassion that seem to be at the heart of the story's tension and Ray as well.

I received a free advanced copy ebook of Harlem Shuffle in exchange for an unbiased review.

Whitehead's latest historical fiction is set in Harlem in the early '60s. Ray Carney is a college educated, married black man who owns a furniture store in Harlem. In many ways he embodies the American Dream - study hard, work hard and you will achieve a lifestyle better than your parents. Carney's dad was a thief and a muscle for hire so owning a business is certainly an improvement. The problem for Carney, however, is that he has an unwilling foot in the criminal world. With his business connections he is able to fence stolen property and it is this side business that finances much of his dream for a larger store and a better apartment for his family.

Much of Carney's personality can be traced to his father's criminality and his cousin Freddy's troublemaking. Freddy never intends to get Carney into trouble but it always happens. Freddy turns to Carney whenever he needs help, aka whenever a score goes wrong. Carney has too much to lose to get involved with anything Freddy proposes but time after time Carney helps out, risking everything. But Carney's own anger and resentment toward a local banker who took advantage of him demonstrate that Carney learned much from his father. Multi-layer planning allows Carney to get his revenge.

Meanwhile, the streets of Harlem are in turmoil as is the rest of America. The demand for basic civil rights results in some violence while the distrust between blacks and whites grows. The death of a black boy in an officer involved shooting could have happened anytime in America's history but the reaction of some - the certainty that no one will be held responsible - reads like today's news. And as riots occur, businesses keep on going, crime keeps happening, and the status quo remains.

I have read other Whitehead novels with The Nickel Boys being my favorite. In comparison, Harlem Shuffle suffers a bit since the character of Ray Carney is rather duplicitous. He risks his wife and children in order to achieve the trappings of success.

#NetGalley #HarlemShuffle

This is a historical fiction novel which is part family saga, part gangster story, taking place in the early 1960's. The protagonist is Ray Carney, a man who is smart in every sense of the word. He's got common sense, street smarts, and a business degree. He's a man who is struggling to make a life for himself and for his family, and does not want to follow in his father's footsteps. Big Mike, as they called him, was part of Harlem's criminal underworld. And yet, this world has its hooks in Ray. He pays both a cop and a gangster protection money, and this is a dance that many step to, and keeps a part of the city's hierarchy intact.

Sure, Ray Carney is a bit crooked. He was raised on ill-gotten money and goods, and the seed money for his furniture business came from his father. And he does some fencing, as in not checking the provenance of certain items that he sells. But, he's keeping a low profile, just staying on the outskirts of all the craziness. Until, that is, his cousin Freddie gets in on a dangerous scheme, and drops Ray's name. Whether Ray likes it or not, he's involved in a certain heist.

As children, Freddie and Ray were very close, growing up like brothers, and Freddie always had a knack for getting them both in trouble. Unfortunately, he's at it again, but this time, it's serious, life-threatening trouble.

Part of the historical backdrop of this story was the Harlem race riots of 1964, when a black teenager was senselessly shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. The adults in Ray Carney's world are older, and have different viewpoints and attitudes about what is going on around them. The protesting is mostly younger people, believing in and fighting for change. During these years, a lot of change takes place in Ray's life and in the city's life, too.

The different sides of New York City in this novel were intriguing. One person's Harlem is not another person's, like one of those optical illusion pictures that can be viewed as different objects, depending on how one looks. Also, the characters that populate these different worlds are colorful and interesting. There was also the humor! Even when Ray is in a deadly situation, he might have home furnishings on his mind, for example, noticing that these crooks are standing on a certain brand of carpet that will prevent stains. Convenient.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest novel by Colson Whitehead, and many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday books for this wonderful opportunity.

I have read most of Colson Whitehead's books. I first met Colson while I was a member of The Barnes and Noble Mystery Book Club. We got a chance to read and discuss Sag Harbor before it was published. I remember thinking how much I loved his humor and what an excellent writer he was. Whenever I see that Colson has a new book, I strive to get a copy in order to read it. I'm very thankful that NetGalley and Doubleday Books approved me to read a copy of Harlem Shuffle for an honest review. The book is basically a love letter to Harlem, a family saga and a crime novel rolled into one. It is an entertaining read about heists, shakedowns and ripoffs set in early 1960 Harlem. His characters are unforgettable as Colson is a great storyteller and paints a picture in your mind as the novel unfolds. If you love crime novels then you should invest in this book. If you want to learn more about Colson, I also suggest that you read Sag Harbor, as that book is somewhat autobiographical.

In typical Colson Whitehead fashion, he transported me into another time and place. I've read many of his books and they each have their own flavor and personality. Harlem Shuffle was a fascinating story about a man (Ray Carney) who is straddling the fence -- one foot in the straight world and one foot in the crooked. Carney is quite the character, full of conflict and compassion and drive. This is the stuff that makes memorable and impactful characters you cling to for a long time. The setting is also one that leaves an imprint on your heart -- Harlem in the 1960s and the changes taking place around that time. There's so much tension, not only with the main character but the world Whitehead has created. He also threads in so much history which makes this story rich and flavorful. As far as I'm concerned, Whitehead can do no wrong.

I was pretty excited to get an ARC of this because Colson Whitehead is another author who’s been on my TBR shelf for a while, and this was a great reason to push him to the top of the pile. It was a pretty solid book! To be honest, I was really expecting more of a heist story or something you’d see in a season of Fargo or something like that, but it actually takes place over the course of several years and is broken up into 3 books that involve a specific crime each. The main problem for me is that the main character is by far the least interesting person in the whole book, so there were a lot of parts that kind of dragged for me and made me wish that he was more of a side character, because the actual side characters are fantastic and I would rather have read more about them. Especially Pepper. He was great and I would have read a whole book about him. However, I don’t think the story would work if Carney wasn’t tying the story together, so I get why it is the way it is. All in all, it’s a really good book, I had a good time reading it, and I hope Mr. Whitehead does more crime stories in the future.

The son of a well-known street tough, Carney runs a furniture store in 1940's Harlem and tries to keep off the cop's radar, even as temptation keeps walking in the doors. The biggest problem, though, is his cousin Freddie. They grew up together, but while Carney has a plan, Freddie's a drifter without much of any future prospects. Well, except for Freddie's idea about hitting up the Hotel Theresa, the "Waldorf Astoria of Harlem", during a big event. Carney gets pulled in with his uptown connections, and it's no surprise when things go sideways... Then Freddie meets a rich beatnik and things really go south...

"Harlem Shuffle" is a terrific read with its fast pace and glimpse of 40's and 50's Harlem, New York. I really enjoyed this book, as much for his beautiful and engaging prose as for the story. It's clear from the very first page why he's an award-winning writer. Definitely recommended.

[Note: I reviewed a pre-publication galley provided by the publisher]

Colson Whitehead, a two time Pulitzer-prize winning author shows us a slightly different narrative than we've come to expect. Harlem Shuffle is an interesting mix of drama, comedy, and crime.

Welcome to 1959 Harlem. Ray Carney is a devoted family man trying to survive and provide for himself and his pregnant wife. He tries to put on a good front, wanting people to believe he's an honest stand-up guy. What most people don't see is the cracks in his convoluted front; Behind the scenes he's actually joined forces with a few questionable characters and is now a part time crook.

Harlem Shuffle is a wonderful homage to the Harlem of the past, one rich in culture and history and the love for the area shines through brightly in this narrative. However, the plot is a bit of a let down. It doesn't really go anywhere and a lot happens elsewhere while we're experiencing his love for the city.

Colson Whitehead is a brilliant writer so this is still a decent read however if you're expecting quality similar to his past literary contributions Harlem Shuffle simply falls flat.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for providing an advanced e-copy for me to read and share my honest opinion.

DNF at 50%. I still cannot believe I’m DNFing a Colson Whitehead novel…

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderfully written crime novel. The crimes take a back seat to the characters and setting so this book leans more towards general fiction than mystery or crime but was beautiful to read.

What a terrific novel. You’d hope for that from a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner—and Colson Whitehead does not disappoint.

Self-made Ray Carney owns and operates an up-and-coming Harlem furniture store in the late 1950s/early 1960’s. But sometimes sales aren’t as brisk as they need to be and Ray is compelled to engage with people, merchandise, and situations he’d much rather avoid, especially since it means he must live in two worlds. Still, he has a family to feed and protect—including a beloved cousin who’s more like a brother and who keeps landing himself and Ray in the soup.

It’s a novel filled with characters readers can care about and enjoy spending time with—some, like Ray, intensely human, others larger-than-life hustlers and crooks somewhat reminiscent of characters created by Damon Runyon.

But the best feature of the novel is the writing itself. Every sentence is well polished. Every page contains at least one gem—whether it be a witticism, or an extended metaphor, or a truly memorable adage such as: “Gnaw on a disappointment long enough and it will lose all flavor.” And Mr. Colson steeps us in the Manhattan and Harlem of the times. 125th Street, the Theresa Hotel (where Castro once stayed), The Apollo, Park Avenue, Mayor Robert Wagner, the subways, Lincoln Center, Grant’s Tomb, the Diamond District, Rheingold Beer, and so much more, immerse us in the New York City of some sixty years ago.

“Harlem Shuffle” is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Thanks to Mr. Colson Whitehead, as in the two time Pulitzer Prize winning author! Thanks also to Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy! This is my third novel from Mr. Whitehead, and it continues on his themes of race and power, but this time in a noir mystery set in a fascinating historical fiction setting. I really enjoyed the history of Harlem and New York in the 1960s! In fact, along with our protagonist Ray Carney, I think the city of New York is a main character within the novel itself. I have found myself researching the history of the city and how it has evolved. Getting back to Ray, he is a furniture salesman with a family, but he has a history of crime, and he finds himself “getting dragged back in” and living a double life. I definitely picked up on some themes of The Godfather throughout the novel. I really enjoyed the dichotomy of Ray and his moral struggles. Towards the third act the story really picks up with the action and we see Ray’s choices. I thought it really tied the novel up nicely. You don’t need me to ‘sell’ you on a Colson Whitehead novel, the man is a genius, but for what it is worth, pick it up, it is a great read! As always, Thanks for reading! #ColsonWhitehead #HarlemShuffle #NetGalley

"Carney was only slight bent when it came to being crooked." What a great opening line to Colson Whitehead's latest, Harlem Shuffle.

We begin in 1960s New York, with Ray Carney, a furniture salesman working hard to provide a good life for his family. He's trying to keep on the straight and narrow, but he's got some shady characters in his family and when money gets tight, he *may* veer off the path down one with a double life after a hotel heist goes south...

I'm familiar with the author, but I've yet to read his work, so I when I was offered to read a copy of Harlem Shuffle, I jumped at the chance, even though the setting and premise isn't something I'd normally read. And while that stayed true throughout--I never really felt invested in the story or the characters, I absolutely loved the writing itself. Mr. Whitehead writes with such lyricism, the book flowed with such a beautiful style that it was hard to put it down.

Special thanks to Doubleday Books for inviting me to read this title. It was a pleasant introduction to the author.

This is my first read by Colson Whitehead, a two-time Pulitzer winner.

The story is set in Harlem during the 60s and broken down into sections set a few years apart. Though, the blurbs description insinuates this to be a crime story, it read more as a personal narrative novel. Where the action of the heist takes place in the background. Yet, what you do get is a fantastic depiction of Harlem during that time.

This was beautifully written, it is a story about family, race, crime and power, though I wished there was more of the action taking place in the story rather than off stage.

I’d also like to add that this gave off a mad man/oceans 11 kind of vibe, just without the action. If that makes sense in any way.

This book was not for me, however, I hear that his two previous books are written completely different and are much more enjoyable. So I will definitely read more books by him.

Harlem Shuffle takes place in 1960s Harlem. It is a mix of mystery and crime genres with a bit of family drama added in. The novel is broken into 3 sections, each of which come together to present the entire story.

Ray “Carney” is the son of a small time criminal. Seeking a different life, Ray graduated from college, married and started his own business, a furniture store where he sells new and gently used furnishings. Ray is proud of himself for not following in his father’s footsteps. But if, on occasion, a friend (usually his cousin, Freddie) brings by a piece of jewelry or a television to be sold, Ray doesn’t ask any questions. "Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked…"

When Freddie gets involved in a big time heist at the “Waldorf of Harlem” he volunteers Carney’s services as a fence, without his permission. Suddenly fearful for the safety of his family, his store, and himself, Carney wonders how to walk the fine line between the gangsters and the straight life that he claims he aspires to.

Carney wished for years to fall in with the rich and powerful people - people who are supposedly legitimate businessmen. What he learns is that wealth and power does not necessarily mean honesty and Carney himself becomes the victim of a con. It is then when he realizes that he has his father’s appetite for revenge.

A story of family, race, crime and power. Harlem Shuffle is an enjoyable read. It is a very different and much lighter book than Whitehead’s most recent Pulitzer Prize winners (The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars because, while interesting, I didn’t find the book to be a compelling read. That is, it was easy enough to set it down and walk away for a few hours or a few days.) I received a free, advanced copy from Doubleday and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

For more book reviews and recommendations follow me at #EmptyNestReader #instagram #facebook #Goodreads #HarlemShuffle #ColsonWhitehead #crimefiction #historicalfiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #AugustReads #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #librarybooks #arc #netgalley #doubleday #penguinrandomhouse

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead- This foray into crime noir is a continuation of Coloson Whitehead's exploration and examination of the race and class struggles of black people in a world of white rules and expectations. Raymond Carney is a young man, growing up in Harlem under some of the harshest circumstances, who still believes he can succeed at being an honest and forthright person. His father was a criminal, his mother died too young, and young Raymond managed to shake that all off and become an owner of a furniture store in Harlem. He was legit, and hoping to keep it that way. But sometimes the occasional friend or acquaintance would bring in a TV or radio, and Carney would slowly slide into the practice of selling stolen goods. Then his shifty cousin gets him involved in a jewelry heist. Raymond is going bad.
Told in three separate but connected stories, we see how being a reluctant criminal takes over his life. The writing is smooth and poetic. Set in the early 1960's, New York is sizzling under a withering heat wave, police actions and violent demonstrations have raised tempers to a volcanic level. Injustice and neglect abound in a document of inequality and suffering. Recommended for both it's crime element and it's commentary

What a riveting, eye opening novel about Harlem in the 1960s. Full of a diverse cast of characters that will make you rethink humanity, people, and relationships. I found myself unable to put this one down. Thank you for the e-arc.

Publication Date: September 13, 2021

This book is an interesting combination of mystery, history, and fiction. The story follow the life of Ray Carney as he attempts to balance leading a normal life and the crooked past that keeps coming to find him. Filled with family drama and criminality, this book gave me serious “The Wire” vibes—a fantastic tv show!

This is the first time I’ve read a book by Whitehead and it won’t be my last. His writing style is so detailed and vivid that I felt as if I were right there next to Ray, walking the streets of Harlem, drinking the coffee, and looking in each store window.

The story would have worked a bit better for me had there been less filler and unnecessary background information. The middle third of the book slowed quite a bit but the end picked up and it definitely finished strong.

Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for this digital ARC!