Well written sequel to Harlem Shuffle, worth a read. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Colson Whitehead will write.

Crook Manifesto is an inspiring novel that I really enjoyed. It was interesting to carry on with the characters from Harlem Shuffle with the character development being impressive. The writing really transported me to New York. An interesting and captivating read.

I don’t know how he does it but each book just gets better. There is no subject matter that Whitehead cannot bring to life in his inimitable, vivid way. I loved every page.

A great follow on from Harlem Shuffle, looking forward to whatever Whitehead has in store for us next!

After Harlem Shuffle, we follow Ray Carney into the Harlem of the 1970s. The furniture business is booming and Carney has gone legit, extricating himself from his days as a fence.

However, Carney discovers that escaping a life of crime is not that easy and finds himself in some frightening and life-threatening situations. The middle section of the story shifts focus to Pepper, a long time friend and associate of Carney’s father.

Three stories in one, all equally satisfying and a definite improvement on its predecessor.

A very enjoyable novel set in the seamy underside of 1970s Harlem. Brilliantly depicted characters, clever plotting. Colson Whitehead's writing style is very entertaining, a humorous slant even when dealing with the spectrum of crime. Someone must be wanting to film this book! Now I have to read Harlem Shuffle...

Crook Manifesto" by Colson Whitehead

Carney is a furniture salesman in 60s Harlem and he falls back into the criminal world when he tries to secure some tickets to the sold-out Jackson Five concert for his daughter.

I really enjoyed Colson Whitehead's previous books and was so excited to be approved for this one on @netgalley. I really enjoyed the first two sections of the book and I loved the character of Pepper. Tbere was quite a lot of violence in these sections too which made me cringe a bit when reading some of the evey descriptive writing! I found that the last few chapters lagged a little and I just wanted to get to the end of the book. This is the second in a trilogy but I don't think I'll be reading the third installment.

I had not read and Colson White, but saw his name in the same frame as Amor Towles, whose work I do enjoy. I am very pleased that I decided to read this book, especially as it is not the normal type of subject matter that would usually appeal to me. I think it is the first time I have read about Harlem criminals and life in the 1970s New York black community.

It is a triumph of writing. I had wondered if it would be heavy, difficult or intimidating as the author is so renowned, but it is written superbly well and engages from the beginning. Despite the sometimes shocking backdrop of criminality and political corruption, there is humour and love in the story. The reader cannot help but feel what Ray feels as he navigates what life throws at him.

Highly recommended.

This is the second book in the author’s Ray Carney series, and in my opinion, you don’t necessarily need to have read the first book to dive right into this one.

The series unfolds against the backdrop of Harlem in the early 1970s, a gritty, grimy, and somewhat shady setting. Within this vibrant yet tumultuous world, the novel introduces us to a cast of characters, all navigating their way through a fiery landscape teeming with drama, love, and the struggle for survival.

Reading a Whitehead novel is like embarking on a unique journey. His books straddle the line between fiction and non-fiction, as they are brimming with a wealth of historical and cultural references. He crafts a world that truly stands apart, immersing you in the streets of 1970s Harlem.

However, I must admit that I faced a challenge with the abundance of historical context. At times, I found myself absorbed in the world itself, somewhat to the detriment of the characters. I did crave a bit more emphasis on plot and a tad less on backstory.

3.5 stars rounded unto 4!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested this ARC I didn't realise this was book 2 in a planned trilogy, since my reading list is already out of control it is unlikely I can read book 1 & then this one to review any time soon. Hopefully I can do so in the not too distant future.

Since I thoroughly enjoyed reading Underground Railroad I will give star rating based on that.

This is the sequel to the authors book Harlem Shuffle which I haven't read but Crook Manifesto does work as a stand alone.
I love New York and will always be drawn to books set there and really enjoyed getting a glimpse of life there in the 70s, this is full of interesting colorful characters, its quiet dark and violent at times as the author delves into the hardships and corruption of that time in New York.
I'm definitely going to go back and read Harlem Shuffle and look forward to the planned third installment.

The sequel to Harlem Shuffle this is an excellent read with an array of larger than life characters, excellent writing and a storyline that makes this book very difficult to put down. Hopefully there’s a part three in the works.

I requested this book from Netgalley, as I’d read Nickel Boys from the author and loved it. I tried a second book, Harlem Shuffle and I did not finish it. I was hoping this boom would bring me back to the Nickel Boys enjoyment. I also had an audio version and switched a bit between the two. But no matter what way I tried it, I couldn’t get it. I got lost with all the characters, couldn’t figure out what was happening and didn’t gel with any of the characters. I know other people have loved it, but I won’t be hanging around for Carney book 3. I do love how atmospheric Whitehead is in his writing, and this has stood out for me in all his books, you really feel immersed in Harlem in this book. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group Uk. @littlebrownbookgroup_uk

I haven’t read Harlem Shuffle, so I did worry a little that I would find it difficult to understand this book, but Whitehead’s writing is so deft that I immediately felt pulled into Ray Carney’s world. I always feel that his characterisation is second to none, and Harlem itself seems to take on a character of its very own that Ray is unable to escape from. The little knowledge I have of New York in the seventies is mostly from documentaries and a few movies, but Whitehead really brought forth its gritty nature while still respecting the communities that fought for their survival. So now I’ll definitely have to read Harlem Shuffle, and then the third instalment of the series when it comes out!

I requested this without knowing it was the second in a trilogy and even though it can be read as a stand alone i am very glad that i went and read Harlem Shuffle first. We revisit Ray Carney In the 1970s when corruption and crime is rife in Harlem. Like Harlem Shuffle, the book paints a vivid picture of the time and in a way the book is more a commentary on Harlem in the 70s than it is about Ray.
I struggled with this one about half way through , there are so many characters and so many side stories going on that i was just getting a bit overwhelmed and lost with what was actually going on . If it wasn't for the brilliant writing i maybe would have given up but I did want to see how it played out in the end . It is one of those books i wanted to enjoy more than i actually did and I certainly didnt feel as invested in the characters as I did with the first novel. I will definitely pick up the third instalment just to see how it comes together as I do like Ray and his family so hopefully it will focus more on him and not the sub characters

Part 2 of a predicted trilogy, we pick up with the characters from 'Harlem Shuffle' and it immediately puts you into 1970's New York, but rather than Taxi Driver and John Travolta, it's more Shaft and Serpico, this is the two sides of Harlem with its legitimate and less legitimate worlds, and our main characters straddling both.

Colson Whitehead puts you into this landscape, making this a page turner that spans three time periods.

You buy into the characters motivations and moral perspectives, Whitehead's writing speeds you along as they navigate the forces shaping their lives.

Recommended.

Looking forward to part 3!

This book is a great follow up to the novel Harlem Shuffle. This time the storyline is based in the 1970s. Ray Carney is still selling furniture and has managed to stay away from crime for a good few years. But his teenage daughter wants tickets to see the Jackson Five and the only way to get them is to engage with some old contacts again.

I loved the fact that the same cast of characters are involved in this novel. I particularly like Pepper, his background story and his place in the family now. He is older than Ray but has a history with Ray's father and his role as Uncle Pepper, along with his room in the house is very touching.

There is a real roller coaster of crime and violence throughout this novel. A picture of Harlem in the seventies is made very clear is not somewhere you would want to visit. Presumably, this will be brought up to date in the final novel of the trilogy - I will definitely read it.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great follow-up to Harlem Shuffle, this time set in the 1970s. Carney has supposedly turned his back on crime, but in his desire to get Jackson 5 tickets for his daughter, he turns to old contacts and is soon embroiled again. Underlying this motive is a sense that he is missing the excitement of his old double life.

Whitehead beautifully combines Carney's adventures in the criminal underworld with Carney's reflections on the changing face of New York, his carefully firewalled family life, his uneasy ascent into Harlem's Black middle class and of course the ever-changing world of furniture retail. I love the humour, wry observation, and great cast of characters.
*
Copy from NetGalley

Being a fan of Colson Whitehead, I am not entirely certain how Harlem Shuffle passed me by? As it's the first book in the Ray Carney series it would have been wise to start there but I couldn't be put off Crook Manifesto. What a fabulous title! Yes, I would have had greater depth of story/character development had I proceeded in the correct order but enjoyed this novel nonetheless without it.

Crook Manifesto brings Ray Carney into the 70s with all its greed, corruption, violence and hatred. He has been on the right side of the law running his Harlem furniture shop for years and life is pretty good. Until an act of parental generosity leads him off the straight and narrow and back into doing favours for favours and fencing stolen goods. It's fair to say things get out of hand, as they do, and though it is tense for Ray the reader is in for a treat with the grittiness of the 70s described with amazing eloquence. I was sure Colson Whitehead couldn't possibly be old enough to remember the 70s, but I would be wrong. That life experience translates well to the page as the nefarious corruption and criminality of the age feels tangible in his well chosen words. I remember the time and he nails the sense of a broken system that pervaded the era. Bent coppers, dirty politicians, making more money with crime than honest work, strikes, racial tensions, it's all there.

This is a masterful story full of colourful characters making hard choices to get by. I won't make the same mistake again and will be on the lookout for the next book.

New York in the 1970s and the city has gone to the rats. Ray Carney has stopped fencing and now runs a furniture store but he's promised his daughter that he'll try to get her concert tickets. When he taps up an old contact he finds himself dragged in to trouble. 1973 and Pepper is working security on a blaxploitation movie shooting in Harlem. When the lead actress disappears, Pepper has to try to find her to save the film. 1976 and the city is preparing for the Bicentennial but Carney is concerned that too many buildings in the city are being burnt down as an insurance scam.
The three sections in this book work so well as they show the progression of New York as it disintegrates throughout the decade. The focus is all on Harlem and the changing demographics as well as the changes to crime. The characters are developed really well and the sense of time and place is perfect. Colson is a wonderful writer and this is a wonderful book.