One-Shot Harry by Gary Phillips

Never, ever, ever bet against One-Shot Harry, the title character of this book by Gary Phillips.  He is a veteran, photographer, and journalist just trying to make a living and put the war behind him.  When an old war buddy is found dead under mysterious circumstances he just can’t keep out of it, even though he is warned by all he encounters.  Being a veteran and a black man means he has to tread even more carefully.  With all this going on he still has to prepare to cover Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to Los Angeles.  It also seems that while he’s being shot at and beaten, he still makes room for love, meeting a strong woman with brains and aspirations. This is a good and gritty noir for fans of Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins.

If Harry Ingram’s combination of detective work, history, and a hero who has to navigate dangers beyond the mystery itself appeals to you, Last Night at the Telegraph Club makes an interesting next read. It takes us to a different city and community, but it also places a deeply personal story inside a very specific moment in American history. Read the review →

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