The Crazy Kill

Set against the backdrop of a chaotic wake for Big Joe Pullen, the narrative unfolds with the opium-addicted Reverend Short's comical fall, landing in a bread basket next to the corpse of Valentine Haines. Detectives Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are tasked with solving Valentine’s murder, but they face a tight-lipped crowd unwilling to cooperate. Blending dark humor with hardboiled noir, the story showcases Chester Himes' sharp wit and keen observations of human nature amidst a gritty urban landscape.