African American Mystery Thriller Suspense

Ricky Rice is a middling hustler with a lingering junk habit, a bum knee, and a haunted mind. A survivor of a suicide cult, he scrapes by as a porter at a bus depot in Utica, New York, until one day a mysterious letter arrives, summoning him to enlist in a band of paranormal investigators comprised of former addicts and petty criminals, all of whom had at some point in their wasted lives heard what may have been the voice of God.

Thanks to James Johnson's ground-breaking technology, the drug game and oil exports are now on life support. His prophecy has been fulfilled. However, the Saudi Arabian Oil King, Shalik Khalid, has unleashed a vicious death squad on American soil. The message is clear, and now the surviving members of the Johnson clan must regroup, while the architect of their movement lies in critical condition. The reigns have been passed down and now there exists one logical decision for the heirs to the throne. "Bring to them what they brought to us!"

There can be only one: one man with two loyal friends and secrets from the past that will ultimately shake up the entire hood in Chicago; one man on a mission to destroy anyone who doesn't abide by his rules, including tricky bitches who drop to their knees behind closed doors yet stand tall against him when the time comes to collect the almighty dollar; one man with enough swagger in his walk and confidence in his talk and the skills and mindset to build an empire.

Stacy has always been the good girl from her Brooklyn neighborhood, balancing her studies and dreams of a better life while navigating the gritty reality of project living. But everything changes when a traumatic event shatters her innocence, pushing her into the depths of a world she wanted no parts of. In the wake of her violation, Stacy’s perspective on life flips upside down; the streets that once seemed dangerous now feel like her only escape. Desperate for connection and understanding, she finds herself drawn to Ace, a charismatic yet hardened boy from her projects who knows the ins...

In this mind-blowing finale, Spade’s loyalty to his gang is put to the ultimate test. A close relative is involved in a heated feud with his gang, leaving Spade with an urgent decision to make. He must choose between his family or the gang, and there is no way around it… What should he do? The million-dollar question. Bo has reached the highest level of a gang member after years of banging. He’s established, sitting comfortable in his throne of power. Nearing his release from prison, he wonders what he should do when he gets back on the streets. Should he continue as a gang member? Or...

Dontay Walker had it rough growing up in the projects with a drug-addicted mother who forced him to become a man at the young age of 15. His father was a rolling stone, having multiple children with many women. Dontay always fought for his father's attention - until taking his spot became more important than gaining his love. Now, at the age of 30, Don is the leader of one of the most successful and most feared drug organizations in the city of Philadelphia.

Essence® best-selling authors Kiki Swinson and De’nesha Diamond are two rising stars in the world of urban fiction. Heist presents two novellas starring young women hustling their way to the top of the game through daring robbery schemes. In Swinson’s The Ultimate Heist, pampered Shannon Marshall is accustomed to a big-money lifestyle. Her world is shattered, however, when her man is thrown into prison for gun running.

Former FBI agent Kenton Bailey traded in his badge when an assignment went horribly wrong. Now he provides personal security to high-end clients. But falling for Egypt Durand, the Queen of Supreme Security, wasn't part of the plan. She's smart, classy, and ignites a fire in him that only she can extinguish. Except she retreats from his advances...and she's shrouded in a veil of secrecy. Egypt has never met a man as sexy as Kenton. Funny and smart, he's hard to resist. But her past leaves no room for a happily ever after. Still, with him, she dreams of a future.

The most lethal ride-or-die women in Memphis now run their gangs and the streets. But the aftermath of an all-out war means merciless new enemies, time-bomb secrets... and one chance to take it all... Bullets have no names and collateral damage is the game as the women of the Dirty South push to secure total control.

It's scorched-earth, all-or-nothing war for Memphis' most merciless ride-or-die women, and even their survival skills are no guarantee. And once alliances splinter and explosive revelations rip apart their empire, one diva's revenge will become the ultimate deadly reign.

Gangsta Divas puts listeners on the streets of Memphis, where gang wars are heating up thanks to the arrival of dangerous new players - the Cripettes. Ta’shara is planning to knock her sister off her perch and climbing to the top of the game. Qiana’s deal with the devil places her directly in the crosshairs of forces ready to take her out. And Queen G LeShelle’s list of enemies keeps on growing. But for these gangsta divas, it’s all part of the game - one they’re determined to win.

Nobody ever gave Jamil Rock anything - much less hope. To survive a rough home life and one bad break after another, he became his hood's most successful drug dealer. With loyal friends at his back, Jamil coolly takes care of business and never thinks too far ahead - until Gia Ellis walks into his life. Suddenly, ruling the streets is nothing compared to the instant heat, and alluringly innocent aura, Jamil can't resist....

When Zane Talbot unexpectedly walks into her life, Jenna Parker can't take her eyes off the handsome entrepreneur. The head of a lucrative marketing enterprise, Zane immediately recognizes Jenna’s talent and offers the struggling artist a position in his firm. Flattered and intrigued by this charming businessman’s offer, Jenna simply can’t say no. She also can’t deny the electricity between them, and Zane can’t deny it either. An intense romance soon blossoms, and Jenna finds herself living the life she’d dreamed of for so many years. However, things quickly sour when Zane’s ...

When Billie was eight years old, her father was murdered. Ever since that day, she has vowed to bring every criminal to justice, especially the man responsible for her father's death. Twenty years later, Billie is still on a mission to rid the streets of criminals. If she can't do it legally, then she takes matters into her own hands.

January 1970 finds Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, LA’s premier Black detective, at 50 years of age despite all expectations. He has a loving family, a beautiful home, and a thriving investigation agency. All is right with the world… and then Amethystine Stoller, his own personal Helen of Troy, arrives. Her ex-husband is missing. A simple enough case. But even as Easy takes his first step in the investigation he trips. He falls into the memory of things past. Little things, like loss, love, a world war, and a hunger that has eaten at him since he was a Black boy on his own.

The most ruthless ride-or-die women of Memphis saved their empire by nearly destroying the streets. But as unexpected new rivals rise and brutal secrets shatter lives, betrayal means winner rules all. Putting out chaos with gasoline is one play that even the women of the Dirty South can't control. One merciless kill vaults good-girl-gone-bad Ta'Shara into gangland's power elite - but an enemy she doesn't see is targeting everything she can't afford to lose.

MEMORIES BECOME THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON WHEN YOU CAN'T TRUST YOUR OWN. Willow Harper has been charged with the brutal murder of her friends. But confined to Bordeaux Behavioral Hospital with no recollection of that tragic night, she is left questioning her own innocence. Public defender Donovan Thomas takes on her case, determined to get to the truth. But Willow's convenient amnesia raises more questions than answers. Why can't she recall any details? And why does it seem like she's hiding something? But to comprehend Willow's unstable grip on reality means confronting the cracks in his ...

From the outside looking in, the residents of Sand Cove are perfect, but their countless secrets and lies are under the guise of expensive perfumes and honey-sweet smiles. Summer has come around again, yet it doesn't feel like summer. The sky isn't blazed in blue, and the sun isn't a celebration of oranges and yellows. It has been eight months since Luca Moretti's murder, and Agent Tyler must deal with the fact that Luca's murder may never be solved.

A Heartfelt Short Story SeriesLiving in the hood of Birmingham is not some childhood fantasy. It’s a harsh reality for teenager Draya, and her younger sis Porsha. They’ve witnessed things kids shouldn’t see, and heard things kids shouldn’t hear! Raised by a trick h**, and an alcoholic; Draya vows to be nothing like her mama Trixie. Determined to be a better person, Draya’s main focus is school, and her younger sister Porsha. Secretly, Draya has developed a hatred for all men. Mainly, because of her mama’s despicable lifestyle. All she’s ever seen is a horny man between her ...

In today's society, every woman wants a "high value man"...but what costs are you willing to pay when you finally come across one? Armand Baptiste has it all; money, a beautiful home, a successful career, with a body and face that would bring any woman to her knees. Unlike most high value men, he loves a woman who is solely after his pockets, but what is he after?