Rudolph Fisher

''The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem (1932) by Rudolph Fisher is a groundbreaking work in American literature. It is officially recognized as the first-ever published detective novel written by an African American author featuring an all-Black cast of characters. The book subverts traditional white detective tropes of the 1930s by placing Black intellectuals, professionals, and working-class citizens at the center of a complex murder mystery.
It introduces a classic "brain and brawn" partnership consisting of Dr. John Archer (a highly educated physician) and Perry Dart (one of the few Black detectives on the New York police force). The story centers around the mysterious death of N'Gana Frimbo, a brilliant, Harvard-educated African king who lives in Harlem and operates as a "conjure-man" (a fortune-teller and spiritual advisor).