Preview
  • The Real Cool Killers

  • A Grave Digger & Coffin Ed Novel
  • By: Chester Himes
  • Narrated by: Dion Graham
  • Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (187 ratings)

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The Real Cool Killers

By: Chester Himes
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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Publisher's summary

To detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, it looked like an open and shut case. After all, Sonny Pickens was still standing over the body of Ulysses Galen, smoking gun hanging from his hand. Only one problem: Sonny's gun was loaded with blanks.

There were plenty of people who wanted Galen dead, but who was responsible? Sonny? A jealous husband? Or one of the street toughs from a gang calling themselves the Real Cool Moslems? Coffin Ed and Grave Digger pound the mean streets of 1950s Harlem in search of the Real Cool Killer.

©1959 Chester Himes, copyright renewed 1987 by Lesley Himes (P)2011 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

".... Real Cool Killers is a picturesque story to which Graham gives expert treatment. " ( Audiofile)

What listeners say about The Real Cool Killers

Average customer ratings
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SUPERB NARRATOR!

Gritty story with many interesting characters! The narrator did a marvelous job capturing the accents and speech rhythms. Will listen again!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Masterful storytelling

This story is so rich with characters and dialogue. The plot keeps developing with twists that are not expected. Mr. Graham’s voicing of the characters is spot on and adds to the color. Tremendous!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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carefully woven story

this story was tightly woven ans exhibited considerable depth to interconnect the various characters. The ending was a surprise that suddenly revealed itself. the use of language was rich and quite literary.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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It's what I expected from Chester Himes

Himes' novels are gritty yet simple and captures the essence of Harlem. 👮🏾🌆🔫
Narration was cool!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of my favorites

I really liked this book along with the narrator. Chester Himes was a great story teller. I plan to read the rest of this series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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WOW!

What made the experience of listening to The Real Cool Killers the most enjoyable?

Chester Himes.

What did you like best about this story?

Coffin Ed and Gravedigger Jones.

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

You really forget its a book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All of it.

Any additional comments?

I WANT MORE!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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A fun fast read

This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last. it is a fast fun fairly easy read. There are great characters lots of action and it's definitely written from another era. It can be rough in some of the language and action it's not PC by todays standards but it's a product of its time and worth the time I have half a dozen other books on my to read list from this author. The narrator is great too throughout.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read.

If you could sum up The Real Cool Killers in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyable, haunting, true

What did you like best about this story?

The ability to truthfully characterize people in the black community before the 80's. The characterizations remind me of my childhood.

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

Really like his voice. Captures what I feel are the inner essences of the characters.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Step into Harlem

Chester Himes is an all time crime mystery writer. Few authors have the skill to create worlds as vivid as he does. I feel like I'm watching a movie as I read his books.

I always feel completely immersed in his stories and I love the twisting and intricate mysteries he writres. Hard to have a better time with a murder mystery.

Dion Graham is the perfect narrator for this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I loved every minute of it

I’m looking for more from the same author and narrator . I definitely love his books.

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