This anthology brings together an eclectic and diverse collection of black writing. Much of is has been long out-of-print, generally unavailable or not published at all. The book reflects the range of black mystery, suspense and crime fiction that has been written throughout the 20th century. It starts with Pauline Hopkins's locked-room mystery story, "Talma Gordon", which was first published in 1900. Thereafter, it ranges: from the work of Rudolph Fisher and Chester Himes to the non-genre writers Richard Wright and Ann Petry; from the political thrillers of John Williams and Samuel Greenlee to modern mainstream masters, such as Walter Mosley, Barbara Neely and Gar Anthony Harwood.