Colsom Whitehead calls this book "a love letter to Harlem", and it reads like one too. A fascinating mix of historical fiction, crime, and heist in 1950s and 1960s Harlem, this book examines a whole host of themes such as the criminal underworld, family, class, racism, police brutality, corruption, and so much more. The characters are phenomenally loveable and the story is so gripping! The author's literary skill is on full display in this newest novel filled with action scenes and drama.

Ashamed to say this was my very first Colson Whitehead novel. And of course, I loved it! Sorry I waited but I will be reading Nickel Boys and the Underground Railroad asap! I can certainly see
in 1960s Harlem, Ray Carney is skating the line between being an upstanding citizen who sells discount furniture and being a criminal. He's just trying to do right by his family and put food on the table for his wife and children. He and his wife are expecting their second child.
Ray's cousin, Freddie, seems more to embrace the criminal side of things. Freddie falls in with a crowd who are going to rob a swanky Harlem hotel. The heist doesn't go as planned and Ray's services a a "fence" have been offered by Freddie. Now Ray has to contend with a new clientele. Can Ray avoid getting killed, save his cousin, and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs?

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this amazing novel."

An engrossing New York novel set in a 1960s Black Harlem neighborhood, this crime fiction is also a family drama and a window into mid-century Harlem. It follows Ray Carney, a striving furniture store owner, husband and father, exploring the choices he makes and the things he lets happen. The captivation I felt while reading quickly became tinged with unease, as pragmatic-seeming Ray gets deeper into crime and can’t bring himself to opt out of that way of life. There is much explored here about coming to a life of crime and how it becomes justifiable to criminals, plus how wealth and influence are undeniable influences on who makes out and who doesn’t.

Colson Whitehead has pivoted genres yet again, and crafted another immensely readable novel, entertaining yet steeped in unease. I loved the sense of place, how Whitehead thoroughly lays out the where of each scene. Too, Ray’s story set amid the cultural movements and riots of the ‘60s illuminates the Harlem of that time even further. Highly recommended for fans of another love story to a ‘60s Black New York neighborhood, Deacon King Kong, or anyone who couldn’t look away from season 4 of FX’s Fargo.

My thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for this ARC.

Oh boy. Am I allowed to like a book by Colson Whitehead but not love it?

Because I did like it. This is a crime novel with depth, pathos, and even bits of hope. It’s almost, though the main character is not a teen, a criminal coming of age story. The writing is lovely, bringing imagery and meaning that transcends pulp. The problem? I wanted pulp. I wanted the edge that comes with hard crime fiction. This is…pretty.

The prettiness brought a softness to the story that I didn’t expect. I think it will definitely suit some – and plays true to the authors very literary form. I just wanted grit.

My favorite character was Pepper. I could read scores of books featuring Pepper. I also loved the very Godfather-esque rise and fall of certain characters.

I liked it. I just wanted more…not-so-pretty parts.

*ARC via Publisher

I loved The Nickel Boys by Whitehead and was eager to read this new book, with hopes that it would be just as compelling of a read. However, I was very disappointed. The three parts of the story are three different “problems” that the character gets pulled into. There are no tricks or twists to how each situation is solved; each one ends in a sort of ho-hum fashion, but still includes LOTS of characters. I also had trouble with a lot of the vocabulary. So much was written in a Harlem vernacular, and I would have to plow through it to figure out what was going on. The book was a great reflection of Harlem in the early 1960s, but again, without being familiar with the area, I didn’t have enough background knowledge to understand or appreciate it.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC - I’m sure that Harlem Shuffle will be perfect for some readers. Just not for me.

This was my first foray into the work of Colson Whitehead, and now I'm wondering why it's taken me so long to read one of his books.

Harlem Shuffle is touted as a crime novel and while it has elements of the genre (average family man choosing between the straight and crooked path, the seedy underbelly of the City, organized crime, and you know, a heist or two), there is much more going on here. Family dynamics, the American Dream, racism, and police brutality. In fact, you could hold a mirror up to the descriptions of the Harlem Race Riot of 1964 and see the protests from this past summer. If not much has changed in 60 years, is it fair to call this historical fiction either?

Whitehead's writing also offers more than your average crime fiction and provides a strong sense of time and place. He takes the reader down avenues of backstory in as seamless a manner as our protagonist, Ray Carney, navigates his familiar streets of New York. Anyone who has loved a city for all its good and bad will find a likeminded companion in Carney.

Overall a great read that will stick with you long after you've finished.

I love the way Colson Whitehead writes. He's so descriptive in ways that you just don't get to read every day. The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys were so good, and I really looked forward to reading this book that takes a fresh look at historical fiction both in the story being told and in the location. Set in Harlem in the late fifties and early sixties. we find Ray Carney as a furniture salesman just wanting to provide enough for his growing family so that he will eventually get out of this neighborhood that is full of crime and mischief. Carney unwittingly finds himself on the fringe of both no matter how much he tries to avoid it. And then there's his cousin Freddie, as close as a brother, but he sure doesn't help things. Unfortunately, this book dragged for me. As exciting as the premise is, it didn't keep me turning the pages as most of his books do. I found myself bored, waiting for the next high spot that seemed to be just out of reach. The character development was superb. The historical aspect was interesting and gave perspective to what happened a few years later in our country's history. The crime and unrest were rampant everywhere. But in Harlem? It went to different levels. Mr. Whitehead brought those things I had only read about in news stories to vivid life in these pages. But those moments were few and far between for me as I read through this book. So while I did enjoy many parts of this story, they weren't enough to keep me consistently entertained. That doesn't mean that I won't be looking forward to other books by this author. I know how good he is at his craft. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Publishing for my advance copy.

This story centers on Ray Carney, a man in late 50s and early 60s Harlem, NYC. Ray is a determined man. He wants to be a straight shooter and not crooked like his father. Harlem Shuffle is a vivid portrayal of Carney's life in Harlem. The city and the streets come alive so the reader feels transported to the time and place. This book was written in third person, so it was very easy to see the thoughts and motivations behind each character, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It made each character nuanced and, in my opinion, brought each of them more to life. This story brought up a lot of important topics, including upward mobility, race, crime, and social justice. I feel like this is a hard novel to review, as it delved into so much. It was not a fast read, as you have to pay attention to the subtleties woven throughout, but it is one that I would recommend without hesitation

Great characters in this historically and geographically accurate tale from Uptown Manhattan (and other parts of the City) in the 1950s and 60s. Page turning, riveting with unforgettable characters and the fantastic prose we've come to love from Whitehead. Read this book!!

I have truly enjoyed Colson Whitehead's other books so I knew that would be the case again. Harlem Shuffle disappointed me slightly with the pace of the story, especially at the beginning. It picks up in the middle but you have to trudge on to get there.

The way Colson Whitehead describes the surroundings makes you believe you're actually in the 50's and 60's. It's a family saga that takes place in Harlem and how morality can be doubled depending on the situation. I would definitely read this author again

This is the first novel I have read by Colson Whitehead but it won't be the last. Set in Harlem between 1959 and 1964, the book is billed as a "crime novel," which is true, but that is only part of the story. The story is focused on Ray Carney, a furniture salesman and part-time fence, who starts out the book being only "slightly bent" but who becomes more successful the more that he "bends" as the novel progresses. But within that context the book is also about the relationships between fathers and sons, a history of Harlem (particularly during the race riots which bear a strong resemblance to recent protests against police officers who have murder black men and women without being prosecuted), and a broader social commentary about how "[t]his country's founded on taking other people's shit," particularly when that "shit" belongs to people of color. Clever plot, beautiful language, relevant political commentary on race relations and fully-developed characters made this book hard to put down.

Highly recommended. 5/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have heard such amazing things about Colson Whitehead as an author so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Harlem Shuffle! This is definitely a slower book than I expected (I tend to read lots of fast-paced thrillers) but the story and character development is divine.

Colson Whitehead can write, that is for sure! However, I was not a fan of this story. I liked the main character, Carney, a lot, and was invested in his story, but it was a bit too crime fiction for me. Carney is a New Yorker who comes from a shady background, but is determined to make a life for himself and his growing family that is on the right side of the law. He gets constantly sucked into things by his wayward cousin. I liked how Whitehead included the history of New York City in the 50's and 60's. That was fascinating. I will continue to read this author-you can tell he does a lot of research and has written about many different time periods, but this story was not my favorite of his.

One of Colson Whitehead's literary gifts is his ability to make things come alive. His recreation of late '50's Harlem is incredible, the good the bad and the ugly. I' ve never been there, but he referenced things even I recognized as authentic and real (the Apollo Theatre, most notably). Loved it!

This sentence from the publisher’s description is so spot on that I could not find better words - “Harlem Shuffle's ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It's a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem.” Some reviewers opined that they were disappointed because they believed this book was about a heist, but it was certainly not advertised that way. Yes there is a heist and it does start the ball rolling for Ray’s interaction with a host of bad guys, some just bad and some REALLY bad, but the story is so much more. This is my first Colton Whitehead book and I will definitely go back and explore his earlier work. His writing is just amazing and he paints such a visual picture that you are drawn into both the story and atmosphere. Much could be said about the Harlem that he portrays and sadly how much it mirrors our world today, in race relations, political machinations and the struggle of the little guy to get ahead in a world that is stacked against him.

But, the story did start to wane and while the writing remained consistently beautiful there seemed to be just a little too much filler, words that didn’t seem important to the ultimate outcome. Overall though a well crafted story that should be enjoyed by all.

I received an ARC from the publisher Doubleday Books, through NetGalley, and I appreciate the opportunity to read this excellent book.

Colson Whitehead never disappoints, and in the early-sixties novel Harlem Shuffle he has created another singular character in Raymond Carney, Harlem furniture store owner who's a little bit crooked. He comes by it genetically... at first. Whitehead is a master when it comes to placing his characters into an historical moment and playing out their stories within and among the people, places, and events of the time. The reader always emerges with a truer sense of what really happened because Whitehead puts us inside the experience.

Whitehead's power as a novelist continues to grow, and the world is better for it. I only hope he's got more on the way for us. He is a national treasure.

I found this novel to have great writing but a disjointed story. It has lots and lots of descriptions of people, places, and things—too much at times when they don’t really pertain to story being told. I did like the historical view of Harlem and NYC, as well as the beginnings of the civil rights movement in the 60s. The strongest part is the character development…I really felt like I knew these people and cared about what happened to them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC to read and review.

Smooth Operator. At times Ray Carney is one smooth operator, who is frequently thrown off the rails by his cousin Freddie. They have a “Laurel and Harry Routine, whereby Freddie talks Ray into an “ill-advised scheme” and then they try to outrun the consequences. This tango has been going on since they were young boys and a certain dependence and loyalty has been Ray’s constant companion. Freddie mostly disappears, goes into hiding , leaving Ray to bob and weave, protect and preserve. Ray has a business degree from Queens College, a business selling furniture and a fence or two, one for the small stuff another for the the more important merchandise. If his wife were to find out about that last bit she would take the children and leave him.

NYC is changing and everyone has to keep up or fall behind - Ray Carney recognizes the signs and knows he has to adapt. He is a smart man with great powers of reason. He hides a lot from his family and some from himself until he understands where he stands and how he got there. Where he goes next seems as if it had been charted without his input. Circumstances drag him into and along paths crossed by mini and major gangsters, corrupt cops, protection muscle, egotistical whites and blacks.

The writing is smooth, there is a rhythm, a cadence which matches the story and while I didn’t rip through the pages I enjoyed turning each one. Thank you NEtGalley and Doubleday for a copy.

Harlem Shuffle is the newest novel by Colson Whitehead. I absolutely loved Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys and was super excited to be gifted with an advanced readers copy of this one. Unlike the above mentioned novels, this one has a different vibe to it. The novel is broken in to 3 time periods between 1959-1964 and Ray Carney is our main guy. He's a married man with a wife he loves, baby girl and another on the way. He runs a furniture store in Harlem and most of his business is legit...mostly. Unfortunately he gets caught up in a "job" with his cousin Freddie, who is involved with some shady people doing some shady work. In the aftermath of the "Theresa job", Carney is stuck dealing with some unsavory characters and does his best to keep it from his family and especially from his in-laws who feel like their daughter could have done much better. Just when Carney thinks his past is behind him, cousin Freddie gets him involved in another shady situation that leads to some dangerous situations.

This novel paints a vivid picture of life in Harlem during the early 1960's. Carney is a guy who you want to root for but then he keeps making these questionable decisions and I was like, "Why, Carney? Why?" The novel shows how difficult it was to be black businessman in post WWII America whether to stay clean and poor or try to move up in the world by making few shady deals on the side. The characters are so flawed and so very well developed. And Carney? He's a good man, trying to create a good life for his family and build a better reputation for himself than his father had.

It took me awhile to get into this story.. There were A LOT of characters to keep straight and I couldn't keep track of who was who until I was well into the story. By the third part, I was truly invested in the characters and found myself rooting for Carney and hoping he could somehow be Freddie's savior and detangle himself from the mess he was caught up in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on IG @maria.needs.to.read and on my Goodreads account.

"From the Skyline’s thirteenth-floor windows you could take in the lights of the George Washington Bridge one way, the Triborough another way, and the sentinel Empire State Building to the south. Top of the world."

Harlem Shuffle invites the reader to explore 1950s-1960s Harlem, New York, from the perspective of Ray Carney, a Black furniture salesman and family man. Carney prides himself on working hard, making an honest living, and not being "crooked," as are many of his contemporaries who make their way as con artists and petty thieves. But everything changes when Carney gets dragged into a heist of a major hotel and finds himself on the opposite side of things...

"It never occurred to him that things would go wrong, that the caper would go sideways and there would be consequences. There were always consequences."

The midcentury Harlem setting is the star of the show here. Colson Whitehead brings the neighborhood to life with vibrant descriptions of the culture, the sights & sounds, the bars & diners, the real history layered throughout. The details are utterly atmospheric and all but bodily transport the reader into another time and place.

"No New Frontier stretched before him, endless and bountiful—that was for white folks—but this new land was a few blocks at least and in Harlem a few blocks was everything. A few blocks was the difference between strivers and crooks, between opportunity and the hard scrabble."

Whitehead's characters are brilliantly diverse, not only demographically but in personality. We see the lowlifes seeding the Harlem neighborhoods with corruption and crime, the social climbers strategizing to keep up with the Joneses, and everything in between. These characterizations brought the story to life in incredibly authentic ways and kept me interested.

"The way he saw it, living taught you that you didn’t have to live the way you’d been taught to live. You came from one place but more important was where you decided to go."

Harlem Shuffle is funny, gritty, immersive, and nuanced, and offers rich social commentary on race, class, integrity, and morality. A delight to read and an insightful novel to think about & discuss afterward. Highly recommended!

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A huge thank you to Colson Whitehead, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!