Read the first African American mystery story Talma Gordon.
The Classic - Talma Gordon by Pauline E. Hopkins
Pauline Hopkins was a powerhouse writer. Not only was she considered one of the great writers of horror, mystery, and science fiction novels, she was a highly skilled playwright, orator, and political activist. She first published many of her stories in The Colored American Magazine, the first national publication on African American culture. Her prowess as a literary artist and strengths in fundraising elevated her to one of the magazine's board members and eventual editor of the magazine from 1902-1904. In 1904, after a hostile takeover from Booker T. Washington who often disagreed with her on philosophy and politics, she was ousted as editor of the magazine.
Talma Gordon
by Hopkins, Pauline E
Talma Gordon (1900) is a short story by Pauline E. Hopkins. Recognized as the first African American mystery story, Talma Gordon was originally published in the October 1900 edition of The Colored American Magazine, America's first monthly periodical covering African American arts and culture. Combining themes of racial identity and passing with a locked room mystery plot, Hopkins weaves a masterful tale of conspiracy, suspicion, and murder. "When the trial was called Jeannette sat beside Talma in the prisoner's dock; both were arrayed in deepest mourning, Talma was pale and careworn, but seemed uplifted, spiritualized, as it were. [...] She had changed much too: hollow cheeks, tottering steps, eyes blazing with fever, all suggestive of rapid and premature decay." When Puritan descendant Jonathan Gordon is discovered murdered under suspicious circumstances, the ensuing trial implicates his own daughter Talma. Despite being declared innocent, the townsfolk are determined to believe that Talma conspired to have her father killed after he discovered her mixed racial heritage. Freed from the prospect of imprisonment, Talma is left with only her sister's protection against the anger and violence of her neighbors. With this thrilling tale of murder and racial tension, Hopkins proves herself as a true pioneer of American literature, a woman whose talent and principles afforded her the vision necessary for illuminating the injustices of life in a nation founded on slavery and genocide.
Our Modern Companion - The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
Talma Gordon was a mystery unlike any mystery of the time – taking place mostly in the courtroom after the action. We’ve paired it with the novel The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson, a mystery with complex characters and a relentless plotline. Read a preview.
The Jigsaw Man
by Matheson, Nadine
*Shortlisted for the 2022 Diverse Book Award*
*A Crime Reads Most Anticipated Book of 2021*
A serial killer and his copycat are locked in a violent game of cat and mouse. Can DI Anjelica Henley stop them before it's too late?
On the day she returns to active duty with the Serial Crimes Unit, Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley is called to a crime scene. Dismembered body parts from two victims have been found by the river.
The modus operandi bears a striking resemblance to Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer, who has spent the past two years behind bars. When he learns that someone is co-opting his grisly signature--the arrangement of victims' limbs in puzzle-piece shapes--he decides to take matters into his own hands.
As the body count rises, DI Anjelica Henley is faced with an unspeakable new threat. Can she apprehend the copycat killer before Olivier finds a way to get to him first? Or will she herself become the next victim?
Drawing on her experience as a criminal attorney, debut novelist Nadine Matheson delivers the page-turning crime novel of the year. Taut, vivid and addictively sinister, The Jigsaw Man will leave you breathless until the very last page.
Discover more classics and their modern companion each week.