The Conjure Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem

Detective Sergeant Perry Dart is considered by many to be the first Black novel detective. He was inspired in part by Sam Spade from Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. What are some similarities between the two detectives? What are some differences?

The novel explores a complicated relationship between science and mysticism. How are the two connected? How does the novel explore the mystical and supernatural aspects?

Rudolph Fisher was a physician as well as a writer. How does Fisher incorporate scientific knowledge into the novel? How does his occupation inspire the character of Dr. John Archer?

Explore the role jazz music has in shaping the themes and character arcs in the novel. How does Fisher’s work in jazz music shape the music in the novel? Consider elements of jazz music like call and response, improvisation, and the blend of European and African rhythms.

How does Fisher’s decision to have only Black characters in the novel affect the story’s sociocultural context? How does it revolutionize the detective fiction and the murder mystery genre?

Bubber talks about moon signs throughout the novel, particularly “death on the moon”? Explore the novel’s incorporation of superstition, including how literary devices are used to depict them.

What role does the novel’s dialogue play in evoking the sociocultural environment of 1920s and 1930s Harlem? What does it reflect about the characters?

How well does the song, “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You” reflect the jazz music of the 1930s? How does it reflect the themes in the story?