I found this slightly-battered ex-library hardcover at a local charity-sale shop. It's a collection of mystery and suspense stories by black authors, some dealing directly with racial issues and others simply telling cracking good mystery stories that happen to feature black characters. The stories date from 1900 through the 1990s, with my favorites including:

"Talma Gordon", by Pauline H. Hopkins, about miscegenation and prejudice - with a surprising and heart-warming conclusion.

"On Saturday the Siren Sounds at Noon", by Ann Petry, about a horrifying domestic tragedy and its consequences.

"The Spook Who Sat by the Door" by Sam Greenlee (an excerpt) - this one's about the early days of desegregation as regards the CIA. [This one inspired a screen adaptation.]

"The Thirtieth Amendment" by Hugh Holton mixes crime and science fiction in a futuristic tale where nearly every possible crime has a death sentence - and the executioners make a science (and sometimes a game) out of choosing the methods. This one has an interesting twist on "executioner believes victim to be innocent" plot.

"Spilled Salt" by Barbara Neely deals with a mother whose son has gone to prison for rape, and who is increasingly tormented by the thought that the boy she loved and raised could do such a thing. And now he's getting out of jail and coming home; what is she to do?

I took this to the meetup in Brookline; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2016 Spooktacular Halloween release challenge. ***

Sending to my other "aunt" for her collection or to pass onto a friend, at church, etc.