Crook Manifesto
Crook Manifesto is a 2023 crime novel by Colson Whitehead and the sequel to Harlem Shuffle. It follows Ray Carney in Harlem across 1971, 1973, and 1976 (the Bicentennial year). Now a successful furniture salesman, Carney tries to keep his life straight, but when his daughter grows distant he tries to help her get tickets to a sold-out Jackson 5 show. This leads him back into old criminal networks.
He reconnects with former partners and a corrupt white cop who wants to stay under the radar in New York City. Carney ends up moving stolen jewels, robbing a poker game, and rummaging through criminals’ apartments. The result is a tense, nightmarish ride through the city.
Critics note the novel as both crime fiction and social history. The New York Times calls Carney a resigned, observant figure who is both participant and hostage in this dangerous journey. The book is also seen as part of Whitehead’s strong tradition of historical fiction, using crime stories to explore Harlem at a crucial moment in time.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:54 (CET).