The Big Gold Dream — Chester Himes

In this page-turning installment of the classic Harlem Detectives series, a woman dies at a con man's religious street revival, and her elusive pile of cash vanishes

Alberta Wright drops dead on the street during a sermon by the charismatic con man Sweet Prophet. Her partner rushes home to avoid the cops, only to find her apartment looted by someone looking for her stash of cash. But soon it becomes apparent that there are number of players in the race for Alberta's dough when a furniture salesman who bought much of her belongings is murdered at his shop. Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones are called in to investigate, but they know full well the bodies haven't stopped dropping yet.