The Conjure-Man Dies

The Conjure-Man Dies is an interesting example of detective fiction because not only is it first known mystery novel published by an African-American, but because of the presence of at least three detectives established from the very beginning, we get the typical archetypal detective attributes contrasted side by side in one story.

            First of all, the first character that we see established as a detective is the physician John Archer. From the very first introduction, Rudolph Fisher presents Dr. Archer as a brilliant man, not only by the detailing of his medical knowledge, but also by the stark contrast between the physician’s speech to that of Bubber Brown and Jinx. He is not only well educated, but we see a degree of natural and intuitive genius. In this way Fisher has captured one of the earliest detective archetypes: The Holmesian Detective. Like Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Archer has an innate and unexplainable ability to decipher. He deduces and comes to a conclusion, and then finds the proof to back that up. Archer deduces that Frimbo had been choked, and then finds the proof with the handkerchief.

            Our second detective, Perry Dart epitomizes the archetype of the hardboiled police thriller detective. Unlike Archer, Dart is in fact, by trade, employed as a detective. He is a man of the streets and a criminal profiler. He encompasses the transition from the Holmesian detective to the Noir detective because his methods completely contrast that of Dr. Archer. It is interesting how clear this contrast is made by Fisher by including both of these type of detectives in one story. Unlike Dr. Archer who finds evidence to prove his ideas are correct, Detective Dart collects a certain amount of clues before he begins to sort out the puzzle. He brings a certain degree of excitement and thrill to The Conjure-Man Dies. 

            The third detective is somewhat of a surprise. Under interrogation, we discover that Bubber Brown is indeed a private investigator who is in the business to find cheaters. Although this character at first glance, seems to mostly act as comic relief, when you look closer, Bubber has the characteristics outlined by Raymond Chandler in “The Simple Art of Murder” to be classified as a Noir Private Eye. He is first of all, a man who belongs in a hard, shady city. As a man of Harlem, his number one method of detection is to hit the streets. He does this when attempting to catch cheaters and when he is recruited by Dart to bring in witnesses. Although not the typical romantic and dashing figure of Noir (relatable more to Dashiell Hammett's "Zigzags of Treachery" detective than Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe), in a way, Bubber can be described as mysterious. I did not see it coming that he was in fact, a detective by hire, and not only is he a man of the streets of Harlem, but he has an innate sense of honor. It is very clear that he is not only innocent, but genuinely interested in catching the bad guy and finding out whodunit. Lastly, Bubber can be undeniably classified as the Noir Private Eye because of his lack of funds. Although just starting out, he is in the business purely for the dough. He thought a detective gig catching cheaters would make him some money after losing his last job.

            There is apparently a fourth possibly detective… Frimbo?... hmmmm...