The Sepia Siren Killer by Richard A. Lupoff

Lupoff is very successful in creating a nonogenarian black director, and while the mysteries and suspense that swirl about him are what propel the story forward, his memories of days gone by are what bring the book to life.

Black actors in regular film productions (whether by major or 'poverty row' studios)usually filled the 'race' roles of cook, maid, etc., but in the films made by and for their own people could play anything from cowboy to detective, from leading man to villain. Even ardent cinemaniacs are often ignorant that from the beginning of the 20th Century to just after desegregation colored movie houses screened films for colored audiences that featured colored casts, made by colored film crews. Richard Lupoff's book is entertaining for the mystery fan, but it is fascinating for fans of old cinema, especially that much-neglected sub-genre, Black Cinema. Perhaps the author once, long, long ago, owned or remembered riding in a Pan Motor vehicle. I was surprised that the automobile company who owner gives the ancient author his first start in publishing was real rather than a pastiche of early car companies. Since I have no knowledge of the main historical events in this book, there is no whiny section of factual errors in this review. If you like the Blues these little notes (yes, you may groan) are pleasant to stumble across. Like the previous novel (and left out of that review) Blues music is an undercurrent to the book, as it pops up in characters’ homes and other locations. (As noted in the “Author’s Note”, the specific film companies mentioned did not exist, but others that had similar stories did.) It is all very interesting if, like me, you had no knowledge of this history. Before he started his first film business he also wrote and sold popular fiction books for blacks by writing them about black (“Negro” to use the period-correct descriptive) American characters. The story revolves around an elderly (90) man who was a pioneering writer and director. In this book, the primary one is that of a parallel network of black filmmakers and movie theaters just like the Negro baseball league existed in parallel with “major league baseball”. As in most of his books, the writing is tight, the characters realistic, and the storyline engaging.Īs noted in my review of “The Bessie Blue Killer”, the lead characters get embroiled in mysteries that revolve around significant trivia and historical facts. I am giving this a “4” based on the writing, plotting and minutia that the author incorporates into it. This book is the fourth in the series (it comes after “The Bessie Blue Killer”) and I found it to be as engaging and as well-written as the previous volume.

The Sepia Siren Killer by Richard A. Lupoff