Got The Real Cool Killers by Chester Himes from the library after reading a Burkinabè author cite him as an influence. I was like, “Who is this guy?” Fascinating and sad story. The fiction is exactly as advertised: lurid hardboiled Harlem detectives and criminals. Lots of action, no character development, impossible stereotypes.  But a fun read, of course.  Not nearly as taut as Elmore Leonard, but broader, more slapstick.  Lots of vocabulary that I am sure Google will enjoy looking up for you.