What different racial, ethnic, and religious groups make up Harlem? How do they interact with one another, and what does this suggest about the state of America in 1965?

Are Coffin Ed and Grave Digger “good” detectives? Do they truly do what is best for Harlem, or have they become too jaded and corrupt?

Describe the role of stereotypes in the novel. Which characters remain stock figures, and which ones turn the stereotype on its head?