Hard Luck and Trouble — Gammy L. Singer

From one of today's most compelling writers comes this unforgettable novel set in legendary Harlem, New York--a place brimming with vitality, tarnished glory, and new beginnings...
Amos Brown knows trouble comes in threes. First off, he's got a notorious West Indian drug lord on his back. Amos isn't into drugs, but he's got a nasty gambling habit. After losing at poker, he owes the drug lord big-time. Second, Amos's bride of six months disappeared when his numbers running business went down the drain so he's out everything except the kitchen sink. The luck that's forced him to sell off his worldly possessions has also made him the owner of two Harlem brownstones, inherited from the father he met only once in his life...

So while Amos is waiting for the third axe to fall, he'll have to settle into his new life as a landlord. That means dealing with some of 128th Street's most colorful and intriguing characters. Amos has heard of skeletons in the closet, but apparently he's got one in his basement. Resolving to put together the pieces of the mysterious discovery, Amos has no idea that he will also be putting together the puzzle of his past--and working out his future...