'Crook Manifesto' is a riveting sequel to Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem Shuffle,' set against the unrest of 1970s New York. Furniture store owner and erstwhile con Ray Carney is drawn back into the underworld as he maneuvers to secure concert tickets for his daughter. As the streets of Harlem churn with crime and corruption, Carney must navigate a treacherous path between law enforcement, the rising Black Liberation Army, and the rampant cronyism that permeates the city. His journey intertwines with Pepper, his loyal but violent accomplice, as they confront a changing world marked by a boisterous counterculture and a city spiraling towards bankruptcy. With a backdrop of Hollywood shoots, political campaigns, and neighborhood upheavals, Carney confronts what family means amid the chaos. Whitehead delivers a gritty, humorous exploration of survival and integrity within a city besieged by its own demons.