The historical drama based on actual events during United States’ Jazz Age is three seasons long. Still, it has a subtextual depth that rivals that of Tolkien’s middle earth and the immersion readers get reading it. Harlem Queen is everything an armchair historian looks for in a historical fiction piece without substituting conflict for easter eggs and historical fan service.

Harlem Queen, Madame St. Claire and the Numbers Game

The entire series is three seasons long at roughly four episodes per season. While the first season upon initial listening struggles to find its footing, its finale is where the story’s depth becomes apparent. Harlem Queen is the story of Madame Stephanie St. Clair and her racketeering empire in the form of a numbers game. Numbers games blended gambling, lottery winnings, and investment banking for a predominantly Black demographic.

St. Claire was the only woman involved in the numbers game, which made her a target for many takeovers of her territory. The Harlem Queen’s business savvy and sense of equity for the Black populace shine through in her decision to pay more than her competitors. Famous mob bosses such as Lucky Luciano make cameos later on in the series.

The “Saint” Claire of Harlem

The rivalry between the Bronx-based mob boss Dutch Schultz and the Harlem Queen as depicted in the show is the main source of external conflict for Stephanie St. Claire. The internal conflict is a beautifully complex example of dramatic irony and has more of an indirect connection to St. Claire herself. Stephanie’s daughter is living a lie without realizing it. She is able to pass as white and is totally oblivious to her heritage thanks to St. Claire’s money, power, and discrete handling of the issue. It’s a similar character to my own historical fantasy about a boy born in one world but raised in another, just made more modern.

Briefly glancing at the Wikipedia page for Stephanie St. Claire and this 11-episode series tackles the subheadings found on the page and is more or less consistent with the quality. Searching for any mention of the daughter proved fruitless, but artistic license is sometimes necessary to give a story weight. Assuming the character of Michele existed in some form only adds to the real-world credibility of just how successful Ms. St. Claire was in hiding the truth from her enemies and allies.

Harlem Queen: The Third and Final Season?

The third season doesn’t end with St. Clair’s death in 1968. After getting out of the numbers game, St. Claire married someone people referred to as “Black Hitler.” The writer, Yhane Washington Smith chooses to end the series (with hopefully more coming soon) with the Harlem Queen’s arrest in a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare. No spoilers, but it’s a distant second to the bard’s take on the assassination of Julius Caesar in terms of its iconic nature. Definitely in second place for betrayals in modern audio dramas. At least the ones I’ve listened to so far. First place has to go to the second season finale of the Bright Sessions.

The downer and abrupt nature of an ending for the show does kind of leave a bad taste in your mouth. However, it feels intentional. The decision gives the listener a sense of dread that is on par with the ending of Blackbirds.

Overall, Harlem Queen does what any good historical story should achieve at some level: get people interested in the period or person they’re dramatizing. It dips in places in terms of technical quality, but that’s true of a lot of independent audio dramas.

Rating: Internally Consistent (8/10 Stars)

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