Popular Reviews of Harlem Queen

This show does something special, between the way it transports you to a different time, with music & mood as your guide, & constantly ratcheting up the intrigue along the way! The acting is out of this world & the sound design completely immerses you in the world. Listen now!

Historical fiction set in 1920s-1930s Harlem following historical figure and policy banker/crime boss Stephanie St. Clair as she faces challenges to her business interests. Other historical figures such as Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes make appearances and the music, sound design, and dialogue immerse the listener in the time period. The struggles of being a black woman during the time period are portrayed and St. Clair's VA does a good job portraying the character's strengths and vulnerabilities. With all the research that clearly went into this, I was surprised to learn that (from the sources I read) St. Clair didn't have a child, since the daughter character factors into a decent amount of the plot. Episode runtimes are approx. 15-20 minutes, so it's a quick listen.

Beautifully strong, vibrant and as rich as the history it paints. The characters and world are so intricately crafted that it is like being transported to the Harlem Renaissance. This podcast has definitely piqued my interest and inspired me to learn more about this extravagant piece of history.

Thoroughly crafted and constructed audio drama based on an interesting tale that too often gets ignored. Great listen!

Under rated gem of an audio drama. Harlem Queen is perfect so far.

If there’s one thing there seems to be a dearth of in audio drama in our experience, it’s historical fiction, and Harlem Queen is an AMAZING addition to the genre! Look, I was hooked from that gorgeous show art and you should be as well. The show is exciting, dramatic, and fun, and really captures the vibe of the era. The world feels very immersive, with other figures from history flitting in and out of Stephanie’s (and occasionally connecting). The show is just filled with extremely deft, skillful storytelling at every turn, vibrant characters, and a clear heart at the center of it all. It’s an exceptional show in every way. The episodes are paced beautifully and the show is a perfect “inhale-a-season-in-one-day” listen. The show describes itself as “Boardwalk Empire meets Downton Abbey” and it earns both comparisons, but also goes beyond and forges its own path with Stephanie’s story.

This is history with a dash of steel backbone and a kiss of 'getting your own'. Numbers runners and moonshine, jazz and family ties. The roaring 20s as you've never heard them before!