Carter's non-fiction books have received praise from voices across the political spectrum, from Marion Wright Edelman to John Joseph O'Connor. Carter's first novel, "The Emperor of Ocean Park", spent 11 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list in 2002. It won both the 2003 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (Fiction) and the 2003 BCALA Literary Award, from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association., with further nominations for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction, the CWA New Blood Dagger from the Crime Writer's Association, and the 2002 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, in the mystery/thriller category.