Customer Reviews

Little Scarlet: An Easy Rawlins Mystery

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the many gifts of President Bill Clinton was introducing me-- and I suspect many other white readers- to the great mystery writer Walter Mosley. Early in his presidency on a vacation to Martha's Vineyard, the president laden down with books, including Mosley's then latest, as he left a local bookstore, was accosted by the media. (That Mr. Clinton read Mosley comes as no surprise since Toni Morrison has described him as the first black president in America.) So the press wanted to know what Mr. Clinton read for pleasure-- and what a pleasure reading Mr. Mosley is, particularly when he writes of the adventures of the indefatigable Easy Rawlins. He returns here at the time of the Watts race riots in '65 where he is recruited by a detective from the infamous LAPD to help solve the murder of a young black woman, Little Scarlet, who may have ben killed by a white man. Mr. Mosley weaves a complex tapestry here with many characters of all colors, some new of course, and many returning from previous novels, Mouse, Bonnie, Feather, Jesus et al.

As always, Mosley through Rawlings makes cogent statements about race in America. He tackles unflinchingly both self-hatred in the black community and the hierarchy of color there. In the hands of a lesser writer this story would be little more than an angry diatribe about the treatment of blacks by whites in this country; but that does not happen. Mr. Mosley creates black characters who are less than perfect and white ones-- including one from the LAPD-- who are actually decent people. As the writer's fans know already, his prose is as succinct as a grocery list but beautifully descriptive. Rawlins describes his clan as "my beautiful patchwork family." A cook prepares eggs "just an instant past running." A young black man already has the "slouching shoulders of someone who has been defeated by life." I particularly liked Easy's definition of a real cook as someone who can cook up a complete meal in five minute with whatever is available. And when Easy takes an alias, as he often does, he selects names of deceased friends-- because their names are easy to remember and to keep them alive, a beautiful concept and a loving tribute.

The author has never written a better novel. Thank you, Mr. Clinton, and thank you, Mr. Mosley.

They're back. Both Easy Rawlins and his sidekick, "Mouse" has delighted fans of Walter Mosley for years and his latest, Little Scarlet, is no exception. It is 1965 and the city of Los Angles has been embroiled in rioting, killing, and other forms of violence in Watts for several days. Now a young black woman is dead and her aunt is insisting that a white man did it. This white man happened to be in Watts at the height of looting and violence where he was dragged from his vehicle and badly beaten. He escaped into a building to the home of the victim. Now the aunt is in a psychiatric facility, supposedly for her own protection and the police are calling on Easy to investigate the allegations.

The police have never been Easy's friend and now they want his help. What's up with that? He knows it is because if the word gets out that a white man killed a black woman, the now dormant riot would explode all over again. With thorough detective work, it does not take long for Easy to track down the mysterious white man. But things are never that easy and Easy is convinced Peter Rhone did not kill Nola Payne AKA Little Scarlet. A mishmash of neighborhood characters provide clues of other possible suspects and with the help of his old friends, Mouse and Jackson Blue, he is off and running. One of his informants is Juanda, a young woman who catches Easy's eye. But he can't go there for he is devoted to Bonnie, his woman of several years. His household is replete with his adopted children, Jesus, now eighteen years old and his daughter, Feather. He owns several properties, has a steady job as a custodian supervisor with the school district and an office in Watts where he conducts his private investigation business. What more could a brother with humble beginnings by way of Louisiana and Texas want? But why is it when a man wants to do right, evil is always present?

Easy's clues lead him to a suspect that the police rejected as a killer two years prior when Easy suspected him. He immerses himself in the homeless world as he looks for the suspect. Now the police are looking into cold cases that turn up more possible victims of this psychotic killer whose M.O. seems to target black women who date men out of their race. The search takes Easy from Watts, to white suburban neighborhoods to seedy homeless shelters, confirming that what we see with our eyes is not necessarily so.

Mosley's prose is witty and serious, at times mystical and seductive. Several mystery writers spin their stories in Los Angeles and capture the excitement and glamour of this city that to this day is entangled in racial tension. Mosley happens to be one of the best, giving his readers a telescopic view of the ways of black and white folks in a landscape of automobiles and folks trying to make it from day to day. Fans will delight in this latest mystery. Keep `em coming Mosley.

Dera Williams

APOOO BookClub

Word is that Mr. Mosley has tried to let Easy rest for a while but we readers (as expressed through the editors) demand his reappearance. How can we help but want more Easy?!? As a character he is believable, smart, kinda gritty but wholey honorable.

In "Little Scarltet," however, my enjoyment of the story was more than just the hankerin' for more Easy Rawlins .Because I grew up in South Central L.A,. because I was a burgeoning adolescent at the time of the story's setting, because the events in this story (the '65 Watts Riots) were the ones that began the formation of my view of the socio-political world... and above all because it was well written and entertaining... I LOVED IT!

Mr. Mosley has skillfully driven another of his fiction-vehicles to a place where the reader hits pay dirt. For those who might not otherwise have a clue, here is a cruise through understanding what the '65 Watts Riots were about from more than one perspective. For those of us who traveled the mostly-bitter-sometimes-sweet road, he reminds us of the moral, political and spiritual lessons learned.

The plot drove the telling of all this in an engaging, entertaining manner and left me wanting more Easy Rawlins--sorry Mr. Mosely LOL!

I have enjoyed the Easy Rawlins series enough to have ordered some of his works in other genres and look forward to more of that good Hot-Fudge-Sundae fiction!

Walter Mosley spins a tale so deftly that the reader soon becomes completely absorbed in the action and the characters surrounding it, and quickly forgets that the printed text is merely a portal linked to the fictional world created by the author's imagination. This eerie effect is experienced even more profoundly in Mosley's Easy Rawlins mysteries, and LITTLE SCARLET is his best addition yet to this remarkable series.

Although the reader is deprived of ever meeting the woman known as Little Scarlet, her presence looms throughout the novel as Easy is enlisted by the racist and corrupt police department to assist in solving her seemingly senseless murder. During his quest, Easy encounters familiar characters from Mosley's previous works, such as the ever charming and murderous Mouse, the brilliant, but cowardly Jackson Blue, beautiful and loyal Bonnie, and Easy's "adopted" children, Feather and Jesus. A serial killer, carried over from Mosley's last short story collection (which also re-introduced the previously "deceased" Mouse), rears his monstrous head again, although the reader learns a little more about what motivates his conduct and can even empathize with him near the novel's conclusion.

Also present in LITTLE SCARLET are Mosley's trademark wit and inimitable writing style. From his realistic use of street vernacular to his clever turn of a simple phrase, Walter Mosley, easily, is one of the most thought-provoking literary craftsmen of all time. Utilizing Easy's character to seamlessly comment on society's illnesses and illusions while he goes about solving the crime du jour, Mosley's slick and subtle commentary are exemplified by such statements as (in describing a homeless man): "His jeans had been starched by street living and his shirt was a color that no manufacturer could duplicate", and (in characterizing Jackson Blue): "He was a liar by nature and a thief from the first day he could close his hands around some other baby's rattle."

As the novel progresses from the aftermath of the 1965 Watts riots, to the discovery of a deadly presence in the African-American community that the police, ironically, would choose to cover up by sacrificing a possibly innocent white man, many truths are slowly revealed. These revelations occur partly through Easy's tenacious search for justice, aided by his intuitive knowledge of human frailty and the devastating price of self-hatred, and partly due to an unexpected ally who joins the ranks of Easy's usual cohorts. In addition, Easy's ever-burgeoning credentials receive an extra boost by the novel's end, so that the reader can exhale on a note of assurance that there will be many more Rawlins adventures to come.

Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins returns in this eighth installment of the series, to investigate a murder that LAPD would rather keep quiet in the wake of the 1965 Watts Race Riots. Walter Mosley sets out to capture the reader as only he can by vividly spinning a plot snagging the reader in a web of characters, action, and suspense only a few hours of non-interrupted reading will extract you from.

The murder of Nola Payne is the key focus in this mystery and solving this crime falls under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department. One problem, Nola is black, lives in riot torn Watts and the prime suspect is a white man last seen entering her apartment. Detective Suggs rounds up unlicensed, private investigator Easy Rawlins to help with the case. He feels he can get Easy to assist with the threat of shutting down his work because he doesn't have the proper credentials. What he learns is Easy has a heart for his people, for his neighborhood and a sense of justice.

Detective Suggs is right to assume it just wouldn't do in these racially tense times, to see a white man asking questions about a young black woman. The riots might flare back up. Easy isn't particularly keen about getting involved but talking with the victim's grievously distraught grandmother convinces him that if he can do his part to assist in finding a killer, he'll proceed. What he uncovers is captivating. The layers of people involved circle through a number of avenues. It might seem confusing at first. The more Easy burrows into the investigation, the more caught up the reader becomes until the climax.

The familiar cast of characters and subplots return in Little Scarlet. The reader won't be disappointed that Mouse contributes in his own way to Easy's success, beautiful enticing women always play a roll, Mama Jo is still concocting home remedies and we catch a glimpse into his home life and explore his sometimes torn, most private emotions. This interweaving of strong recurring characters and plots that diverge in many directions makes a Walter Mosley story one that is both remarkable and memorable. Exploring an investigation with Easy Rawlins at the helm is guaranteed to take you on wonderful literary journey.

I approached this book with great anticipation. The reviews it garnered from some reputable sources would lead anyone to the conclusion that they were in for a treat, but overall I was disappointed in Little Scarlet. I've read a few other Mosley mysteries and have loved them -- A Red Death, Black Betty, White Butterfly -- so I expected this to be just as enjoyable. Where this book fell short for me was the mystery itself; there was, simply, no mystery. This is one of those books where you find out relatively early on "who done it" and the rest of the story is devoted to catching the killer. This, to me, is a lazy mystery, and I expected more from Mosley, whom I respect as a writer.

One thing I will say about this book, though, is Mosley's unflinching discussion of the Watts riots and race relations in America. He doesn't back down once, and good for him. He exposes the complexities of the issues and does so simply and within character for people like Easy and Mouse. He deserves praise for this.

Walter Mosley delivers crime fiction set during a turning point in America's racial history. His protagonist, Easy Rawlins, is a man who, more often than not, would like to be left alone--he just keeps getting caught up murders that require his special expertise in detection. The great pleasure of reading Mosley is the classic, sharp-paced action mixed with commentary on the problems of being African American in a racist society.

This book was loaned to me because someone thought I might like it. I've read most of Robert Parker and Elmore Leonard's novels and I enjoy a good mystery. I had heard of Walter Moseley but didn't know much about his books.

I'm not quite old enough to remember the Watts riots. I only know what I've read and heard from people who watched it on TV or were sent there with the National Guard. I realize that this is a novel and that there are parts that are fictional but there is some history in it.

Moseley's Easy Rawlins has to figure out who killed a woman and why this one person, out of the many who died in the riots, is so important in the bigger picture. Easy has been in and around Watts for years and you have to figure that Moseley was just waiting to write a book with this backdrop. Since reading Little Scarlet, I've gone back and read the first four books in the series. In all of the books, there is always a sense of the times for a black man in the U.S. and in Los Angeles but this story gives us one specific, important instance to build a very compelling story.

For the mystery, the characters, the perspective and the history, this is a great novel. I know people who don't read a lot of mysteries who really liked this book because it is so much more.

Of course, if you haven't read the earlier books first, you will have some plot points revealed in Little Scarlet that will take away from the previous stories when you do read them. Maybe this isn't best of his novels but if you only read one Easy Rawlins novel, I think this should be it.

Because I grew up there, because I was a burgeoning adolescent at the time of its setting, because the events in this story were the ones that began the formation of my view of the socio-political world... and above all because it was well written and entertaining... I LOVED IT! Mr. Mosley has skillfully driven another of his fiction-vehicles to a place where the reader hits pay dirt. For those who might not otherwise have a clue, here is a cruise through understanding what the '65 Watts Riots were about. For those of us who know the bitter-sweet road from our own journeys, he takes us on a trip down memory lane that can renew focus, sharpening the edges of our consciousness and memory.

My favorite character is ALWAYS "Mouse" and that's why I enjoyed reading this again.

I hope now that Don Cheadle has proven himself with "HOTEL RWANDA", they will make a new movie focusing on MOUSE so that he can really shine in the part that he was born to play.