Little Scarlet: An Easy Rawlins Novel by Walter Mosley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Little Scarlet: An Easy Rawlins Novel
Book Review: Not as good as some of his others
Summary: 3 Stars
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.
Book Review: Interesting story line, but Easy is getting too old.
Summary: 3 Stars
This is my third Easy Rollins book and my fourth book for this author. I tremendously enjoyed Devil in a Blue Dress, and Red Death was fine. I looked forward to reading this new book since it centered on the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles. I was a child in LA during those riots and I vividly remember the violence, soldiers, and the neighborhood fear.
In this book, the police recruit Rollins to find the white killer of a black woman before the death becomes public knowledge and sparks further violence (probably not too far fetched a premise given how on edge the government and people were at the time).
I liked the way the story turned and the pace was fine since it was a rather short book. The book is 300 pages, but the printer was very generous with the type setting, and it was more like a 200 page novel. I didn't read the previous Easy book, so I'm not sure as to what was new in his life and what was from the earlier book(s). However, Easy is now more domesticated, but still feeling temptations.
What I did not like about the book is first, this book has only a marginal use of the Mouse character that was the energy behind the Blue Dress book and movie. Easy Rollins by himself is not as able to carry the story line. In addition, the author continues to insert his form of philosophy into his main characters about race and life in general that, to me, is very elementary. However, the author presents his philosophizing as if it were an oracle from Delphi.
I also cannot understand why Rollins still has so many thoughts of wanting to kill people. It was acceptable in the novels when he was fresh from the war, but it's time to give it a rest. The book had two historical errors. One is referring to the Gemini 5 space mission as the space shuttle (this may have been the printers fault), and the other was using the telephone answering machine as if it were a well known device by the average person (it was invented before the 1960's, but wasn't generally marketed until the 1970's).
In sum, I would recommend this book for those interested in a mystery and a very easy summer read. But, I think that the Easy Rollins stories have peaked and should be retired.
Book Review: Pleasant Shopping Experience Guaranteed!
Summary: 5 Stars
The book arrived on time and in excellent condition. Bravo!Book Review: A First For Mosley...FIVE STARS from ME!
Summary: 5 Stars
Watts, California in the middle 1960's. Racial unrest is at an all-time high. Innocents suffer the blame of the guilty. So begins the newest piece by Walter Mosley - a searing cat-and-mouse chase built around the bastard children of War...
Riots.
Total fiction built around a true blight on history, "Little Scarlet" is about the mysterious murder of a black woman and the police won't do anything about it. When more women show up dead under similar circumstances, enter Easy Rawlins, part-time amatuer detective, full-time Sojourner Truth School janitor. Any reader familiar with Easy's past exploits will find a totally different man from his first entry, "Devil In A Blue Dress." The former womanizer and unemployed binge drinker is pretty much settled down with his adopted daughter and son, making a family with his main squeeze Bonnie. His only vice is smoking and he's the head janitor at the school he works for. From time to time he plays detective in the form of "doing favors for people who repay him in favors." Likeable cop Det. Suggs comes knocking and asks Easy to do a little investigating about the murders. With the police too worried about their own bad reputations in the enraged black neighborhoods, Easy is not only left with the task of solving a very intricate murder plot, but he also has to deal with the melting pot of Negro anger. Stores are up in flames, people are fighting in the streets and someone is committing murder after murder. With only a few close friends and a sort of "immunity letter" signed by the police to watch his back, off he goes into the hazardous, dark domain of 1960's Los Angeles. Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mosley really kicks butt with this one. I have long criticized his penchant for throwing numerous characters at us at tornado speed, making them far too difficult to identify with or even remember at crucial points. This time out, Det. Suggs, the alluring Juanda, poor Geneva, et al., were easy to feel out and keep track of. It was a really pleasant change for a Mosley novel.
Another nice twist was Easy's figuring out who the killer was in the middle of the book. Normally, we are shown a few generous red herrings and sparse truths that hold their ground until all is revealed in the last few pages of your average Rawlins mystery. Not even Sherlock Holmes would be able to figure out where he was going with these books until the "this is what happened and who is guilty of it" segment at the end.
Don't get me wrong, I love Mosley's writing, but it was nice to just watch Easy know who he was chasing for once. He really has grown as a character over the years, as have many of the supporting characters. His homicidal sidekick Mouse is forever the nutcase but I was a bit annoyed that we were offered no feasible explanation as to why he is alive, having been allegedly killed in "White Butterfly" and presumed dead all through "Bad Boy Brawly Brown." Long-time stable Mofass has finally met his maker and Easy's son Jesus has quit school and become quite the self-made sailor. Lots of times it's a treat to read these mysteries just to see what all the characters have been doing between novels. Also, the inclusion of Paris Minton from the "Fearless Jones" books was very stylish as he chats with Easy while sitting outside his bookstore, ready to fend off any would-be vandals. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this well-made masterpiece.
Book Review: Mosley has a unique knack for dialogue
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know why I stopped reading Walter Mosley about a dozen years ago. I think it was after seeing the disappointing film version of "Devil in a Blue dress" (though it did introduce me to Don Cheadle). I sure am glad I picked up Little Scarlett though. I have to catch up with the last several Easy Rawlins stories now. He is such a quick read and Easy has such a wonderful take on humanity. When I think of Mosley, I think of Elmore Leonard. They both have these rich characters with such snappy dialogue, but Leornard has written a lot of average books amongst his masterpieces. Mosley's work has all been excellent. Little Scarlett is probably the best. At least of the ones I've read so far. Like I say I have some catching up to do. Nice to rediscover an old friend.