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: Virtuouso Thriller In Black And White
Summary: 5 Stars
Easy Rawlins is an easygoing man who tries to be helpful. He works as a school custodian and has a small office where he conducts unofficial private investigations. He is also a seething caldron of racially inspired anger. The time is 1965, just as the Los Angeles riots are winding down. For a change, for one brief shining moment, the LA police need his help, to find the killer of a young black woman. For that brief period he carries a letter from the Deputy Commissioner, authorizing him to conduct this semi-official investigation. Reason--if the wrong suspect turns out to be the right suspect, it might re-ignite the riots.
That is the plot, but the plot is really unimportant. What makes the novel wonderful is the profusion of down-home earthy characters, the men, the women, the relationships, and the fault-lines of racial distrust (suspicion, fear, hatred) that run just below the surface of LA society.
This is my third Walter Mosley novel, and so far, the best of all. Mosley is a brilliant writer, who brings out his characters strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are terribly flawed, men walking at the edge of the abyss, crazed people, homicidal people, and people who love each other intensely--Somehow he makes them all believable. the writing flows easily, the dialect rings true, and I felt like I knew what made these people tick.
Author Mosely has a unique African-American voice, and he explores a realm that most white Americans are not aware of. And will never experience directly. Yet he makes it understandable, even believable.
Little Scarlet is an outstanding novel, and I recommend it highly. But remember, don't worry about the plot. Don't try to keep it all straight. Just go with the flow, like listening to overheard conversations. Like poetry. Five stars and more. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber
Book Review: Easy readin
Summary: 4 Stars
The author at the top of his game. The LA riots of the 60's. An unbeatable combination. I just wish Denzel kept making the movies.Book Review: Disappointment in Mosley
Summary: 2 Stars
I've enjoyed all of Mosley's works until Little Scarlet. Instead of moving the plot along in any logical way, he jumps from place to place with no real purpose. The whole scene with the wrong Harold did little to amuse or reveal.
Easy's failure to call friends or cohorts to tell them he'll be delayed for days seems inexplicably rude. Mouse no longer has the electricity he once did. The reader does not believe that Easy is frightened of Mouse.
Much of the plot seems unrealistic, with lots of loose ends. Mosley needed a better editor. I'm truly disappointed.
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first Walter Mosley book and I loved it! It had suspense, mystery, drama and funny one liners. Mosley has a great flow in bringing you into the life of Easy Rawlins and once you get there you want more!!
I am definitely going to buy more of his books as they are great reads!!
Book Review: Engaging... wonderfully layered.
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no substitute for a good story well told. If you pass this up you miss a gem. This is a great and very subtle reflection of the black view of the Watts riots in the mid-1960's.