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: Finding justice on the mean streets of Los Angeles.
Summary: 5 Stars
Ezekiel Rawlins, known as Easy, is the laid back hero of "Little Scarlet," Walter Mosley's latest mystery novel. It is the summer of 1965. The rage of frustrated black people in Los Angeles has erupted into an orgy of looting and violence that has left the entire city in a state of frightened vigilance. The police ask Easy to look into the death of Nola Payne, nicknamed Little Scarlet. She is black woman who may have been killed by a white man. Police Commissioner Gerald Jordan wants the investigation to be conducted with tact and subtlety in order to prevent a flare-up of the rioting.
Easy takes the case and he begins to make discreet inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Nola Payne's death. He places himself in danger from the woman's killer, from some members of the police department who do not want a black man treading on their turf, and from some neighborhood folks who think he should just butt out of matters that do not concern him.
"Little Scarlet" is a mood piece more than a mystery. Mosley captures the speech cadences, the gritty vernacular, the jittery atmosphere, and the despair in Los Angeles during that horrible summer. Yet Mosley keeps the proceedings light with his wry sense of humor, and he also fills the book with colorful characters, such as Raymond "Mouse" Alexander. Mouse is a man who dresses like a clown, has a reputation as a stone cold killer, but whose help is invaluable when Easy needs information and backup.
Easy Rawlins is the centerpiece of "Little Scarlet," and he is charismatic, charming, compassionate, and real. Easy loves his girlfriend, Bonnie, but he admits that other beautiful women catch his eye all the time. Although he could give in to the temptations that other men are prey to, Easy usually thinks things through and makes a decision based on what his gut tells him is right or wrong.
Mosley's descriptive writing is magnificent. He brings every scene to life with figurative language that is both precise and imaginative. He also brilliantly explores the evils of racism and the poisonous effects of self-hatred. Easy knows that there are no quick answers to the myriad problems that plague society, but he believes that one person, if he really cares, can do his share to make things a little bit better.
Book Review: EASY ON THE EARS
Summary: 5 Stars
The eighth Walter mystery starring Easy Rawlings, a mid forties African-American PI in Los Angeles, is as tense, dramatic, and unputdownable as its predecessors. Accomplished television actor, Michael Boatman, brings Easy to life, revealing his tension filled days, fears, and determination.
With Little Scarlet it's the mid sixties in L.A.; the aftermath of the Watts riots. When a red-headed woman known as Little Scarlet is found murdered in her apartment building, the police who are Caucasian for the most part come to Easy for help. It seems a man was pulled from his car at the height of the rioting. Lucky for him he escaped and ran into the dead woman's apartment building. Of course, he's now a major suspect in her murder. He's also nowhere to be found.
Police are reluctant to return to that neighborhood to search for him lest they trigger further violence. Easy is their answer. With the help of his buddy, Mouse, Easy begins to investigate only to find that the killer's rage is even more intense than the heat of the recent fires.
A mesmerizing listen.
- Gail Cooke
Book Review: Easy is Back
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Book Review: Mosley at the top of his form
Summary: 5 Stars
Yarns involving crime and punishment are the excuses cultural philosopher Walter Mosley uses to draw us into his explication of the relationship among blacks and whites who find themselves living in the same world. In Little Scarlet, Easy Rawlins goes out into Los Angeles in the immediate aftermath of the Watts riots to find a white man the police believe killed a young black woman who sheltered him from marauders who attacked him during the riots. The police fear that investigating the crime themselves would draw attention to the crime and that its white-on-black nature would spark further rioting. Through the story pass the many and varied personalities familiar from earlier Easy Rawlins novels. As in most Easy Rawlins stories, finding the bad guy is secondary to helping the reader see why blacks think as they do in Los Angeles. Mosley's trenchant and direct style does this unambiguously.
Book Review: A return to form for Easy Rawlins
Summary: 4 Stars
The reader from Sunnyvale, CA who disliked "Little Scarlet" because Mosley seemingly "squander(ed)" the "opportunity to reintroduce...Mouse" obviously did not read the Easy Rawlins short story collection "Six Easy Pieces," released last year. If he had, he would have read Mouse's reappearance in "Grey-Eyed Death." The collection's final story, (the aptly titled) "Amber Gate," also includes an appearance by Mouse and establishes the events that lead up to the murder Easy is called upon to solve here. Readers who have not already done so are encouraged to seek out this strong collection prior to starting "Scarlet." That said, LC is a return to form for Mosley's best-loved character following the disappointing by-the-numbers feel of 2002's "Bad Boy Brawly Brown." At readings I've attended, Mosley has made little secret where his writing preferences lie - he'd rather be doing original novels, his publishers want more Easy. Mr. Mosley has written better novels ("The Man in My Basement" a recent example), but I predict none are likely to be as well-regarded or remain in print as long as this series.
With the Easy Rawlins series Walter Mosley has created a cast of characters whose passions you can feel coming off the page. Easy's a working man trying to raise a family and do the right thing by his heart and for the people he cares about. If you already count yourself among the faithful, cracking open "Little Scarlet" will be like catching up with an old friend - you'll plow through it. If you find yourself tempted to try this series, start at the beginning with "Devil in a Blue Dress." You'll be hooked.