?A magnificent first novel by Walter Mosley... The most exciting arrival in the genre for years?

?An original, beguiling creation. One of the most impressive first crime novels?

A magnificent first novel by Walter Mosley... The most exciting arrival in the genre for years?

?Easy Rawlins walks it like he talks it. Great Stuff'

The time is 1948. The town is Los Angeles. The hero is Easy Rawlins, an out of work black war veteran. The mortgage payment's coming due, so Easy accepts the assignment of finding Daphne Monet, a blonde torch singer with a penchant for jazz and criminal black consorts. In his search through a sleazy, fearful city, he is lucky to be under the protection of the murderous Mouse who wants a piece of the action. Easy Rawlins is a fascinating creation driving a plot that carries a fine and bitter sting. With this first novel, Walter Mosley made a distinctly confident start to his career as a great and inspirational writer.

2007-04-10 Almost as good as Chandler

I love the Big Sleep, I've read the book almost as many times as I've seen the film and that's a lot and Devil in a Blue Dress runs it a close 2nd.
Easy Rawlins is a great central character but it's Mouse who steals the show. He reminds me in principal of Joe Pesci's characters in GoodFellas or Casinio. Charming, charasmatic and murderously psychotic.
The setting is perfect and there are enough twists to keep the pages turning.
A must read for any fans of the genre.