Author: Mosley, Walter
Publication Date: 2004
Number of Pages: 320
Genre: Mystery
Geographical Setting: Los Angeles, CA
Time Period: 1965
Series: Easy Rawlins mysteries, 8
Plot Summary: Just after the L.A. riots in 1965, African American detective Easy Rawlins is sought out by the L.A.P.D. to help them solve the mystery of the murder of a young girl. The girl that was murdered was African American, and she was murdered after helping a white man escape from the riots. Rawlins is asked to discover who the white man was that entered the building where Little Scarlet was murdered and whether he is responsible for her death. Along the way, Easy deals with issues in his own life (both in his love life and with the children that he has more-or-less adopted) and uncertainty about helping white men with the task at hand. The book highlights the state of racial tension during the 1960’s, while giving readers an honest look into life in the L.A. ghetto. Strong language is scattered throughout, as are several sexual themes.
Similar Authors and Works (Fiction): Revoyer, Nina – Southland (1965 Watts riot, L.A. setting, family secrets); Nelscott, Kris – War at Home (African-American private investigator, race relations during the 60’s); McCullough, Colleen – On, Off (serial murderer with female victims, 1960s setting).
Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction): Penrice, Ronda Racha – African American History for Dummies (History, Biography, and Politics) (a starting place for those needing a place to start learning about the African American story); Soitos, Stephen F. – The Blues Detective: A Study of African American Detective Fiction (a look into African American detective authors); Raybon, Patricia – My First White Friend (an African American woman’s journey from rage to forgiveness and friendship).
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