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Easy Rawlins #17
Gray Dawn
Detective Easy Rawlins has settled into the happy rhythm of his new life when a dark siren from his past returns and threatens to destroy the peace he's fought for, in the latest installment from "master of craft and narrative" Walter Mosley in a legendary series (National Book Foundation).
The name Easy Rawlins stirs excitement in the hearts of readers and fear in the hearts of his foes. His success has bought him a thriving detective agency, with its first female detective; a remote home, shared with children and pets and lovers, high atop the hills overlooking gritty Los Angeles; and more trouble, more problems, and more threat to those whom he loves. In other words, he’s still beset on all sides.
A number of below-the-law powerbrokers plead with Easy to locate a mysterious, dangerous woman—Lutisha James, though she’s gone by another name that Easy will immediately recognize. 1970s Los Angeles is a transient city of delicate, violent balances, and Lutisha has disturbed that. She also has a secret that will upend Easy’s own life, painfully closer to home.
The name Easy Rawlins stirs excitement in the hearts of readers and fear in the hearts of his foes. His success has bought him a thriving detective agency, with its first female detective; a remote home, shared with children and pets and lovers, high atop the hills overlooking gritty Los Angeles; and more trouble, more problems, and more threat to those whom he loves. In other words, he’s still beset on all sides.
A number of below-the-law powerbrokers plead with Easy to locate a mysterious, dangerous woman—Lutisha James, though she’s gone by another name that Easy will immediately recognize. 1970s Los Angeles is a transient city of delicate, violent balances, and Lutisha has disturbed that. She also has a secret that will upend Easy’s own life, painfully closer to home.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2025
178 people are currently reading
4788 people want to read
About the author
Walter Mosley
202 books3,887 followersWalter Mosley (b. 1952) is the author of the bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins, as well as numerous other works, from literary fiction and science fiction to a young adult novel and political monographs. His short fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and the Nation, among other publications. Mosley is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Grammy, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 22, 2025
At the beginning of Gray Dawn Easy is growing restless after a long hiatus from taking any cases at the detective agency he runs with two other partners. His daughter (Feather) is in France at boarding school and his son (Jesus) is off making a living deep sea fishing with his wife and daughter.
As much as Easy loves living on the mansion in the hills of LA his wish right now is to get his teeth into some new cases. If anything, it'll be the perfect salve to help take his mind off missing his loved ones.
He must have forgotten the old adage to be careful what you wish for, because when he arrives in the office that morning it was granted in spades. His first client is requesting help in finding his aunt at his grandmother's bequest. The client smells, is rude and has little information for him go on. Needless to say, he figures he can gumshoe the streets for a few days, ask around and have the case wrapped up by the end of the week.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. If only he knew that before the week is out his life will be in upheaval. A deadly blast from his past is back, and Easy will have no choice but to wade through the carnage...
Easy's timeline has progressed to the 1970s and it was such a thrill to find lots of his old friends played major roles in this episode. Mouse, Mama Jo, Jackson Blue, Fearless Joe, etc. are right there by his side, continuing to demonstrate their lifelong love and loyalty for their beloved friend.
Absolutely amazing read. Looking forward to #18, Mr. Mosley. = )
As much as Easy loves living on the mansion in the hills of LA his wish right now is to get his teeth into some new cases. If anything, it'll be the perfect salve to help take his mind off missing his loved ones.
He must have forgotten the old adage to be careful what you wish for, because when he arrives in the office that morning it was granted in spades. His first client is requesting help in finding his aunt at his grandmother's bequest. The client smells, is rude and has little information for him go on. Needless to say, he figures he can gumshoe the streets for a few days, ask around and have the case wrapped up by the end of the week.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. If only he knew that before the week is out his life will be in upheaval. A deadly blast from his past is back, and Easy will have no choice but to wade through the carnage...
Easy's timeline has progressed to the 1970s and it was such a thrill to find lots of his old friends played major roles in this episode. Mouse, Mama Jo, Jackson Blue, Fearless Joe, etc. are right there by his side, continuing to demonstrate their lifelong love and loyalty for their beloved friend.
Absolutely amazing read. Looking forward to #18, Mr. Mosley. = )
November 10, 2025
Ezekiel Rawlins’ story is America’s story. The public was introduced to “Easy” in 1990. The intervening thirty five years have produced sixteen additional novels that chronicle Easy’s journey in America. His story takes place in the later stages of the Great Migration. Easy’s challenge during this period of change is to cope with America’s response to the demographic shift of five million black Americans migrating out of the South.As Easy makes his way through twenty three years, his voice speaks for the marginalized and dispossessed in America.
The author reflects on this same point in his foreword.
“ Easy and his friends exist to testify about a volatile time in Black, and therefore American history. Ezekiel’s tales are kind of like a twentieth century memoir, a fast paced unspooling of events that came from a people, an entire so-called race, that had been fighting for liberation and equality longer than any living soul could remember.”
Easy has moved through the serpentine underbelly of Los Angeles since 1948.He was a recently discharged GI during the post war boom and has navigated the perils of the McCarthy era and the Watts riots. Now, in 1971, Easy and his coterie of friends have managed to survive and prosper over the years. His world is now populated with hippies, free love and the turbulence of the Vietnam War. Yet beneath the outward changes, the insidious specter of race, class and poverty still define his existence.
Easy has forged a career in real estate while still maintaining his presence as “ the colored detective.” He has an affinity for the underdog and is motivated to give standing to people whose voice is not heard by mainstream institutions. When Santangelo Burris, a rough hewn, tough talking stranger, accosts Easy with a wad of crumpled dirty bills, antenna are raised and interest is piqued.Burris wants Easy to find his auntie Lutisha James, who used to run a little numbers house back in Texas.Easy starts his search and an informant tells him,” Lutisha is old school.She got a knife longer than Gina’s in her hand bag and dynamite in both feet and hands”
Thus Easy is plunged into the chaos of Los Angeles, moving between danger laden streets and rarefied offices. The reader is privy to Easy’s internal monologue as he moves from place to place. His monologue blends social commentary into the plot with phrases that become memorable aphorisms. After an encounter with an overly aggressive white security guard Easy notes that, “ His hate trained brain was a prototype of the white world. An infection of the sort I provided, here and there, meant that he and his ilk would have to think before they ignored or acted against me and mine.’
Characterization and sense of time and place are more important than plot in a Rawlins novel.Walter Mosley’s characters are people who come from places not usually recorded in mainstream history. Easy journeys through Los Angeles and touches bases with longtime friends Raymond “Mouse” Alexander, Charcoal Joe, Jackson Blue and Paris Minton. Their movements took me back to an earlier time when I traveled through Harlem with Langston Hughes’ marvelous creation, Jessie B Semple. I realized that Easy Rawlins is a spiritual descendant of Jessie Semple.Jessie roamed Harlem musing on the challenges of a black man living in a hostile environment. Easy, on the other hand moves through Los Angeles in the midst of danger while casting a critical eye on a society resistive of the seismic changes looming ahead.
The author reflects on this same point in his foreword.
“ Easy and his friends exist to testify about a volatile time in Black, and therefore American history. Ezekiel’s tales are kind of like a twentieth century memoir, a fast paced unspooling of events that came from a people, an entire so-called race, that had been fighting for liberation and equality longer than any living soul could remember.”
Easy has moved through the serpentine underbelly of Los Angeles since 1948.He was a recently discharged GI during the post war boom and has navigated the perils of the McCarthy era and the Watts riots. Now, in 1971, Easy and his coterie of friends have managed to survive and prosper over the years. His world is now populated with hippies, free love and the turbulence of the Vietnam War. Yet beneath the outward changes, the insidious specter of race, class and poverty still define his existence.
Easy has forged a career in real estate while still maintaining his presence as “ the colored detective.” He has an affinity for the underdog and is motivated to give standing to people whose voice is not heard by mainstream institutions. When Santangelo Burris, a rough hewn, tough talking stranger, accosts Easy with a wad of crumpled dirty bills, antenna are raised and interest is piqued.Burris wants Easy to find his auntie Lutisha James, who used to run a little numbers house back in Texas.Easy starts his search and an informant tells him,” Lutisha is old school.She got a knife longer than Gina’s in her hand bag and dynamite in both feet and hands”
Thus Easy is plunged into the chaos of Los Angeles, moving between danger laden streets and rarefied offices. The reader is privy to Easy’s internal monologue as he moves from place to place. His monologue blends social commentary into the plot with phrases that become memorable aphorisms. After an encounter with an overly aggressive white security guard Easy notes that, “ His hate trained brain was a prototype of the white world. An infection of the sort I provided, here and there, meant that he and his ilk would have to think before they ignored or acted against me and mine.’
Characterization and sense of time and place are more important than plot in a Rawlins novel.Walter Mosley’s characters are people who come from places not usually recorded in mainstream history. Easy journeys through Los Angeles and touches bases with longtime friends Raymond “Mouse” Alexander, Charcoal Joe, Jackson Blue and Paris Minton. Their movements took me back to an earlier time when I traveled through Harlem with Langston Hughes’ marvelous creation, Jessie B Semple. I realized that Easy Rawlins is a spiritual descendant of Jessie Semple.Jessie roamed Harlem musing on the challenges of a black man living in a hostile environment. Easy, on the other hand moves through Los Angeles in the midst of danger while casting a critical eye on a society resistive of the seismic changes looming ahead.
August 20, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up for book 17 in the Easy Rawlins series. I have previously read books 1 thru 7, so I am familiar with many of the recurring characters. While this book can be read as a stand alone, it would help if you read at least the first 2 or 3 books in the series to better understand the characters.
This book has two plots. The first is when a man comes to Easy's office and asks him to find his auntie, Lutisha James. Santangelo Burris tells Easy that his grand mama called him and asked him to get Lutisha to call her. But he cannot find her.
The second plot involves Easy's adopted son, Jesus, who is involved in smuggling drugs. Easy learns that two corrupt BNDD(Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) are targeting him. Easy does manage to solve both issues, with help from a variety of friends, some legal and some not.
Pros: The plots both move along quite well, and kept my interest throughout the book. The characters are believable.
Cons: There were so many characters that I had trouble remembering how each of them fit into the plot and who they were in relation to the rest of the book.
One quote by a woman responding to Easy's statement that her pronunciation was perfect and educated.
"We get paid less than men for the jobs they lets us have. Our husbands leave us and then forget to pay for their kids. Is that the education you were referring to?"
There are references to the racism that Easy encounters during the book, which is set in 1970 or 71 Los Angeles, since BNDD was replaced by the DEA in 1972.
There are some surprises in this book.
Thank You Little, Brown for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
This book has two plots. The first is when a man comes to Easy's office and asks him to find his auntie, Lutisha James. Santangelo Burris tells Easy that his grand mama called him and asked him to get Lutisha to call her. But he cannot find her.
The second plot involves Easy's adopted son, Jesus, who is involved in smuggling drugs. Easy learns that two corrupt BNDD(Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) are targeting him. Easy does manage to solve both issues, with help from a variety of friends, some legal and some not.
Pros: The plots both move along quite well, and kept my interest throughout the book. The characters are believable.
Cons: There were so many characters that I had trouble remembering how each of them fit into the plot and who they were in relation to the rest of the book.
One quote by a woman responding to Easy's statement that her pronunciation was perfect and educated.
"We get paid less than men for the jobs they lets us have. Our husbands leave us and then forget to pay for their kids. Is that the education you were referring to?"
There are references to the racism that Easy encounters during the book, which is set in 1970 or 71 Los Angeles, since BNDD was replaced by the DEA in 1972.
There are some surprises in this book.
Thank You Little, Brown for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
October 25, 2025
I haven't read all the Easy Rawlins novels, but I have read many, and I loved them all except for #16, "Farewell, Amethystine", which I dnf'd, and consequently did not review. Thus, I was a bit wary of requesting GRAY DAWN (#17) from NetGalley. But initially I was pleased that I had received it, as the first few chapters were classic "Easy Rawlins"—great dialogue, great reflections, and an interesting start to a mystery. And then Amethystine returns to Easy's life, and the plot seems to wander.
In the beginning, Easy is approached by a rough man named Santangelo Burris who wants to find his "aunt", a woman named Lutisha James. Easy doesn't believe everything that Santangelo tells him but he is intrigued enough to take the case. He feels that it is his job to reveal lies as well as the truth.
So the search begins, and the plot is moving along as Easy searches for the mysterious Lutisha, when Amethystine returns, and it turns into a soppy romance, the pacing slows, and there are several different plot threads leading in different directions. Instead of one complex mystery, Easy has several separate dilemmas to solve. It ends satisfactorily, but while reading it, I felt that Easy was a bystander, watching it unfold, but not participating in the unfolding. There is no climax, just ruminations about events and about being in love.
The Positives
1) Walter Mosley is a great wordsmith, a great dialogue writer, and demonstrates it in GREY DAWN.
2) Mosley makes you feel the bitterness that comes from being a Black man living in a world where many white people feel disdain for Blacks. As a white woman I could empathize with him.
3) Mosley shows how race limited the Black woman's career choices. He doesn't explore this topic in much depth; I would have liked him to expound on it more. He does indicate that by 1972, when this novel takes place, changes are taking place, but then he drops the issue when Ida Lorris disappears from the novel. (I should note that in 1960 and in 1962, I developed close friendships with two Black women and discovered that their career choices were severely limited. They were essentially barred from becoming secretaries, whereas I, cute and blond, easily found secretarial positions, on three different occasions, each time after only a one-day search.)
The Negatives
1) The story loses much of its focus and impetus once Amethystine enters the scene and Ida disappears from it.
2) There are many too characters who drift through the story providing help to Easy because he is their friend, characters who seem outlandish at times in terms of their power to acquire information. It is almost as if instead of writing a noir-mystery, Mosley is now penning a fantasy. Furthermore, although I have read many Easy Rawlins stories, I sometimes lost track of exactly who did what.
3) There were several completely different investigations, and yet the pace seemed sluggish. Everything happens in a few last chapters, yet we don't experience a definitive climax.
Conclusion
I never wanted to dnf while reading, but I also didn't feel like rushing through to the end either. Thus I think it was an average read, maybe a bit better than average, but not as impressive as most of the Easy Rawlins books have been.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for earlier books in this series:
Blonde Faith (Easy Rawlins #11)
Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins #15)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the beginning, Easy is approached by a rough man named Santangelo Burris who wants to find his "aunt", a woman named Lutisha James. Easy doesn't believe everything that Santangelo tells him but he is intrigued enough to take the case. He feels that it is his job to reveal lies as well as the truth.
So the search begins, and the plot is moving along as Easy searches for the mysterious Lutisha, when Amethystine returns, and it turns into a soppy romance, the pacing slows, and there are several different plot threads leading in different directions. Instead of one complex mystery, Easy has several separate dilemmas to solve. It ends satisfactorily, but while reading it, I felt that Easy was a bystander, watching it unfold, but not participating in the unfolding. There is no climax, just ruminations about events and about being in love.
The Positives
1) Walter Mosley is a great wordsmith, a great dialogue writer, and demonstrates it in GREY DAWN.
2) Mosley makes you feel the bitterness that comes from being a Black man living in a world where many white people feel disdain for Blacks. As a white woman I could empathize with him.
3) Mosley shows how race limited the Black woman's career choices. He doesn't explore this topic in much depth; I would have liked him to expound on it more. He does indicate that by 1972, when this novel takes place, changes are taking place, but then he drops the issue when Ida Lorris disappears from the novel. (I should note that in 1960 and in 1962, I developed close friendships with two Black women and discovered that their career choices were severely limited. They were essentially barred from becoming secretaries, whereas I, cute and blond, easily found secretarial positions, on three different occasions, each time after only a one-day search.)
The Negatives
1) The story loses much of its focus and impetus once Amethystine enters the scene and Ida disappears from it.
2) There are many too characters who drift through the story providing help to Easy because he is their friend, characters who seem outlandish at times in terms of their power to acquire information. It is almost as if instead of writing a noir-mystery, Mosley is now penning a fantasy. Furthermore, although I have read many Easy Rawlins stories, I sometimes lost track of exactly who did what.
3) There were several completely different investigations, and yet the pace seemed sluggish. Everything happens in a few last chapters, yet we don't experience a definitive climax.
Conclusion
I never wanted to dnf while reading, but I also didn't feel like rushing through to the end either. Thus I think it was an average read, maybe a bit better than average, but not as impressive as most of the Easy Rawlins books have been.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for earlier books in this series:
Blonde Faith (Easy Rawlins #11)
Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins #15)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 30, 2025
Mosley just keeps going and going and going. Full disclosure. I am a Walter Mosley fan. I am a BIG Walter Mosley fan. So, Mr. Mosley does something a little different here with the beginning of this book. He begins with a ‘note from the author.’ He explains the raison d’être of Easy Rawlins. “Easy’s experiences and his world have slipped far enough into the past, it is possible, many will not understand the reason for his fictional existence.” Hmmn? Has Mr. Mosley been the recipient of hate mail in this political climate?
Anyway, Gray Dawn finds Easy Rawlins in a bit of a funk, work wise, not much going on, no active investigations, etc. Just the same hamster wheel existence. So when he encounters Santangelo Burris with a missing person story, despite its tinnyness, Easy’s boredom compels him to take a bite,and we are thrust into Easy’s world of investigation, communication, information gathering and communal engagement. And Easy engages old friends, familiar characters, we get Fearless Jones, Charcoal Joe, Jackson Blue and of course Mouse. And in a surprise move, Ms. Amethystine Stoller makes her return to Easy’s side.
Ironically, the Amethystine book-Farewell, Amethystine- that precedes this one, was a bit underwhelming, so to see her back in the mix was ho-hum for me. And that dalliance with Amethystine, somewhat derails the momentum of Easy’s latest case. It definitely derails a potential romance with a new woman who everyone defines as fine. But I digress.
As Easy attempts to find a Lutisha James, at Santangelo’s request, he learns his son Jesus(pronounced Hey Zeus) is being targeted for drug smuggling, and so like most Mosley mysteries, another thread to the book branches off into a mini mystery of who and why.
Mosley drops a nice surprise in this Easy adventure that could possibly spin off into a new series(no spoilers), but I’m not sure it would work in the mystery genre, but Mosley’s talent is prodigious, so a new genre could be a path worth exploring. Easy Rawlins uses all the resources at his disposal to track down Lutisha James, all the while also trying to piece together why Jesus is in a dilemma and who is behind this trouble.
So through these two threads we get classic Mosley, unexpected turns, witty banter, wisdom about life, and a cast of characters that keep the reader engaged. The pacing of this tale is just fine with a jocose prose. A quick enjoyable read. Another 5⭐️ effort from Mr. Mosley. Did I mention I was a BIG fan of Walter Mosley?
Anyway, Gray Dawn finds Easy Rawlins in a bit of a funk, work wise, not much going on, no active investigations, etc. Just the same hamster wheel existence. So when he encounters Santangelo Burris with a missing person story, despite its tinnyness, Easy’s boredom compels him to take a bite,and we are thrust into Easy’s world of investigation, communication, information gathering and communal engagement. And Easy engages old friends, familiar characters, we get Fearless Jones, Charcoal Joe, Jackson Blue and of course Mouse. And in a surprise move, Ms. Amethystine Stoller makes her return to Easy’s side.
Ironically, the Amethystine book-Farewell, Amethystine- that precedes this one, was a bit underwhelming, so to see her back in the mix was ho-hum for me. And that dalliance with Amethystine, somewhat derails the momentum of Easy’s latest case. It definitely derails a potential romance with a new woman who everyone defines as fine. But I digress.
As Easy attempts to find a Lutisha James, at Santangelo’s request, he learns his son Jesus(pronounced Hey Zeus) is being targeted for drug smuggling, and so like most Mosley mysteries, another thread to the book branches off into a mini mystery of who and why.
Mosley drops a nice surprise in this Easy adventure that could possibly spin off into a new series(no spoilers), but I’m not sure it would work in the mystery genre, but Mosley’s talent is prodigious, so a new genre could be a path worth exploring. Easy Rawlins uses all the resources at his disposal to track down Lutisha James, all the while also trying to piece together why Jesus is in a dilemma and who is behind this trouble.
So through these two threads we get classic Mosley, unexpected turns, witty banter, wisdom about life, and a cast of characters that keep the reader engaged. The pacing of this tale is just fine with a jocose prose. A quick enjoyable read. Another 5⭐️ effort from Mr. Mosley. Did I mention I was a BIG fan of Walter Mosley?
October 24, 2025
Interesting that Mosley wrote an introductory note about Easy explaining his psyche and the systemic racism that he confronts on a daily basis. Is that because of Trump? It's not like MAGA will read this. Don't know why this was necessary now.
Easy in a funk. Takes a case out of boredom. A guy from Texas looking for a relative who needs to contact his grandmother. The past unexpectedly comes back to grab Easy as women, former lovers, seek him out. Some wild revelations as well as murders. Crooked cops. Family in danger. He's busy but cool, calm, and collected. It all wraps up with Easy in a good place.
If this series were a movie now I see Idris Elba as Easy and Keith David as Mouse.
Easy in a funk. Takes a case out of boredom. A guy from Texas looking for a relative who needs to contact his grandmother. The past unexpectedly comes back to grab Easy as women, former lovers, seek him out. Some wild revelations as well as murders. Crooked cops. Family in danger. He's busy but cool, calm, and collected. It all wraps up with Easy in a good place.
If this series were a movie now I see Idris Elba as Easy and Keith David as Mouse.
August 6, 2025
Author: Walter Mosely
Genres: Fiction/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller/AA Fiction /Historical Fiction
Rating: ⭐️
Summary: Easy Rawlins is running a detective agency in Los Angeles. He faces danger from his past when he is approached by Santangelo Burris about finding his mother, Lutisha James. Not only is she in trouble and on the run, but so is his son.
Tropes & Themes: identity and hidden secrets; race and power; legal corruption.
Character: I didn't have a favorite character in the book. However, I do love how Easy was very street smart. He seemed to have a high deference with those from his past, and I love the relationships that he established with others over the years.
Thoughts: Thank you to the publisher for sending this ARC to me for review. This review are my own thoughts. First, I wanted to read this book because I had heard so many great things about his novels. This was my first Walter Mosely book, and I was truly excited. The book started off great as I felt as if I had an understanding of the plot. I felt as if I would be led into a climax with continuing the story but that did not happen. It seemed to be multiple stories, plots and storylines for each character and chapter of the book. After reading about 51%, the author still not had found the person he was supposed to be looking for but instead, he continued to find that his family and Lutisha's family were in trouble. In the same way, it felt a bit rushed, and the details of the story just didn't align with how the book started off. Moreover, I found it hard to connect with any character as there were just too many in the storyline. I really felt that all these characters were a bit unnecessary, which made their roles irrelevant. Furthermore, details of the book were rushed, and relationships were also being established that had no background context.
On the other hand, I did love how Easy had a great relationship with those in the community. He seemed to be well respected in the community, which was demonstrated throughout the book. With that being noted, the author's writing structure was great. The storyline and plot were great as well, but the execution of a page turner was not there for me. I really wanted to DNF at 51% but I wanted to give this book a chance to climax, but it never did. The book was extremely boring, but I am willing to try another Walter Mosely novel.
Genres: Fiction/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller/AA Fiction /Historical Fiction
Rating: ⭐️
Summary: Easy Rawlins is running a detective agency in Los Angeles. He faces danger from his past when he is approached by Santangelo Burris about finding his mother, Lutisha James. Not only is she in trouble and on the run, but so is his son.
Tropes & Themes: identity and hidden secrets; race and power; legal corruption.
Character: I didn't have a favorite character in the book. However, I do love how Easy was very street smart. He seemed to have a high deference with those from his past, and I love the relationships that he established with others over the years.
Thoughts: Thank you to the publisher for sending this ARC to me for review. This review are my own thoughts. First, I wanted to read this book because I had heard so many great things about his novels. This was my first Walter Mosely book, and I was truly excited. The book started off great as I felt as if I had an understanding of the plot. I felt as if I would be led into a climax with continuing the story but that did not happen. It seemed to be multiple stories, plots and storylines for each character and chapter of the book. After reading about 51%, the author still not had found the person he was supposed to be looking for but instead, he continued to find that his family and Lutisha's family were in trouble. In the same way, it felt a bit rushed, and the details of the story just didn't align with how the book started off. Moreover, I found it hard to connect with any character as there were just too many in the storyline. I really felt that all these characters were a bit unnecessary, which made their roles irrelevant. Furthermore, details of the book were rushed, and relationships were also being established that had no background context.
On the other hand, I did love how Easy had a great relationship with those in the community. He seemed to be well respected in the community, which was demonstrated throughout the book. With that being noted, the author's writing structure was great. The storyline and plot were great as well, but the execution of a page turner was not there for me. I really wanted to DNF at 51% but I wanted to give this book a chance to climax, but it never did. The book was extremely boring, but I am willing to try another Walter Mosely novel.
July 21, 2025
Out September 16th, 2025
Gray Dawn is a contemplative, slow-burning novel that asks more questions than it answers—and that’s part of its power. Mosley’s prose is deliberate and introspective, weaving a narrative that explores identity, memory, and the quiet unraveling of a man caught between past and present. It’s not a thriller, nor is it a traditional mystery; instead, it’s a philosophical meditation wrapped in fiction. The story challenges readers to sit with discomfort, to examine the gray areas of morality and selfhood, and to resist the urge for tidy resolutions.
That said, the pacing can feel sluggish, and some plot threads drift without anchoring. It’s a book that rewards patience but may frustrate those looking for momentum or clarity. Still, Mosley’s voice remains compelling, and his ability to provoke thought through character and atmosphere is undeniable. Gray Dawn isn’t for everyone—but for readers willing to linger in ambiguity, it offers a rich, if uneven, experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this ARC!
Gray Dawn is a contemplative, slow-burning novel that asks more questions than it answers—and that’s part of its power. Mosley’s prose is deliberate and introspective, weaving a narrative that explores identity, memory, and the quiet unraveling of a man caught between past and present. It’s not a thriller, nor is it a traditional mystery; instead, it’s a philosophical meditation wrapped in fiction. The story challenges readers to sit with discomfort, to examine the gray areas of morality and selfhood, and to resist the urge for tidy resolutions.
That said, the pacing can feel sluggish, and some plot threads drift without anchoring. It’s a book that rewards patience but may frustrate those looking for momentum or clarity. Still, Mosley’s voice remains compelling, and his ability to provoke thought through character and atmosphere is undeniable. Gray Dawn isn’t for everyone—but for readers willing to linger in ambiguity, it offers a rich, if uneven, experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this ARC!
October 29, 2025
Gray Dawn, book 17 in the Easy Rawlins series, by Walter Mosley, not his best, but gave it a 4. I love Mosley’s gift for storytelling, particularly his Easy Rawlins stories, and the wide array of characters developed throughout the series’ over 35 years. This story is set in LA, 1971, it features many of his notable characters—a bit of a homecoming party. Mosley imparts modern Black American history, following WWII, and the black community’s continuing struggle to advance in White America. Through his storytelling, Mosely writes in a manner which engages, and confronts, the reader with the realities of living black, in that place and time.
Walter writes the introduction to this book- unusual for him. I confess to being put off by preachy aspects of the introduction, upon reflection I believe it is reflective of the author’s frustration, impatience (rage) in recent, political and societal, backward turns in the advancement off racial progress, the demonization of DEI, and the strengthening of White Christian nationalism. Through Easy, Mosley intends to remind us of history, as well as current times -which are increasingly placing his people in jeopardy, and America.
From his Introduction. Mosley “writing about Easy Rawlins and his coterie since somewhere around 1988. His first appearance was in a short story called, I think, “Rent Party.” —thinking back to Louisiana & Texas— “EttaMae Harris walked up, looking fine and late-1930s hood-glamorous, he felt his heart throb. He would have spoken to her about this feeling except for one thing… That was the next person to show up at the door—Raymond “Mouse” Alexander. Mouse was trouble. He cheated at cards, messed with the wrong women, disobeyed all the commandments and laws.” —To 1971, LA— “with Gray Dawn, something has changed. Easy’s experiences and his world have slipped far enough into the past that, it is possible, many will not understand the reason for his fictional existence. Easy, and his friends, exist to testify about a volatile time in Black, and therefore American, history. I ask the reader of this novel to consider what I have said here in the many angry, anguished, and enthusiastic exhortations of life that inform the pages of Gray Dawn. [my note: Damn it Walter, no need to explain, just tell the story … Easy will do the explain'n.]
Gray Dawn highlights.
Easy. “From the Farmers Market I took Wilshire eastward driving toward the heart of downtown. I kept on going until the addresses dwindled down to almost zero and the late-day traffic attained its densest, most sluggish flow. Those six or seven square blocks are LA’s sweet spot, where the banks and other financial institutions, and the corporate headquarters of many a mogul, thrive on the lifeblood of the people, having dug in like ticks, making themselves at home.”
Amethystine. “listening to what she said but I was thinking too, and when her story was over, my mind kept on going. “What?” she called into my silence. “You killed that man,” She’d shot the old guy in his eye, leaving no clue but a whiff of perfume. I was the only one who knew the identity of the murderer, and so, because I didn’t turn her in, I felt complicit. “You woulda done the same to somebody murdered one’a your loved ones,” she countered. She’d said the same thing two years before, but for some reason, back then, I didn’t hear it as truth. But time had changed me. Somewhere between assigning Ida a place in memory and accepting Amethystine’s hard truth, I stalled. — conflicted about love” —“hadn’t broken it off with her due to any lack of trust. I did it because being with her was like being back in the Fifth Ward ghetto, back when the only laws were …. Because you’re in the business to do right by your people. My people. Blacks and Mexicans, those who were too old or too young. I identified with immigrants and wage slaves, those who were confused and the ones who were too smart for their own good.”
At House of Address given. “ I turned to see a banshee running at me. It was all white, like a Klansman from hell, shrieking in a tone so high it would have been impossible for any living mortal to make. —A second later, the spirit slammed into my side. I screwed up my courage to face the demon. But then it was just a child wearing a very light blue nightgown that went down past her feet. She’d wrapped her arms around my waist, holding tight and hollering words that I couldn’t understand. When I hugged her close, her arms clamped down around my neck and she screamed and screamed. — There I was, a Black man with three dead white people two rooms away and a white girl-child, maybe nine years old, shrieking and holding me around the neck with such strength that the only way to disengage her would have been to cause injury. I became inured to sounds of terror, this because I was terrified myself, frightened of being discovered and lynched just for being there. When I was a child they hanged Black people without a trial — That reality lived inside me, a colony of long-toothed tapeworms...”
Call to the Man. “Melvin Suggs.” “Hey, man, Bel-Air’s in your jurisdiction, right?” “Yeah.” “Well, I’m here at…” I gave him the address. “There’s three homicides and one frightened little girl. It’s bad.” “Anatole’s in West LA right now. I’ll send him and a few uniforms out there.” “Tell ’em there’s a Black man here. There’s a Black man ...” [enough said] then… “cop burst into the room. He had his pistol out and was pointing it at me “Don’t move!” he shouted, and Gigi started her banshee’s cry. “Let the girl go!” the second cop commanded. “I’m the one who called you guys,” I said. A third uniformed officer came in then. His gun was out too. I was hoping beyond hope that Gigi would stay holding me because I believed that it was only her physical proximity that could protect me from a dozen bullet wounds.” Anatole McCourt -stand down… “Gigi’s eyes opened wide at the sight of McCourt’s great height and breadth. The red-haired, green-eyed cop was at least six six, blessed with a Neanderthal’s chest. … When I finished, he requested that we stay in the kitchen. Gigi and I were happy to comply. My only job, right then, was to hold her. I was about her age when I lost my one surviving parent, my father. Gigi was like me in that she was going to have to make it in a world that didn’t know to care. I hoped that she had someone, somewhere.” McCourt. “the LAPD captain. “Why don’t I like you?” I nodded. “Because… you’re a—a—a, you know.” “A Negro?” “I’m not prejudiced, Rawlins.” “No? Then you just about the only one who ain’t.” “What’s been goin’ on with me? Is that what you’re askin’?” “Yeah.” “Never been better,” I said. “But that don’t quite make things good.” Anatole actually smiled. Captain,” I said. “I know you don’t like me, but you still do the right thing”
But I knew that there was no way for him to understand. My truth was not his.”
Melvin Suggs. “Easy,” Melvin Suggs said from his office door. He looked good, five eight, in good shape for fifty…. “Look, Easy, the old man was Lawrence LaCraig, also known as Rolf, a very rich cattleman.” — “The old man was an important part of a certain community, so there’s gonna be some pressure brought to bear.” Another thing —“guy name of Oglethorpe with the BNDD says that two of his agents have targeted him.” “For smuggling tons of marijuana.” “Smugglin’. Jesus?” “They say he’s bringin’ in regular shipments of grass in that fishin’ boat’a his.” Jesus. My son. The federal government was after him.” Melvin’s wife. “Mary had a lovely laugh for a dyed-in-the-wool killer. I liked Mary Donovan. She represented a state of mind that, though not innocent, was at least free. — “I’m tryin’ to get a line on a couple’a crooked BNDD agents.” “You want to do business with ’em?” “They’re leaning on a friend of mine.” “Oh. No, I don’t know anyone in particular, but I could look into it if need be.” “It do be, indeed.”
Easy’s new world view. “I think women should be policemen, paratroopers, presidents, and priests. That way the world would work better.” “Why you say that? You think women are better than men?” “Not bettah, different. And if somebody think different is half’a the world, then they should be a part’a what make the world go round.” — “So, we gonna he’p Niska,” Fearless offered”
Back home. “can you at least tell me where you’ve been the past couple’a days?” “helped a detective in training find a man that had seduced and then robbed his girlfriend.” [Niska] “I went to see some gangster name of Orem Diggs who’d been hired to grab me and make me talk about a document that I never even heard of… went to a guy’s house to talk but he’d been shot. I called emergency, they called the cops. I was arrested and taken to the county jail, where a guy, another inmate, hired me to look for his father…. went to three poker parlors, lost five hundred dollars, and found the woman I been looking for… the man I saw get shot was her son. We went to the hospital but... turns out that the woman I was looking for was a one-night stand from forty years ago, and on that night we made a son… [oh, that’s all?] To Amethystine. “I’d like it if you stayed here. The guys guarding this place feed my dogs when I’m not around, but you could keep them company.” “Now I’m a dog walker?” she asked, full of humor. “If I could be the mutt.” —“What you thinkin’?” Amethystine asked. “That I’m happier than I should be.” “Why not be happy?” “Where I come from, if you take a break of any kind from the job at hand, then the ground will crumble from under your feet, and you’ll fall all the way down, into an early grave.”
Wedding. “Millicent Roram and John the bartender was a necessary pleasure. Everybody was there. Mouse and Vu Von Lihn; EttaMae and her white servant boy turned lover, Peter Rhone; Jackson Blue; Jewelle Blue; Lynn Hua, the Hong Kong movie star, Melvin Suggs, Mary Donovan, and Anatole McCourt; the disbarred lawyer–cum–bail bondsman Milo Sweet; Paris Minton; and Mama Jo… -Fearless Jones was there, Charcoal Joe came. My sons, Jesus and Hannibal, Violet and Benita and Esse. Amethystine of course. -Bourbon flowed like water and there was so much food— fried chicken, barbecued ribs, chitterlings and hog maws, three kinds of greens, corn bread, macaroni and cheese, white rice, turtle soup, and pies of all kinds.” A gathering of friends & family, a respite, before …
The Rawlins mysteries seem endless… I hope so. — The way it was (still is)… we need to know our history.
Walter writes the introduction to this book- unusual for him. I confess to being put off by preachy aspects of the introduction, upon reflection I believe it is reflective of the author’s frustration, impatience (rage) in recent, political and societal, backward turns in the advancement off racial progress, the demonization of DEI, and the strengthening of White Christian nationalism. Through Easy, Mosley intends to remind us of history, as well as current times -which are increasingly placing his people in jeopardy, and America.
From his Introduction. Mosley “writing about Easy Rawlins and his coterie since somewhere around 1988. His first appearance was in a short story called, I think, “Rent Party.” —thinking back to Louisiana & Texas— “EttaMae Harris walked up, looking fine and late-1930s hood-glamorous, he felt his heart throb. He would have spoken to her about this feeling except for one thing… That was the next person to show up at the door—Raymond “Mouse” Alexander. Mouse was trouble. He cheated at cards, messed with the wrong women, disobeyed all the commandments and laws.” —To 1971, LA— “with Gray Dawn, something has changed. Easy’s experiences and his world have slipped far enough into the past that, it is possible, many will not understand the reason for his fictional existence. Easy, and his friends, exist to testify about a volatile time in Black, and therefore American, history. I ask the reader of this novel to consider what I have said here in the many angry, anguished, and enthusiastic exhortations of life that inform the pages of Gray Dawn. [my note: Damn it Walter, no need to explain, just tell the story … Easy will do the explain'n.]
Gray Dawn highlights.
Easy. “From the Farmers Market I took Wilshire eastward driving toward the heart of downtown. I kept on going until the addresses dwindled down to almost zero and the late-day traffic attained its densest, most sluggish flow. Those six or seven square blocks are LA’s sweet spot, where the banks and other financial institutions, and the corporate headquarters of many a mogul, thrive on the lifeblood of the people, having dug in like ticks, making themselves at home.”
Amethystine. “listening to what she said but I was thinking too, and when her story was over, my mind kept on going. “What?” she called into my silence. “You killed that man,” She’d shot the old guy in his eye, leaving no clue but a whiff of perfume. I was the only one who knew the identity of the murderer, and so, because I didn’t turn her in, I felt complicit. “You woulda done the same to somebody murdered one’a your loved ones,” she countered. She’d said the same thing two years before, but for some reason, back then, I didn’t hear it as truth. But time had changed me. Somewhere between assigning Ida a place in memory and accepting Amethystine’s hard truth, I stalled. — conflicted about love” —“hadn’t broken it off with her due to any lack of trust. I did it because being with her was like being back in the Fifth Ward ghetto, back when the only laws were …. Because you’re in the business to do right by your people. My people. Blacks and Mexicans, those who were too old or too young. I identified with immigrants and wage slaves, those who were confused and the ones who were too smart for their own good.”
At House of Address given. “ I turned to see a banshee running at me. It was all white, like a Klansman from hell, shrieking in a tone so high it would have been impossible for any living mortal to make. —A second later, the spirit slammed into my side. I screwed up my courage to face the demon. But then it was just a child wearing a very light blue nightgown that went down past her feet. She’d wrapped her arms around my waist, holding tight and hollering words that I couldn’t understand. When I hugged her close, her arms clamped down around my neck and she screamed and screamed. — There I was, a Black man with three dead white people two rooms away and a white girl-child, maybe nine years old, shrieking and holding me around the neck with such strength that the only way to disengage her would have been to cause injury. I became inured to sounds of terror, this because I was terrified myself, frightened of being discovered and lynched just for being there. When I was a child they hanged Black people without a trial — That reality lived inside me, a colony of long-toothed tapeworms...”
Call to the Man. “Melvin Suggs.” “Hey, man, Bel-Air’s in your jurisdiction, right?” “Yeah.” “Well, I’m here at…” I gave him the address. “There’s three homicides and one frightened little girl. It’s bad.” “Anatole’s in West LA right now. I’ll send him and a few uniforms out there.” “Tell ’em there’s a Black man here. There’s a Black man ...” [enough said] then… “cop burst into the room. He had his pistol out and was pointing it at me “Don’t move!” he shouted, and Gigi started her banshee’s cry. “Let the girl go!” the second cop commanded. “I’m the one who called you guys,” I said. A third uniformed officer came in then. His gun was out too. I was hoping beyond hope that Gigi would stay holding me because I believed that it was only her physical proximity that could protect me from a dozen bullet wounds.” Anatole McCourt -stand down… “Gigi’s eyes opened wide at the sight of McCourt’s great height and breadth. The red-haired, green-eyed cop was at least six six, blessed with a Neanderthal’s chest. … When I finished, he requested that we stay in the kitchen. Gigi and I were happy to comply. My only job, right then, was to hold her. I was about her age when I lost my one surviving parent, my father. Gigi was like me in that she was going to have to make it in a world that didn’t know to care. I hoped that she had someone, somewhere.” McCourt. “the LAPD captain. “Why don’t I like you?” I nodded. “Because… you’re a—a—a, you know.” “A Negro?” “I’m not prejudiced, Rawlins.” “No? Then you just about the only one who ain’t.” “What’s been goin’ on with me? Is that what you’re askin’?” “Yeah.” “Never been better,” I said. “But that don’t quite make things good.” Anatole actually smiled. Captain,” I said. “I know you don’t like me, but you still do the right thing”
But I knew that there was no way for him to understand. My truth was not his.”
Melvin Suggs. “Easy,” Melvin Suggs said from his office door. He looked good, five eight, in good shape for fifty…. “Look, Easy, the old man was Lawrence LaCraig, also known as Rolf, a very rich cattleman.” — “The old man was an important part of a certain community, so there’s gonna be some pressure brought to bear.” Another thing —“guy name of Oglethorpe with the BNDD says that two of his agents have targeted him.” “For smuggling tons of marijuana.” “Smugglin’. Jesus?” “They say he’s bringin’ in regular shipments of grass in that fishin’ boat’a his.” Jesus. My son. The federal government was after him.” Melvin’s wife. “Mary had a lovely laugh for a dyed-in-the-wool killer. I liked Mary Donovan. She represented a state of mind that, though not innocent, was at least free. — “I’m tryin’ to get a line on a couple’a crooked BNDD agents.” “You want to do business with ’em?” “They’re leaning on a friend of mine.” “Oh. No, I don’t know anyone in particular, but I could look into it if need be.” “It do be, indeed.”
Easy’s new world view. “I think women should be policemen, paratroopers, presidents, and priests. That way the world would work better.” “Why you say that? You think women are better than men?” “Not bettah, different. And if somebody think different is half’a the world, then they should be a part’a what make the world go round.” — “So, we gonna he’p Niska,” Fearless offered”
Back home. “can you at least tell me where you’ve been the past couple’a days?” “helped a detective in training find a man that had seduced and then robbed his girlfriend.” [Niska] “I went to see some gangster name of Orem Diggs who’d been hired to grab me and make me talk about a document that I never even heard of… went to a guy’s house to talk but he’d been shot. I called emergency, they called the cops. I was arrested and taken to the county jail, where a guy, another inmate, hired me to look for his father…. went to three poker parlors, lost five hundred dollars, and found the woman I been looking for… the man I saw get shot was her son. We went to the hospital but... turns out that the woman I was looking for was a one-night stand from forty years ago, and on that night we made a son… [oh, that’s all?] To Amethystine. “I’d like it if you stayed here. The guys guarding this place feed my dogs when I’m not around, but you could keep them company.” “Now I’m a dog walker?” she asked, full of humor. “If I could be the mutt.” —“What you thinkin’?” Amethystine asked. “That I’m happier than I should be.” “Why not be happy?” “Where I come from, if you take a break of any kind from the job at hand, then the ground will crumble from under your feet, and you’ll fall all the way down, into an early grave.”
Wedding. “Millicent Roram and John the bartender was a necessary pleasure. Everybody was there. Mouse and Vu Von Lihn; EttaMae and her white servant boy turned lover, Peter Rhone; Jackson Blue; Jewelle Blue; Lynn Hua, the Hong Kong movie star, Melvin Suggs, Mary Donovan, and Anatole McCourt; the disbarred lawyer–cum–bail bondsman Milo Sweet; Paris Minton; and Mama Jo… -Fearless Jones was there, Charcoal Joe came. My sons, Jesus and Hannibal, Violet and Benita and Esse. Amethystine of course. -Bourbon flowed like water and there was so much food— fried chicken, barbecued ribs, chitterlings and hog maws, three kinds of greens, corn bread, macaroni and cheese, white rice, turtle soup, and pies of all kinds.” A gathering of friends & family, a respite, before …
The Rawlins mysteries seem endless… I hope so. — The way it was (still is)… we need to know our history.
June 8, 2025
Well written, attention-grabbing and intricately plotted. I hadn’t read an Easy Rawlings novel for a long, long time, so I found the multitude of characters a little hard to follow at times (many recurring characters and relationships from earlier novels interwoven into the complex web of the story). I may have to go back and read some of the earlier works to fully appreciate this one.
Received from NetGalley for an early review.
Received from NetGalley for an early review.
November 21, 2025
Note that this review is for the audiobook.
October 3, 2025
Mosley might be the greatest living American author. The man can spin a great detective tale, but also fill it with some of the best observations on humanity and human nature. Loved this.
November 30, 2025
Meeting Walter Mosley is a surreal experience. Reading Walter Mosley is sublime.
Another Easy Rawlins mystery? A celebration.
An author you’ve read since the 90s, following each meticulous mystery, deep into the rabbit hole with a level of complexity that combines grit, soul and most importantly love, with each word that becomes a morsel to savor, how do you not become family from afar?
Gray Dawn is the SEVENTEENTH book in the Easy Rawlins series, and follows last year’s Farewell, Amethystine. It is a treat to get two Easy Rawlins mysteries within a span of a year. It’s not that Rawlins isn’t writing – he writes everyday – he’s simply introducing us to other characters, other genres, spanning the metaphysical to science fiction to politics.
But he always comes home.
It is LA in the 70s and Easy’s older now, settled with his little family, enamored with his children, pets, loves, in a house on the hills overlooking the city.
And it seems the farther he is from the gritty and raucous city that burns, the closer he is to being tarnished by its air.
It’s been more than a year since his last case but when Santangelo Burris asks Easy to find his aunt, Lutisha James, he has no choice but to say yes.
His investigation leads him to a Bel-Air home where Lutisha worked as a live-in domestic. Instead, he finds three bodies snuffed out; among the victims of the brutal crime, a nine-year old survivor.
But no Lutisha.
What follows is the often tenuous brushes with the police, and unwavering support from his friends such as Fearless Jones, Paris Minton, and of course Raymond “Mouse” Alexander.
It is this familiarity that fortifies the familial ties that engage and Mosley’s redolent prose that keeps readers coming back.
Another Easy Rawlins mystery? A celebration.
An author you’ve read since the 90s, following each meticulous mystery, deep into the rabbit hole with a level of complexity that combines grit, soul and most importantly love, with each word that becomes a morsel to savor, how do you not become family from afar?
Gray Dawn is the SEVENTEENTH book in the Easy Rawlins series, and follows last year’s Farewell, Amethystine. It is a treat to get two Easy Rawlins mysteries within a span of a year. It’s not that Rawlins isn’t writing – he writes everyday – he’s simply introducing us to other characters, other genres, spanning the metaphysical to science fiction to politics.
But he always comes home.
It is LA in the 70s and Easy’s older now, settled with his little family, enamored with his children, pets, loves, in a house on the hills overlooking the city.
And it seems the farther he is from the gritty and raucous city that burns, the closer he is to being tarnished by its air.
It’s been more than a year since his last case but when Santangelo Burris asks Easy to find his aunt, Lutisha James, he has no choice but to say yes.
His investigation leads him to a Bel-Air home where Lutisha worked as a live-in domestic. Instead, he finds three bodies snuffed out; among the victims of the brutal crime, a nine-year old survivor.
But no Lutisha.
What follows is the often tenuous brushes with the police, and unwavering support from his friends such as Fearless Jones, Paris Minton, and of course Raymond “Mouse” Alexander.
It is this familiarity that fortifies the familial ties that engage and Mosley’s redolent prose that keeps readers coming back.
September 1, 2025
I got my ARC from NetGalley. I was getting tired of book series that keep wedging in backstory as they drag on, but actually having the book set in the past instead of be a series of flashbacks actually made it work. The twist about the missing woman's identity was very good. And toning down the gratuitous sex scenes while developing female characters is a step in the right direction.
September 22, 2025
I have not been disappointed in an Easy Rawlins Mystery and thankfully this one keeps the streak going. Many of Easy’s pals from the past find their way in this story and I’m so happy about that. There are a number of surprises, at least one of them is a major change to his life and will shock readers. You will not see it coming! I will be waiting on pins and needles for the next book to see where this change will take him.
October 28, 2025
I really wanted to like this, but more style than substance
October 5, 2025
Loneliness has taken hold of Easy Rawlins. His daughter, Feather, is off on a youthful adventure in France. His son, Jesus, is on a fishing trawler with his wife and daughter. Women have come in and out of Easy’s life --- the most impactful left his world too soon, and the most recent of whom he had loved enough to set free.
Easy’s need to get himself out of his current malaise leads him to listen to Santangelo Burris, who asks him to locate his aunt, Lutisha James. Burris is agitated and requests that Easy find Aunt Lutisha so she can reach out to her mother. His behavior is hinky, as he dodges some of Easy’s inquiries and leaves no contact information. Still, Burris provides the money, and Easy feels compelled to move forward.
As Easy takes over the case, he learns that Lutisha worked at an illegal numbers operation and was noted for her proficiency with figures. He also receives a warning from his good friend, Mouse, that she may not want to be found. As Easy digs deeper, he hears that Lutisha occasionally works as domestic help for a wealthy elderly woman in Bel Air. He is usually ready for anything in his investigations, but the multiple dead bodies in Bel Air, along with a newly orphaned child as the only witness to the killings, leave him startled.
Easy’s quest for answers leads him to seek out Burris, but this proves to be a literal dead end once he discovers him mortally wounded. He has little fruitful information to provide the cops about the mounting death toll connected to the case, but he knows that finding Lutisha will prove helpful.
Easy is pulled further and further into a netherworld of bad men and dirty dealings. His domestic life is about to get a little more complex with the reappearance of the beautiful temptress Amethystine. In addition, he receives word that Jesus is being targeted by the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD). This leads him to conduct his own investigation, which turns up rogue narcotics agents looking to recruit Jesus for drug runs in Mexico.
The prolific and immensely talented Walter Mosley infuses EASY DAWN with verve, intriguing new characters, and vivid imagery. Easy Rawlins’ adventures never cease to be interesting because he is a man of great depth and exemplifies many admirable qualities. While he is often removed from the violence used by friends and associates, he would forsake his pacifism when it comes to family and close friends. Easy is a cool customer, but this current case challenges him in ways that no previous case has.
Mosley’s flair for character development is undeniable in this 17th installment of the series, which is a gripping page-turner from start to finish.
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro
Easy’s need to get himself out of his current malaise leads him to listen to Santangelo Burris, who asks him to locate his aunt, Lutisha James. Burris is agitated and requests that Easy find Aunt Lutisha so she can reach out to her mother. His behavior is hinky, as he dodges some of Easy’s inquiries and leaves no contact information. Still, Burris provides the money, and Easy feels compelled to move forward.
As Easy takes over the case, he learns that Lutisha worked at an illegal numbers operation and was noted for her proficiency with figures. He also receives a warning from his good friend, Mouse, that she may not want to be found. As Easy digs deeper, he hears that Lutisha occasionally works as domestic help for a wealthy elderly woman in Bel Air. He is usually ready for anything in his investigations, but the multiple dead bodies in Bel Air, along with a newly orphaned child as the only witness to the killings, leave him startled.
Easy’s quest for answers leads him to seek out Burris, but this proves to be a literal dead end once he discovers him mortally wounded. He has little fruitful information to provide the cops about the mounting death toll connected to the case, but he knows that finding Lutisha will prove helpful.
Easy is pulled further and further into a netherworld of bad men and dirty dealings. His domestic life is about to get a little more complex with the reappearance of the beautiful temptress Amethystine. In addition, he receives word that Jesus is being targeted by the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD). This leads him to conduct his own investigation, which turns up rogue narcotics agents looking to recruit Jesus for drug runs in Mexico.
The prolific and immensely talented Walter Mosley infuses EASY DAWN with verve, intriguing new characters, and vivid imagery. Easy Rawlins’ adventures never cease to be interesting because he is a man of great depth and exemplifies many admirable qualities. While he is often removed from the violence used by friends and associates, he would forsake his pacifism when it comes to family and close friends. Easy is a cool customer, but this current case challenges him in ways that no previous case has.
Mosley’s flair for character development is undeniable in this 17th installment of the series, which is a gripping page-turner from start to finish.
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro
November 2, 2025
Feels like these books are almost entirely vibes-based at this point, impressionistic collections of scenes and microaggressions and little vignettes that are sort of supposed to add up to something but which mostly feel like endless set pieces occurring on some symbolic level that it's sometimes hard to take as intended to be realistic. It's the early 70s, I know from, uh, reading Mosley's 16 previous Easy Rawlins novels, but there is literally nothing to ground it in its time except a mention of the Manson murders and some verrry brief glimpses of hippies. As the foreword notes, Mosley's larger aim to is create an extensive personal history of the last half-century, but he seems to have given up on bothering with any but the most rudimentary period detail in doing so.
Classic PI setup in this one--a man shows up and says he wants Easy to find his mother, whose location he doesn't know for mysterious reasons. And then...subplot after subplot, four in total, and the main storyline, a very LA story of real-estate skulduggery, just kind of meanders along in the background and then ends with two offstage acts of violence. I suppose the intent is to construct a kind of communal-heroism social novel (I would say socialist, though we get a lot of bits about how successful some of these businesses are, but Mosley never misses a chance to name-check an author you should read) in which Easy's ever-ramifying found family, by this point so multilayered and complex that it's in need of a small-print front-of-the-book explanatory tree, all do their bit to embody community and love and imperfection, and there are, as always, those lines of blues poetry whose apparent simplicity is the result of enormous craft, not to mention odd bits of folklore and Black consciousness.
But also, yet more sneering (man, does he LOVE that verb), including people sneering things you really can't sneer, and too many obtrusive who-talks-like-this? lines:
"'I don't want you to do that,' his maybe-ex-girlfriend challenged."
"'Um,' I uttered. 'Maybe you could try tellin' me about him in words that I can understand."
"'You have to give me your guns,' the man in the blue sports jacket said." "'You would not like the way in which you receive them,' Joe's well-spoken representative rejoined."
"'You never heard of the Penguin Club?' he accused."
"'Hello, son,' his mother greeted both formally and lovingly."
Aghhhh. Sunk-costing away, I will read the next one. But...come on, he negotiated.
Classic PI setup in this one--a man shows up and says he wants Easy to find his mother, whose location he doesn't know for mysterious reasons. And then...subplot after subplot, four in total, and the main storyline, a very LA story of real-estate skulduggery, just kind of meanders along in the background and then ends with two offstage acts of violence. I suppose the intent is to construct a kind of communal-heroism social novel (I would say socialist, though we get a lot of bits about how successful some of these businesses are, but Mosley never misses a chance to name-check an author you should read) in which Easy's ever-ramifying found family, by this point so multilayered and complex that it's in need of a small-print front-of-the-book explanatory tree, all do their bit to embody community and love and imperfection, and there are, as always, those lines of blues poetry whose apparent simplicity is the result of enormous craft, not to mention odd bits of folklore and Black consciousness.
But also, yet more sneering (man, does he LOVE that verb), including people sneering things you really can't sneer, and too many obtrusive who-talks-like-this? lines:
"'I don't want you to do that,' his maybe-ex-girlfriend challenged."
"'Um,' I uttered. 'Maybe you could try tellin' me about him in words that I can understand."
"'You have to give me your guns,' the man in the blue sports jacket said." "'You would not like the way in which you receive them,' Joe's well-spoken representative rejoined."
"'You never heard of the Penguin Club?' he accused."
"'Hello, son,' his mother greeted both formally and lovingly."
Aghhhh. Sunk-costing away, I will read the next one. But...come on, he negotiated.
October 3, 2025
I who have read the first 16 Easy Rawlins series books from Walter Mosley picked up #17,, Gray Dawn, right away. And I thought, as with #16, it was good, but maybe just above just all right. It begins with a provocative and useful letter written by the author, asserting his claim that the series was always intended to encapsulate sixties black--which is to say also US--history, embedding crime stories. Historical detective fiction highlighting racial politics, while retaining high entertainment value--sex and thrills and laughs.
I am rereading the very first one for my Detective Fiction class also right now, so I can say that and other early books are just better, edgier, in spite of the serious letter with which this one poems. The book has two or three main plots: The first is about a man who comes to Easy's office and asks him to find his aunt, Lutisha James {as in prosecutor Leticia James?!). The second plot involves Easy's adopted son, Jesus, who is involved in smuggling drugs with his boat. Easy learns that two corrupt BNDD(Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) are targeting him. Those things get solved, and along the way Easy finds and old flame and . . . a son he never knew he had!? A third thread is that Easy is back with Amethystine that he bid farewell to in the last book, though most people do not trust her. Could this be true love, or is it a set up?
Consistent with his framing letter, Amethystine defends herself against sexism. Easy in 1970 admits he is a typical male, but he listens to her and is persuaded things have to change not just for people of color, but also women in general.
"We get paid less than men for the jobs they lets us have. Our husbands leave us and then forget to pay for their kids. Is that the education you were referring to?"
So many characters to fit in, reader faves including Mouse, Etta, so many, too many crowd faves to fit in. Almost as if this were intended as a last book where we reprise all the continuing cast, with stage bows. The societal critique was also present in this series, and it’s here, though he also notes several brilliant and successful people in the black LA community, including Easy! I liked it and read it fast, a nod to his skill.
I am rereading the very first one for my Detective Fiction class also right now, so I can say that and other early books are just better, edgier, in spite of the serious letter with which this one poems. The book has two or three main plots: The first is about a man who comes to Easy's office and asks him to find his aunt, Lutisha James {as in prosecutor Leticia James?!). The second plot involves Easy's adopted son, Jesus, who is involved in smuggling drugs with his boat. Easy learns that two corrupt BNDD(Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) are targeting him. Those things get solved, and along the way Easy finds and old flame and . . . a son he never knew he had!? A third thread is that Easy is back with Amethystine that he bid farewell to in the last book, though most people do not trust her. Could this be true love, or is it a set up?
Consistent with his framing letter, Amethystine defends herself against sexism. Easy in 1970 admits he is a typical male, but he listens to her and is persuaded things have to change not just for people of color, but also women in general.
"We get paid less than men for the jobs they lets us have. Our husbands leave us and then forget to pay for their kids. Is that the education you were referring to?"
So many characters to fit in, reader faves including Mouse, Etta, so many, too many crowd faves to fit in. Almost as if this were intended as a last book where we reprise all the continuing cast, with stage bows. The societal critique was also present in this series, and it’s here, though he also notes several brilliant and successful people in the black LA community, including Easy! I liked it and read it fast, a nod to his skill.
August 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Walter Mosley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
This is the 17th installment in the Easy Rawlins series, and admittedly I have only read the first, Devil in a Blue Dress. Alot has happened to Easy in the intervening 15 books, including picking up a boat load of recurring characters that help him along the way.
Easy is still living and detecting in LA, now in the early 70's. His lifestyle has also changed alot since "Devil" in that he now runs his own Detective Agency and lives, not in Watts, but in a gorgeous mountainside retreat/guarded compound owned by a grateful Client who lets him pay an annual lease of one cent for a home worth hundreds of thousands of 70's dollars.
The plot begins with Easy having not actively handling a case for two years when a large angry man enters his Offices and wants Easy to find his mother, since his grandmother cant locate her. Besides being big and mean, there is something off about Santangelo Burris, but still when he can pay Easy's Fee he accepts the case.
Nothing is as it seems, as the more investigating he does, the further down a rabbit hole he goes before Easy realizes his has been sold a bill of goods by Santangelo and there is a lot more to this case than just a missing person.
While he is working this missing persons case, his young receptionist, whom Easy is training to be a detective, takes on a young Client allegedly searching for an ex-boyfriend who ran off with her college fund, as well as trying to get his adopted son out of trouble with the law.
Bodies start piling up whenever Easy follows another clue, and then 2 women from his past show up to complicated Easy's life even more.
This is really more a commentary on life as a Black Man in the early 70's than a hard boiled detective novel. The final solution to the missing person case and even his sons legal problems came a little too easy for Easy thanks to all of the help he received from the recurring cast of characters he must have picked up along the way.
Although thought provoking, I found the story lacking somewhat, and for that reason give this 3.5 stars.
This is the 17th installment in the Easy Rawlins series, and admittedly I have only read the first, Devil in a Blue Dress. Alot has happened to Easy in the intervening 15 books, including picking up a boat load of recurring characters that help him along the way.
Easy is still living and detecting in LA, now in the early 70's. His lifestyle has also changed alot since "Devil" in that he now runs his own Detective Agency and lives, not in Watts, but in a gorgeous mountainside retreat/guarded compound owned by a grateful Client who lets him pay an annual lease of one cent for a home worth hundreds of thousands of 70's dollars.
The plot begins with Easy having not actively handling a case for two years when a large angry man enters his Offices and wants Easy to find his mother, since his grandmother cant locate her. Besides being big and mean, there is something off about Santangelo Burris, but still when he can pay Easy's Fee he accepts the case.
Nothing is as it seems, as the more investigating he does, the further down a rabbit hole he goes before Easy realizes his has been sold a bill of goods by Santangelo and there is a lot more to this case than just a missing person.
While he is working this missing persons case, his young receptionist, whom Easy is training to be a detective, takes on a young Client allegedly searching for an ex-boyfriend who ran off with her college fund, as well as trying to get his adopted son out of trouble with the law.
Bodies start piling up whenever Easy follows another clue, and then 2 women from his past show up to complicated Easy's life even more.
This is really more a commentary on life as a Black Man in the early 70's than a hard boiled detective novel. The final solution to the missing person case and even his sons legal problems came a little too easy for Easy thanks to all of the help he received from the recurring cast of characters he must have picked up along the way.
Although thought provoking, I found the story lacking somewhat, and for that reason give this 3.5 stars.
September 14, 2025
Never judge a book by its cover. (Oh, pun so intended)
Easy Rawlins, detective extraordinaire, gets it right sometimes and then gets it so wrong on the down swing. We're cruisin' the streets of L.A. in the 1970's where who you know gets you a lot farther in the long run. And Ezechiel "Easy" Rawlins is upfront and personal with so many, many individuals that walk these streets in perfect sunshine and even more so with those who dwell in the inner sanctums and the dark alleys. Easy keeps a convenient rolodex in his mind.
His receptionist arches one eyebrow when a suspicious character by the name of Santangelo Burns demands to see Easy. He pulls out crushed currency from his pocket. Santangelo is desperate to find his aunt who goes by the name of Lutisha James. She needs to call his grandmother. With no other explanations, Easy takes to the streets.
Now Lutisha James will not be an easy find. She's been known to be quite the gambler who trembles when she sees a deck of cards. Lutisha has recently been working as a caregiver at an upscale home in L.A.. Easy tracks her down and comes upon an open door at the residence. He finds three dead bodies and a little girl who clings to Easy and won't let go. No Lutisha and no indication of where Lutisha might be. How is Lutisha connected to all this? All roads lead to Rome and some of them might just lead to Lutisha.
I'm new to the Easy Rawlins Series with this being #17. It still can be read as a standalone even though there's a lot of dust under Easy's feet by now. Gray Dawn contains a lot of avenues to go down in this storyline. There are a bevy of characters from the past and those residing in the present to sort through. We also have plots and sub plots to land on. Prepare for all this. But the vibe is a good one and Walter Mosley smooths out all those wrinkles in the road as only he can.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to the talented Walter Mosley for the opportunity.
Easy Rawlins, detective extraordinaire, gets it right sometimes and then gets it so wrong on the down swing. We're cruisin' the streets of L.A. in the 1970's where who you know gets you a lot farther in the long run. And Ezechiel "Easy" Rawlins is upfront and personal with so many, many individuals that walk these streets in perfect sunshine and even more so with those who dwell in the inner sanctums and the dark alleys. Easy keeps a convenient rolodex in his mind.
His receptionist arches one eyebrow when a suspicious character by the name of Santangelo Burns demands to see Easy. He pulls out crushed currency from his pocket. Santangelo is desperate to find his aunt who goes by the name of Lutisha James. She needs to call his grandmother. With no other explanations, Easy takes to the streets.
Now Lutisha James will not be an easy find. She's been known to be quite the gambler who trembles when she sees a deck of cards. Lutisha has recently been working as a caregiver at an upscale home in L.A.. Easy tracks her down and comes upon an open door at the residence. He finds three dead bodies and a little girl who clings to Easy and won't let go. No Lutisha and no indication of where Lutisha might be. How is Lutisha connected to all this? All roads lead to Rome and some of them might just lead to Lutisha.
I'm new to the Easy Rawlins Series with this being #17. It still can be read as a standalone even though there's a lot of dust under Easy's feet by now. Gray Dawn contains a lot of avenues to go down in this storyline. There are a bevy of characters from the past and those residing in the present to sort through. We also have plots and sub plots to land on. Prepare for all this. But the vibe is a good one and Walter Mosley smooths out all those wrinkles in the road as only he can.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to the talented Walter Mosley for the opportunity.
September 17, 2025
Life is good for EZ Rawlins. He’s living in a private gated community on a mountain overlooking the ocean for a dollar a year, courtesy of a very wealthy woman who once needed a favor from him. One of his adopted children is in Paris, the other with the love of his life on a boat off the shores Cuba. EZ has a staffed office, he occasionally visits, letting his staff handle cases. If he has any complaints, the chief one is boredom, which causes him to take a case, a simple missing person case that turns out to be anything but simple, taking him from the inner city to business high rises owned by rich criminals who are as odd as they are respectable.
As EZ moves through this labyrinth of loose ends, he encounters two women, the first woman he ever loved and a toxic lover, recently out of his life only to return, Amethystine of the previous novel, Farewell, Amethystine. I haven’t read Farewell, Amethystine, and though her presence slightly interfered with the story she piqued sufficient curiosity to want to read the book that bears her name. There are a couple of returning characters from other books, their being here no less curious than the presence of Amethystine. For readers who are meeting these characters for the first time, the feeling is similar to visiting the home of a friend and entering among a group of lively friends, none of them familiar to the visitors, but people you feel you might like to get to know.
As crime fiction, this is EZ Rawlins doing what EZ Rawlins does best, chasing down leads through the multi-peopled streets of LA, not backing down, calling in help from his not to be messed with dangerous friends when needed, and solving mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Mulholland Books for an ARC.
As EZ moves through this labyrinth of loose ends, he encounters two women, the first woman he ever loved and a toxic lover, recently out of his life only to return, Amethystine of the previous novel, Farewell, Amethystine. I haven’t read Farewell, Amethystine, and though her presence slightly interfered with the story she piqued sufficient curiosity to want to read the book that bears her name. There are a couple of returning characters from other books, their being here no less curious than the presence of Amethystine. For readers who are meeting these characters for the first time, the feeling is similar to visiting the home of a friend and entering among a group of lively friends, none of them familiar to the visitors, but people you feel you might like to get to know.
As crime fiction, this is EZ Rawlins doing what EZ Rawlins does best, chasing down leads through the multi-peopled streets of LA, not backing down, calling in help from his not to be messed with dangerous friends when needed, and solving mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Mulholland Books for an ARC.
September 15, 2025
Detective Easy Rawlins has been settled into a comfortable life, but when Santangelo Burris shows up at his business asking him to find his aunt, Lutisha James, he ends up going down a dark and dangerous path. While trying to find Lutisha James to see if she wants to be found, Easy's son Jesus ends up in trouble with a drug smuggling issue and two corrupt BNDD cops agents are targeting Jesus. While all of this is going on, Amethystine, Easy's old lover that he has tried to stay away from has returned to his life.
This was my first Easy Rawlins novel, which is funny that I started it at book 17 (I am actually now going back to start Devil in a Blue Dress). First off Walter Mosley is a wordsmith, he is excellent at writing dialogue. He creates such fascinating characters and that is why I'm going to go back to the beginning of the series because I want to get in Easy's head even more. I feel like this book was very thought provoking and touched on a lot of issues - such as the limitations of a black woman's career options in the 70s, being black in America and the disdain white people have for them, the blurred line between what is right and wrong, loyalty. My main complaint of the book is that I felt like too much was going on at times - there were so many different plot threads for such a short novel that I think it could have benefited from less.
I would give this a 3.5-3.75 - I was entertained for sure, but wanted more work done by Easy, I felt like things just kind of fell into his lap and the side characters did all of the work.
Thanks Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Why did I read? My bf likes the author. Would I read again? Yeah it's short and entertaining
This was my first Easy Rawlins novel, which is funny that I started it at book 17 (I am actually now going back to start Devil in a Blue Dress). First off Walter Mosley is a wordsmith, he is excellent at writing dialogue. He creates such fascinating characters and that is why I'm going to go back to the beginning of the series because I want to get in Easy's head even more. I feel like this book was very thought provoking and touched on a lot of issues - such as the limitations of a black woman's career options in the 70s, being black in America and the disdain white people have for them, the blurred line between what is right and wrong, loyalty. My main complaint of the book is that I felt like too much was going on at times - there were so many different plot threads for such a short novel that I think it could have benefited from less.
I would give this a 3.5-3.75 - I was entertained for sure, but wanted more work done by Easy, I felt like things just kind of fell into his lap and the side characters did all of the work.
Thanks Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Why did I read? My bf likes the author. Would I read again? Yeah it's short and entertaining
September 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins has not had an easy life. His mother died when he was only seven and his father soon after. By his teens he was on the streets and living by his wits. But he made some lifelong friends. And he made more while serving in the Army during WWII. Now he lives in LA and has made a good life for himself as a PI and a father to two young people. His PI business keeps him as busy as he wants to be and brings in enough for him to live on, and that is how he likes it.
One day a black man that looks to be homeless, or near to it, comes to Easy's office to ask him to find his aunt, Lutisha James, who his grandmother desperately wants to contact. He pays enough money for a week's investigation and says he will be in touch. But this is not just any woman, and it is not just any missing person's search, as Easy finds out. There are other people looking for this woman, people who are willing to kill to find her, and it is hard to find out why. But he does finally find her, and she turns out to be someone from his long-ago past and she has quite a surprise for him!!
As usual in an Easy Rawlins story, there are a lot of shady characters, most of whom will be familiar to regular readers. And there is violence, a lot of it. But there are new characters as well, and in the end it all works out, as it usually does.
Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins has not had an easy life. His mother died when he was only seven and his father soon after. By his teens he was on the streets and living by his wits. But he made some lifelong friends. And he made more while serving in the Army during WWII. Now he lives in LA and has made a good life for himself as a PI and a father to two young people. His PI business keeps him as busy as he wants to be and brings in enough for him to live on, and that is how he likes it.
One day a black man that looks to be homeless, or near to it, comes to Easy's office to ask him to find his aunt, Lutisha James, who his grandmother desperately wants to contact. He pays enough money for a week's investigation and says he will be in touch. But this is not just any woman, and it is not just any missing person's search, as Easy finds out. There are other people looking for this woman, people who are willing to kill to find her, and it is hard to find out why. But he does finally find her, and she turns out to be someone from his long-ago past and she has quite a surprise for him!!
As usual in an Easy Rawlins story, there are a lot of shady characters, most of whom will be familiar to regular readers. And there is violence, a lot of it. But there are new characters as well, and in the end it all works out, as it usually does.
October 25, 2025
I believe I have read every easy Rawlins novel. It has been a pleasure to see Easy grow over the years. The fact that he has grown as any human would grow has been doubly satisfactory. As we age, we get slower, start using our mind more than our muscle, and our physical ability is not what it once was. Unlike some action/thriller heroes, Easy does not keep his physical, mental, or spiritual abilites in top form but as each of us does: tries to keep his principles in line with where he is in Life. I like the way Walter Mosley gives an "explanation" of sorts as to why Easy thinks, acts, and/or reacts in his interactions with White folks. It may be unimaginable to Black folks nowadays not to 1) speak your mind; 2) go in white spaces; and 3) physically hurt white folks. But, as one of my Son's reminded me: I was in his history books. Not literally, but his history is my childhood. There was a time where you had to think about what you said, saw, and did in front of White folks. So Mosley giving us that part of Easy's mindset and feelings gives us an idea of the what and why of his thoughts and actions. This was a great novel with the redeeming qualities of time, thoughts, and actions of an aware and aging Easy doing his thing. I don't know how many more Easy novels are left (more I hope) or how much time Mosley has left (he's 72 I think), but I will take the ride with him anytime.
November 8, 2025
Gray Dawn may be one of, if not THE, best Easy Rawlins mystery I've read. I could barely put this book down to eat meals, exercise, or bathe.
An extremely unkempt man, perhaps a farmer, named Santangelo comes to Easy's office asking him to find his aunt; his grandmother needs desperately to get in touch with her and she is nowhere to be found. Easy is not sure he believes this story, but because he remembers his early days when he had little, he takes on the case and is surprised when the man pulls out the money required to get Easy started on the job. As usual and as expected locating this woman, Lutisha James, is not a piece of cake. Easy finds many obstacles, the least of which is that other people are looking for her, and all of them seem of an evil mind.
The story brings Easy back into contact with many of his friends from earlier books (but not Mouse, surprisingly) and there are many twists and turns and some big surprises before the case is solved.
I think Walter Mosley is one of our finest writers and I always look forward to a new book from him. As I was reading, there was mention of a character that I didn't recall and I couldn't believe that I had actually missed out on the previous book, Farewell, Amethystine! I just ordered it from my local bookstore and I'll be reading it soon, while also waiting impatiently for the next chapter of Easy Rawlins's life.
(I was a little curious about the forward to the book, where Mosley briefly explains what Black people in the US have endured for generations; the segregation, the prejudice, the lack of opportunity, the beatings and unwarranted jailing. I wonder what provoked him to include it: Has our education been that poor that he had to explain that? Actually, I'm sure it has been. What a sad state of affairs we're living with now.)
"...we kissed. It wasn't me kissing her or her kissing me. One came together naturally, after two years of being apart. It was alchemy and gravity."
"...eyes that refused to be any one color."
"...his face looked like it had been chiseled from granite by an artist that wasn't quite up to the task."
An extremely unkempt man, perhaps a farmer, named Santangelo comes to Easy's office asking him to find his aunt; his grandmother needs desperately to get in touch with her and she is nowhere to be found. Easy is not sure he believes this story, but because he remembers his early days when he had little, he takes on the case and is surprised when the man pulls out the money required to get Easy started on the job. As usual and as expected locating this woman, Lutisha James, is not a piece of cake. Easy finds many obstacles, the least of which is that other people are looking for her, and all of them seem of an evil mind.
The story brings Easy back into contact with many of his friends from earlier books (but not Mouse, surprisingly) and there are many twists and turns and some big surprises before the case is solved.
I think Walter Mosley is one of our finest writers and I always look forward to a new book from him. As I was reading, there was mention of a character that I didn't recall and I couldn't believe that I had actually missed out on the previous book, Farewell, Amethystine! I just ordered it from my local bookstore and I'll be reading it soon, while also waiting impatiently for the next chapter of Easy Rawlins's life.
(I was a little curious about the forward to the book, where Mosley briefly explains what Black people in the US have endured for generations; the segregation, the prejudice, the lack of opportunity, the beatings and unwarranted jailing. I wonder what provoked him to include it: Has our education been that poor that he had to explain that? Actually, I'm sure it has been. What a sad state of affairs we're living with now.)
"...we kissed. It wasn't me kissing her or her kissing me. One came together naturally, after two years of being apart. It was alchemy and gravity."
"...eyes that refused to be any one color."
"...his face looked like it had been chiseled from granite by an artist that wasn't quite up to the task."
September 28, 2025
Easy Rawlins is not easing into retirement despite moving up from his bungalow to a high end view property and close relationships with powerful people. As in previous books in this series, the reader is flooded with colorful characters from Easy's past and present Set in 1971, six years after the Watts uprising and two decades the south central riots resulting from the acquital of police officers for Rodney King's death, Easy narrates in his first person voice the simmering racial discrimination and resentment that permeated LA, as well as some common Los Angeles threads of financial inequality, police corruption, and oil. The narrative is close up and personal (Easy is a man with many regrets, complex relationships, and a skeptical appraisal of others), and the plot complex. The only two issues I had when reading were the flood of different characters that were difficult to keep track of and the sanitized violence. Multiple people are killed but the descriptions do not provoke horror, disgust, or sympathy. It is a wo) rthwhile read but parts of the Easy story (police corruption, racial resentment) are becoming thread-thin loke an old carpet.
October 25, 2025
Not up to my expectations. Earlier Easy Rowlens books were much better. Maybe because I listened to the audio and the narration was mediocre at best. For sure nothing compelled me to keep up the listening at any particular time. There seemed to be several different story lines and they did not tie together neatly. Lots of characters each with different story lines. One early female character that almost turned into a fling just dropped out of the story completely. A previous fling shows up again after two years out of the picture the romance gets pretty sappy. Probably many of the characters in this book are in previous Easy stories but I have not read one for a long time, so all but Mouse were new to me. To me it was almost like Mosley had a group of characters written down, thumb tacked to a board individually, then he just randomly pulled names off the board and wove a story around them. It was a bit of a mash up. Then I will not go into how unlikely the entire GiGi bit was.
October 30, 2025
This is the first Easy Rawlins book that I have read in many years. I still really like the characters. The story flows well. It is somewhat formulaic, but I don't mind that for a good read.
Ezekiel Rawlins is a black detective in Los Angeles. The Easy Rawlins novels started out taking place in the 1940s. Now he is up to the 70's.
Easy is in his office when a poorly dressed and angry man comes in to request Easy's help in finding his aunt because his grandmother wants to talk to her. Easy feels that something in the story is false, but agrees to take on the case. He quickly discovers that the woman he is seeking is a dangerous woman who is a brilliant gambler and criminal. The story has some good plot twists and brings us up to date on Easy's children and love life. As always, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but they are all interesting.
This series is worth reading, but I would not recommend trying to read all of them one after the other. They do make a welcome break from reading heavier tomes.
Ezekiel Rawlins is a black detective in Los Angeles. The Easy Rawlins novels started out taking place in the 1940s. Now he is up to the 70's.
Easy is in his office when a poorly dressed and angry man comes in to request Easy's help in finding his aunt because his grandmother wants to talk to her. Easy feels that something in the story is false, but agrees to take on the case. He quickly discovers that the woman he is seeking is a dangerous woman who is a brilliant gambler and criminal. The story has some good plot twists and brings us up to date on Easy's children and love life. As always, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but they are all interesting.
This series is worth reading, but I would not recommend trying to read all of them one after the other. They do make a welcome break from reading heavier tomes.
October 1, 2025
A very good addition to Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins series, as always evoking the time period and struggles of the black community in Los Angeles, especially vis-a-vis the police: now, the early 1970s. Easy is in a rut, having broken off his relationship with Amethystine. He is hired to find an aging black woman, so she can connect with her family down in Texas. As it turns out, she is a player and has gone into hiding as a childminder for a wealthy family. When the family is killed, Easy connects with the young daughter, who helps him progress the case, eventually finding the woman is well known to Easy. He works with his usual contacts as well as helping mentor his young female investigator, who is working another case. There is some mayhem, when gangsters attack the mountain fortress where Easy is living. Also, Easy has to help his adopted son out of a mess involving dirty cops, making Easy yet another important contact for future help. 4.5 stars.
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