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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seven Scintillating Servings of Suspense, Jan 27 2007
Like all of us, Easy Rawlins is the summation of where he was born, how he has lived, whom he loves, what he wants to become, and why he acts. In the case of Easy (born Ezekiel), Louisiana spawned a poor boy who fought his way of the roughest part of Houston at the side of his unafraid and murderous friend, Raymond Alexander (Mouse) via World War II, and then came to Watts where the only people he could trust were other African Americans. Hiding his good side, Easy did favors for people . . . and righted many wrongs in the process. This often placed him in a vulnerable position between the police who wanted to use him . . . and evil-doers who wanted to eliminate him. In the process, Easy emerged as middle-aged with two children he has rescued (Jesus who dreamily builds a sail boat and young Feather who goes to school), a little yellow dog, Frenchie, and Bonnie, a stewardess he has invited into their lives. Unknown to most, he's become a property owner building a future for his kids. In public, he heads the custodial staff at Sojourner Truth Junior High School. In private, he will right wrongs that others will walk past.
These seven short stories capture Easy in transition while he tries to settle down at 44 in 1964. The first six stories were added to the reprints of Gone Fishin', Devil in a Blue Dress, A Red Death, White Butterfly, Black Betty, and A Little Yellow Dog in 2002. The seventh story is new with this volume.
These stories deeply explore Easy's relationship with his friend, Mouse, Easy's family, his work, and a number of his friends. As background, Easy had asked Mouse to help him a year earlier. That help had led to Mouse being shot and carried off with no pulse by his wife, EttaMae. Easy has been searching for Etta Mae so he can pay his last respects to Mouse, but Etta Mae has vanished. Easy is also trying to decide how much of his heart he can share with Bonnie.
In Smoke, the junior high school suffers smoke damage and destruction by the fireman who douse the fire from an arsonist's device. This attack on his authority in the community has to be addressed. And why does someone call him looking for Mouse?
In Crimson Stain, Easy learns that a woman named Etheline Toms thinks she has seen Mouse. In tracking her down, he discovers a murder and travels between a house of ill repute and a church to avenge an innocent's death.
In Silver Lining, Easy meets his new principal and an old friend needs help to rescue a missing person. In a dramatic climax, life moves on after justice is done.
In Lavender, jealousy grabs Easy by the shirt-front when he sees a gift he wasn't meant to see. Etta Mae returns and demands that Easy repay her for the loss of Mouse by saving a young man who has walked into harm's way in responding to a woman's charms.
Gator Green finds Easy sleeping in the living room . . . much to Feather's concern. Saul Lynx, one of the few white men Easy trusts, needs help in clearing his brother-in-law. Easy goes undercover to find a thief . . . and finds himself tempted by a wanton woman.
An old acquaintance re-enters Easy's life in Gray-Eyed Death. Easy finds that a simple man from his childhood has been framed for a robbery and murder. Easy unravels what happened, but knows he cannot prove the case to satisfy the police. How else might justice be done?
Amber Gate introduces Easy to the death of a young woman who has more friends among older men than most. His shoemaker asks Easy to clear his landlord, and Easy finds what he's looking for where he least expects to find it.
Like all of Walter Mosley's writing about Easy Rawlins, these tales ring true, take us into the heart of another time and place we haven't experienced, and allow us to walk in another man's shoes in a way that leave us feeling the calling to reach out to others. Full of violence, these are really tales of supreme humanity. You'll be moved, and so you should be.
Bravo, Mr. Mosley!
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