Walter MosleyRose Gold: An Easy Rawlins Mystery
F**D
An Easy Rawlins case.
Los Angeles in the 1960s. It is white police against minorities (mostly black). If you have been following events in Ferguson, Missouri, you will understand the problems in this novel.As to the plot, a black ex-boxer has been accused of a number of crimes, including the kidnapping of the daughter (white) of a prominent arms manufacturer. The police have approached Easy Rawlins, a black PI, for assistance because of his connections in the community. The fee is fairly high, and he does happen to need some money. But all is not as it seems as he becomes involved in the case, using assets that only Easy would have. Sometimes it's a matter of trading favors. There is the usual cast of characters from previous novels, plus a few new characters.As the plot develops, it winds through various scenes in Los Angeles and other areas of Southern California. It turns out that various people have an interest in the case (or lack of interest) and different motives. Easy also finds some other sources of cash to pay for his time. That original fee becomes pocket change. Easy is what some people call "property poor." He has invested in various pieces of rental property, but they require money to maintain.There are, of course, some relationships with women, and his adopted daughter Feather has a new friend and some new adventures. There are also some contacts in the hippie community of the 1960s, This was an era when I was living in California, so some things relate.All things eventually come to an end, and there are winners and losers, and some people who will owe Easy favors. And then there is that large pot of money that some people would prefer not to know about - unreported money that does not officially exist - money that can stick to some people's fingers.
D**L
BETWEEN THE LINES SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH THE FEMALE CHARACTERS
I remembered why I stopped reading Mosley's books. But I still can't quite put my finger on it.This author just weird about how he treats women in his books. A teenage friend of his daughter moved in a fetching way. And E Z Rawlins can't PASS a female character that's capable of giving birth without thinking of how they are attracted to him. (fantasizing too much while he was writing?)SPOILERSAs for the way he treats Bonnie, E Z's girlfriend? That's just infantile. The author had Bonne got up and left a restaurant because somebody used a four letter word. And she didn't get up because it bothered her (used to it in her job). She got up because she knew it bothered her owner -- excuse me, her boyfriend who is ambivalent about Bonnie at best.He seems to have learned that race is a social construct which made him do weird things with the description of the white characters. He used some vocabulary that wasn't just too learned for the character but too learned for a brain surgeon that graduated from Harvard 3 times before the age of 21. NOBODY thinks or speaks using a few of the words the author used in the voice of this 1960s working man who happens to be a detectiveOnce a writer gets to be but so famous, the editors stop doing their job. This book needed helpAs for the story itself?There were either too many storylines going without a good transition between each story OR there were too many people with more than one regular name, nickname and/or alias. I had to double back twice to figure out names. By the time I got 3/4s of the way to the end there was one character I definitely couldn't figure out where he came from -- and didn't care..
A**R
Fun, but I'm not done. . . .
Love Mosley's writing style and who and what he writes about. He does some interesting things as a writer. . . like having the main character tell you why he says what he says. Also as a non-black reader thee's a lot for me to learn, even though this is the third or fourth one of his Easy Rawlins mysteries for me. Got $10? Great diversion.
K**R
intriguing until the last word
I love Easy Rawlings mysteries. Mosely does a fantastic job putting you right along side Easy as if you are right there with him solving the mystery.
P**R
Mosley sets a high standard of quality
Walter Mosley has written another excellent Easy Rawlins novel, this time set in the late 1960's.Rawlins has just moved into a new house when he is approached by a representative of the LAPD with a job offer - find Rosemary Goldsmith "Rose Gold" the daughter of a rich arms manufacturer. Rawlins has the necessary skin colour to help the process.The story is interesting as Mosley leads us through LA life as seen through the eyes of a world weary black man. The prose is of a high level with some thought provoking passages throughout and multi-layered plots abound.I have been reading Mosley's work for over 20 years and am happy to say that he is writing as well as ever.
N**2
Another great Easy Rawlins mystery...
Walter Mosley nails another winner with his latest Easy Rawlins mystery. Mr. Mosley is one of my favorite authors (although I'm not a fan of his or any else's sci-fi genre). I thoroughly enjoy his eloquent writing style and his characters are interesting and intriguing. I am always delighted to see his protagonist, in this case Easy Rawlins, resolve complicated issues using street smarts and personal connections of all kinds. Also it was a nice change to see Easy get through all of the tough situations presented to him without the "physical" presence of his friend Mouse. It just shows that Easy, as a black PI in the 1960's, is a great networker and negotiator, attributes necessary to his personal survival and longevity in his craft. Finally in an admission that his "Easy" character is getting older, could it be that the author is setting us up for new adventures that will involve younger partners (resulting in the development of new and even more interesting characters) helping him in his PI service? I sincerely hope so.
P**K
Keep 'em coming please!
Mosley just keeps them coming - Easy is involved in a case that has many echoes of past cases but Mosley has a few twists in mind, so things don't always go the way you might think. This series is a great documentation of the period from the perspective of Easy, a black P.I., looking for a missing girl, powerful people, the police, the FBI and other agencies on his neck the whole time. It is also a great thriller, a quick read, a nod to Marlowe and a lot of fun.
S**T
Not Mosley`s finest hour but still an entertaining read
I love Mosley`s work and have read most everything he has written. Whilst it is never boring, his narrative style makes sure of that, there are times when the plot feels a little strung out; a little too tenuous. This is one of those times. Worth the effort but Don`t expect anything on a par with his better work.
T**B
I have grown up reading Easy Rawlins storiew so he kinda feels like an uncle ...
Huhmazing!!! I have grown up reading Easy Rawlins storiew so he kinda feels like an uncle or something in a weird way lol latest instalment did not fail in the slightest
J**N
The Usual Brilliance.
As with all Walter Mosley books, this is a slow burning, fascinating story with clever characters and an insight to US society. I am a huge fan of al the books and this is as exciting and engaging as the others - highly recommended.
A**R
Classic Mosley...
Walter Mosley never disappoints, at least, not with the Easy Rawlins series. He's easily the most readable of the modern detective fiction writers and he creates a strong sense of time and place which lifts his stories from good detective fiction into something altogether more interesting. Highly recommended.
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