The devils come for his dues

Author : Walter Mosley
Title : Devil in a blue dress
Published : 06/05/2010
Pages : 224
Format : Paperback
Publisher : Serpent's Tail

 

     Los Angeles, 1948: Easy Rawlins is a war veteran just fired from his job. Drinking in a friend's bar, he wonders how to meet his mortgage when a white man in a linen suit walks in, offering good money if Easy will locate Miss Daphne Monet, a blonde beauty with a reputation. In the sleazy, fearful city, Easy must rely on his instincts, not just to solve the case, but to save his life.

 

     I remember along time ago seeing the film version of this book with Denzel Washington. It was only afterword's that I discovered that it was based on a book. I found the story to be really interesting and decided to add it to my TBR. Now skip forward a few years and I had completely forgotten the story.  So the other day I finally got around to buy a copy. it was time once again to reacquaint my self with the charter of Easy Rawlins.

 

     So for the most part I'm a big fan of detective story's set in the 40's and 50's L.A Easy inhabits this world like it's his second skin. A down on his luck veteran trying to make the best life for him self he can. The only thing in his life he cares for is the house he lives in. Having just lost his job this is now in danger of being taken away from he so he needs to make some cash fast. The predominant thing most of the books in this genre have is that it's always a white lead that we follow. so I was interested to see how it would play out with and African American charter front and centre. Easy is written well and he and the people he encounters jump of the page and pull you in to their world. Non of them screaming of being stereo types which is something I am grateful for. As is so often the trap most authors in the noir story fall into. While Easy is trying to look for a quiet life his some time partner Mouse is all about the action is the polar opposite. In this way we are given a nice contrast in which to place them. Mr Albright is the catalyst to set Easy's world on fire. From the moment we meet him in the first few pages you can tell he lies and a lot. He plays this part to a t as the shady fixer to the rich and powerful. And from this you could not ask much more from him.

 

     Mosley's style is invoking of the story I read years ago like Raymond chandler.  Although this book was first published back in 1990 it manages to capture the world of L.A and the people who inhabit it. In the style of the old noir films. the story flow well and brings us the staples of femme fatales and crooked businessmen without seeming clichéd. The author manages to incorporate the topic of racism with out seeming heavy handed. It is still present and a fact of Easy's everyday life. As he says him self he has a different way of talking when it's to white folk. Over all the violence in the story is not overly described. Whilst bad things do happen it's not like in modern plots where we get to learn every disturbing detail. What he gives us is a lot of desperate people scrabbling to make it day to day. You would like to think that times have changed but if recent events show some things never seem to change. I would like to say more about the plot but with the ever changing twist and turns it would be hard with out spoiling it. For me Mosley is up there with the greats of the genre and deserves the praise it has received. 

 

     I enjoyed my time with Easy and the journey he takes us on. I managed to make my way through this book in just one evening. He creates a world of both violence and love With people who will keep you guessing up till the end it was one that I was happy to spend time with.. I look forward to seeing what these charters get up to in the follow up story's.