Walter Mosely Easy Rawlins Novels in Order

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· 2,216 ratings · 321 reviews

Start your review of Blood Grove (Easy Rawlins, #15)

Jun 22, 2021 Paromjit rated it it was amazing

Walter Mosley is one of my favourite writers, and I have read and loved the entire PI Easy Rawlins series, and hotly anticipating this, his latest. I have never listened to any of the audios of the books, and after listening to this, narrated perfectly by Michael Boatman, I know I have been missing out. This was a sheer bliss of a atmospheric experience, as 1969 in the United States and Los Angeles is evoked with all its social and political turbulence, amidst the background of the Vietnam War, Walter Mosley is one of my favourite writers, and I have read and loved the entire PI Easy Rawlins series, and hotly anticipating this, his latest. I have never listened to any of the audios of the books, and after listening to this, narrated perfectly by Michael Boatman, I know I have been missing out. This was a sheer bliss of a atmospheric experience, as 1969 in the United States and Los Angeles is evoked with all its social and political turbulence, amidst the background of the Vietnam War, protests, and where near on everything comes down to race and money, according to Easy. A shell shocked, unstable young white Vietnam vet, Craig Killian, drops into Easy's office, plagued by his recent actions at a blood orange grove, where he stabbed a black man assaulting a white woman.

Easy himself is a vet of WW2, and it's their bond as vets that makes him take what he instinctively knows is going to be a troubling case, and he is not wrong. In a complex investigation, he keeps stumbling over dead bodies as he negotiates his way through the dark underbelly of LA, encountering the impoverished, the rarified milieu of the rich and powerful, mobsters, missing money, deadly femme fatales and more. A highly protective father to his adopted daughter, Feather, he has worries when her blood family Uncle Milo, a hippie, is intent on getting to know her. A whole plethora of recurring characters are there to help Easy, Mouse obviously, Fearless Jones, Charcoal Joe, Christmas Black etc..

The language, as always with Mosley is to be savoured, and the audio lent it an added vibrancy. The sense of historical time and place has an authenticity underpinned by impressive research of the period. Easy, the PI and father, has now hit the 50s in terms of age, a charismatic character dispensing wisdom, his are the perfect eyes with which to see the America of this time, and its a sorry state of affairs that the racial injustice of this time seems so little changed in our present times. There are major developments in the characters of Mouse and Jackson Blue that surprise Easy, Mouse has become a reader and the genius that is Jackson is no longer the famed coward he used to be. As always, a superb read (okay, listen), the characterisations are stellar, if you have never read the series, you are missing out, and I highly recommend the audio. If I can get hold the audios of the other books, I am definitely going to be listening to them.

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Apr 07, 2021 Linda rated it really liked it

"There were at least a million stars out that night. Every minute or so you could see the trail of another fallen one. Thinking back on it now, I am reminded of the time when the night skies were ruled by distant suns."

You sit and you savor a Walter Mosley novel. It's all in the experience. It's all in the panoramic view of California's humanity of 1969. The country itself mulls over the rush of uncertain times felt by the young in the Vietnam years and by the old who still have the invisible sc

Easy Rawlins, a Vet himself, is a Black private detective who chooses his clients with care. His reputation precedes him within the local community for his persistence and for his hardcore analytical skills. Easy takes us on a tour of the ins and out of Los Angeles and the sharp-edged people who populate it. His early beginnings were in New Iberia, Louisiana so he feels at ease with regular folk. But his worldliness was honed during his military service in France. Bottom line: Easy knows people and people think they know Easy.

It looked like a slow day watching the sun come through his office window. But the shadow of a man cast a long figure in the hallway. Anxious had to be this guy's middle name. Nervous and jittery, he introduces himself as Craig Killian. Easy sizes him up and realizes that Killian has just arrived back from Vietnam. He fidgets non-stop in the chair. But when his story spills out, Easy knows this case is gonna be heavy-duty.

Killian runs on with his story. He stayed at his cabin in the woods and in the wee hours he heard a woman's scream. Killian rushed to the scene where a man was accosting this woman. A struggle ensued and Killian stabbed the man. He was knocked out moments later. When he woke, no man and no woman. Nothing.

Easy knows that Killian must be suffering from PTSD, a condition not recognized or named in 1969 as it is today. But Killian's trauma seems real to Easy. He promises to look into the campsite and sift through any clues that he might find. A stretch for even Easy. And the task will take him face-to-face with some raw characters on every tier of the gameboard.

Walter Mosley develops characters like a talented artist on canvas. As readers, we feel the sting of their emotions and the cadence of their walk. Mosley slips them into his storylines reflecting the evil and the no-good to the rich and the well-connected. He does a fine job in the development of Easy's adopted daughter, Feather, and the complicated thread of her existence within this plot. There's a scene in a veterans' bar that leans heavy on the identifying factors of just who belongs and who doesn't. The focus being on how complicated the human experience is and what is actually valued by a society in the long run.

Blood Grove reads as a standalone. Don't fear the #15. Walter Mosley finds you a comfy seat at the table that is guaranteed to lock you in with its band of California grifters and its uneven terrain of life in 1969. Bravo, Walter Mosley. Bravo.

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"Life is one long side street with about a million crossroads, Sorry used to tell me when I was a boy. Every hour, sometimes every minute, you got to make the choice which way to go. Some of them turns don't matter but don't let that fool ya. The minute you start to think that one way is just like t'other, that's when the shit come down."

Blood Grove is hard-boiled crime at its best. Walter Mosley's smooth and level-headed narrator is a Blac

❀ blog ❀ thestorygraph ❀ letterboxd ❀ tumblr ❀ ko-fi ❀

"Life is one long side street with about a million crossroads, Sorry used to tell me when I was a boy. Every hour, sometimes every minute, you got to make the choice which way to go. Some of them turns don't matter but don't let that fool ya. The minute you start to think that one way is just like t'other, that's when the shit come down."

Blood Grove is hard-boiled crime at its best. Walter Mosley's smooth and level-headed narrator is a Black private investigator in 1960s LA. Easy is, excuse my pun, easy to root for. While Easy is close friends with some not so morally upright individuals, his integrity and empathy set him apart from other hard-boiled PI. The mystery is intriguing if labyrinthine, and I enjoyed seeing how things would unravel. Easy's latest case is a knotty one. A young white veteran clearly suffering from PTSD claims he may or may have not killed a man who was attacking a young woman. Easy, who fought in WWII, feels sympathy towards this clearly traumatized young man and so begins his investigation.

Throughout the course of the novel, we encounter big and small crime bosses, racist and incompetent policemen, prostitutes with hearts of gold, and Femme Fatales. Mosley's commentary on race, sexism, inequality, corruption, war, and violence felt at times all too pertinent to our own times (showing how some things change, and some things don't). I found Easy's unflappability reassuring and the inclusion of his home life (such as his bond with his daughter) made him all the more endearing.
Not only does Easy's narration have style but the crackling dialogues and vivid descriptions ("If a smile had a sound his would have been a death knell.") make for some spectacular reading material. Also, for those wondering whether you have to read the previous novels in order to be able to appreciate this one, I, personally, did not have any trouble 'catching' on to things. Mosley doesn't reiterate the events that occurred in the previous novels but he gives us an idea of who's who.
If you are a fan of Raymond Chandler, Dennis Lehane, or if you, like me, loved S.A. Cosby's Blacktop Wasteland you should definitely read this.

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Classic detective story filled with plot twists

A long time fan of Walt Mosley, Easy Rawlins in one of my favorite characters having been introduced to him with "Devil in the Blue Dress". Being that its the 15th story with the character, Easy has been a PI for years with a rather large circle of friends; so many its hard to keep track. But like all good detective plots this one grows crazier with each chapter. What first seems like a simple case of finding someone, Easy finds himself in a labyrinth whose twists and turns seem endless. Murder, armored car theft, strippers, children, etc. its anything but simple. As he slowly unravels the puzzle, momentum simmers and eventually comes to a boil. Paced perfectly, its anything but predictable which is why Mosley's skill at crime stories are always a pleasure, though its his unique characters and names that make him stand apart. Worth reading if you enjoy detective stories of a different sort.

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Jul 09, 2022 Lisa rated it really liked it

I recently read Walter Mosley's collection of short stories, The Awkward Black Man. One of my Book Club friends, appalled that I had not previously read Mosley, brought me this novel to further explore his work. And I am so glad she did.

A true hardboiled detective story, Mosley uses Easy Rawlins to explore the social injustice for black Americans in 1969 Los Angeles while leading me on the dizzying course of solving a well plotted mystery.

After being harassed by the police for driving a Rolls Ro

After being harassed by the police for driving a Rolls Royce while black, I see the emotional toll that these repeat traumas have taken on Easy.

"The whole process took about half an hour. If I added up all the half hours the police security forces, MPs, bureaucrats, bank tellers, and even gas station attendants had stolen from my life, I could make me a twelve-year-old boy versed in useless questions, meaningless insults, and spite as thick as black tar."

Easy is a superbly drawn character. I see him as a father, a friend, a cultivator of roses, a private detective, and a veteran. He strives to create a safe stable environment for his daughter and loved ones while helping the people in his community avoid prison and death. He uses the connections he has developed over the years almost like a super power to support him in his endeavors. Mosley's secondary characters are finely crafted as well, and he is nimble in showing their complex motivations. His prose is impressive--descriptive and polished.

Easy's case is wrapped up among the dead bodies and some sense of justice.

Blood Grove is the fifteenth installment in the Easy Rawlins series. I am intrigued by his large cast of characters. I plan to go back and read the rest of these, over time, to learn more about Easy and his family and compatriots.

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Jul 21, 2021 Tim rated it it was amazing

All that could have made this better is a stronger end. 9 of 10 stars

Mar 03, 2021 Truman32 rated it really liked it

I'm lucky in that my job overseeing quality assurance at the Oreo production facility here gives me plenty of down time to read. I can periodically glance up from my book and check on the delicious sandwich cookies happily traveling down the conveyor belt and make sure everything is ok. That was until I cracked open Blood Grove, the newest Easy Rawlins detective thriller by Walter Mosley. I was sucked into this tale quicker than a peanut would get sucked into the trunk of a circus elephant. And I'm lucky in that my job overseeing quality assurance at the Oreo production facility here gives me plenty of down time to read. I can periodically glance up from my book and check on the delicious sandwich cookies happily traveling down the conveyor belt and make sure everything is ok. That was until I cracked open Blood Grove, the newest Easy Rawlins detective thriller by Walter Mosley. I was sucked into this tale quicker than a peanut would get sucked into the trunk of a circus elephant. And I could not put it down. By the time I remembered my job ensuring our Oreo quality requirements and I managed to drag myself away from this riveting story I saw that horrible, horrible things had happened. Some cookies contained only several stacks of the chocolate wafers—no stuffing! Others were just a three inch high clump of delectable sweet crème filling! One monstrosity of nature had the bottom wafer the size of a manhole cover and the filling to match. It must have weighed over twenty pounds. None of the cookies fulfilled our quality requirements. None! Alarms were blaring and lights were flashing. All I could think was, "damn you Mr. Mosley for constructing such an addictive read. Damn you to helllllll!!!!" In this novel we go back to 1969 and black detective Rawlins is helping a traumatized fellow soldier recently returned from Vietnam. This soldier thinks he may have killed a man when stepping in to protect a woman he believed was being assaulted. Rawlins soon finds that there is more going on than he first thought, there are connections to the mob as well as to a recent armored car robbery. What trouble has Easy gotten himself into? And what trouble have I gotten myself into as well? The cookies in front of me were abominations, they were a violation of the very Nabisco oath I swore to uphold on my first day of employment and sealed in blood. I saw quadruple stuffed cookies. Quintuple stuffed cookies. Even octuple stuffed. Mankind was not meant to witness such horrors. Further down I even saw a row of several Fig Newtons—those are not even cookies, they are fruit and cake!!! The story of Blood Grove barrels ahead with a sense of urgency not unlike that giant Oreo which just rolled off the conveyor and smashed through the cinder block wall. Aside from Mosley's riveting characters, and hard charging story, Blood Grove has a timely social message regarding the antagonism directed to people of color by those in power (such as the police) and the sense of helplessness they experience. Sadly this is still relevant even now several decades later. But I could not think of that, by now the alarms were announcing that the factory self-destruct initiative has been implemented and all must flee immediately or face certain immolation. I would recommend Blood Grove to anyone looking for an exciting and enjoyable book—just please, do not read it at work… ...more

Walter Mosley returns us to the gritty world of Los Angeles noir in the fifteenth installment of the Ezekiel " Easy" Rawlins series. The first book, Devil in a Blue Dress, was published in 1990 and takes place in 1948. Now it is 1969 and Easy is living in a very different world than he was in 1948. He inhabits a world of hippies, free love, the Vietnam war and domestic disturbances. These societal changes have not diminished the specter of race , poverty and class that have dominated Easy's stru Walter Mosley returns us to the gritty world of Los Angeles noir in the fifteenth installment of the Ezekiel " Easy" Rawlins series. The first book, Devil in a Blue Dress, was published in 1990 and takes place in 1948. Now it is 1969 and Easy is living in a very different world than he was in 1948. He inhabits a world of hippies, free love, the Vietnam war and domestic disturbances. These societal changes have not diminished the specter of race , poverty and class that have dominated Easy's struggles for survival throughout

A young white Vietnam veteran, suffering from PTSD, approaches Easy with a bizarre story. He and his lady friend were attacked in an orange grove outside Los Angeles and the vet thinks he may have killed a man....but he is not sure! Easy recognizes that this story means trouble.Easy had fought overseas in World War 2 and feels a bond of brotherhood with this man because of their military connection. He promises to look into the incident, not expecting any result yet feeling obligated to make an effort.This promise thrusts Easy into a Byzantine labyrinth of circumstances that take him into poor black neighborhoods and rich white ones, constantly reflecting on the contradictions of American society while keeping vigilant to ensure his safety. He enlists many of his well known associates....Mouse, Fearless Jones, Jackson Blue, Christmas Black, and Jewel to help him.

The plotting of the novel moves along briskly and keeps the reader interested.But for me, the plot of a Rawlins novel is secondary to the observations, dialogue and atmospheric feel that Mosley creates. His plotting is a device that allows him to offer observations about society race and class.He brings to life the settings and voices of the residents of South Central and beyond, evoking the cadences of their not too distant migration from the South to find work during World War 2. In his series,Mosley has created a mosaic of an evolving Los Angeles from 1948 to 1969. No matter how many changes have occurred in that span, Easy reminds us that," In America everything is about race or money or some combination of the two."

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I kept forgetting that this novel is set in the late 60s, because much of what Easy observes about race in America still rings true.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

**AUDIO COPY**.
Blood Grove is about a PI - Easy (Ezekiel) Rawlins set in 1960's America. Easy is working hard and juggling his investigative work along with his teenage daughter.
The narrator did a fantastic job narrating this book, especially with the amount going on within it. This book is jam packed with characters and a plot that isn't easy to keep tabs on.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to unfortunately. The characters all seemed quite one-dimensional and wooden and the plot was too all over the place. I didn't get the twist until about 3/4 of the way in which is great but I just felt the book was a little rushed and thrown together.

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Feb 20, 2021 Skip rated it liked it

Set in the late 1960s, Easy is chilling in his office when a troubled Vietnam vet, Craig, asks for his help in finding a man he thinks he stabbed to save a women in distress in a blood orange grove. Reminiscing about his own war years, Easy agrees to help, finding himself without much help. He gathers clues along the way, showing his usual skill of saying the right things to get information or in bringing along the exact right person to help. There is a significant crime in the background. As al Set in the late 1960s, Easy is chilling in his office when a troubled Vietnam vet, Craig, asks for his help in finding a man he thinks he stabbed to save a women in distress in a blood orange grove. Reminiscing about his own war years, Easy agrees to help, finding himself without much help. He gathers clues along the way, showing his usual skill of saying the right things to get information or in bringing along the exact right person to help. There is a significant crime in the background. As always, Mosely does a superb job describing the period and city, but the book moves along too slowly, with cameo appearances by all of Easy's posse: Mouse, Etta, Christmas Black, Jackson Blue, Fearless Jones, and his LAPD buddy. There is also some family drama for Feather. ...more

Jul 08, 2021 Kathleen rated it really liked it

Readers of Mosley's popular detective thriller series featuring Easy Rawlins will undoubtedly welcome getting reacquainted with his plethora of colorful characters in this 15th offering in the series. Unfortunately, this was my first foray into the series and I would have benefitted from starting at the beginning. While Mosley does provide readers with basic background so that this offering can be read as a standalone, it was obvious that I was missing the richness of his recurring characters.

Mosley has woven a complicated plot taking place in 1969 that involves a veteran from Vietnam with PTSD issues imploring Easy to discover whether he knifed and killed a man in a grove of blood oranges. He apparently thought he was coming to the aid of a young woman. No evidence of a murder was found the next day. But one thing leads to another and bodies DO begin to pile up. (Saying much more would include spoilers.)

Loved Mosley's writing and fast-paced plot with multiple twists. But, next time I will start at the beginning of the series.

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May 13, 2021 3 no 7 rated it it was amazing

What a compelling book! The setting and the dynamic interactions of the characters came through in every line .It is a time capsule of the atmosphere, movies , food and the good and bad of society in 1969 life In L.A. There was a lot of money to be made, but at a cost. The book, of course, was fantastic. It made me want to go out and buy a cartridge fountain pen. I also listened to the audio version,and the narration was just as perfect. If you listen to audio books, I highly recommend this one. What a compelling book! The setting and the dynamic interactions of the characters came through in every line .It is a time capsule of the atmosphere, movies , food and the good and bad of society in 1969 life In L.A. There was a lot of money to be made, but at a cost. The book, of course, was fantastic. It made me want to go out and buy a cartridge fountain pen. I also listened to the audio version,and the narration was just as perfect. If you listen to audio books, I highly recommend this one. If you are a "real book" person, I recommend it to you as well. ...more

Jun 14, 2021 Erth rated it it was amazing

My first time reading this authors books. This was a very good read. Vividly crafted characters, unusual yet familiar places. Interesting.

Feb 11, 2021 K2G rated it really liked it

Recommended to K2G by: Sa

The things ppl will do for Money

Feb 26, 2021 Michelle rated it really liked it

This is the 15th book in the Easy Rawlins series. As usual, once I cracked open the book I immediately fell into Easy's world of colorful characters and witty repartee. Set in 1969 Los Angeles not long after the Watts Riots the city is brimming with racial tension.. So when a Vietnam War Vet walks into Easy's office saying he may have killed a man - a Black man he witnessed fighting with a White woman - Easy's senses are heightened. He recognizes that the man is shell shocked and may not be givi This is the 15th book in the Easy Rawlins series. As usual, once I cracked open the book I immediately fell into Easy's world of colorful characters and witty repartee. Set in 1969 Los Angeles not long after the Watts Riots the city is brimming with racial tension.. So when a Vietnam War Vet walks into Easy's office saying he may have killed a man - a Black man he witnessed fighting with a White woman - Easy's senses are heightened. He recognizes that the man is shell shocked and may not be giving him the most reliable information. But as a veteran himself he empathizes with him and takes the case anyway.

Easy has aged well over the series and carries with him a certain kind of wisdom that he is able to draw from when everything turns sideways. He also has a host of old friends like Mouse, Jackson Blue and Fearless .that he can call upon who make their appearances here.

Blood Grove is crime noir at its finest. Mystery readers will love the fast-paced action. Literature lovers will enjoy the language and social commentary.. Blood Grove is another win for Walter Mosley and anyone who is lucky enough to get their hands on this book.

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May 01, 2021 Amiee rated it it was ok

When my Bookclub picked this one I was excited. I like Walter Mosley and hadn't read Easy in a while. I was shocked to discover this is #15!

I also think I stopped reading becaise...well this was a chore to read. Took by characters, random musings and tangents.

Not sore if because I skipped maybe 10 books in the series or what but this dragged to me.

Pros: I still love Easy Rawlings and like how he grew his family. Setting and timeframe. So interesting to read about. Great characters (except too ma

When my Bookclub picked this one I was excited. I like Walter Mosley and hadn't read Easy in a while. I was shocked to discover this is #15!

I also think I stopped reading becaise...well this was a chore to read. Took by characters, random musings and tangents.

Not sore if because I skipped maybe 10 books in the series or what but this dragged to me.

Pros: I still love Easy Rawlings and like how he grew his family. Setting and timeframe. So interesting to read about. Great characters (except too many!)

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Easy Does It
Review of the Mulholland Books audiobook edition (February 2021) released simultaneously with the Mulholland Books hardcover

[3.5]
Blood Grove is a return after several years to Mosley's regular detective character Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, who started out as a scuffling WW2 ex-army vet desperate for work in late 1940s Los Angeles in Devil in a Blue Dress (1990). This latest book is set in the world of 1969's LA with the memories of the 1965 Watts riots still not forgotten. Easy has established himself well in this world with an official detective agency, an extended family and a comfortable house and lavish car (a payment for a previous case).

Although the client, a Viet War vet, is introduced early, the case takes a considerable time to get moving as Mosley revisits Easy's backstory and regular characters in a leisurely fashion. The puzzle of the case is that the shell-shocked Viet War vet may have a memory of knifing someone or may instead just be having PTSD flashbacks to combat. Easy gradually unravels a trail that leads back to an apparent heist with a falling out between heist crew members. There is, of course, a mysterious femme fatale who is central to the case.

I'll confess that I did find the convoluted story a bit hard to follow in audio format, and would suggest that a hard copy format might be preferable.

The narration by veteran actor Michael Boatman (who has narrated most of the Rawlins novels) was excellent though.

I listened to Blood Grove thanks to the Audible Daily Deal on June 12, 2021.

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Oct 03, 2020 Jo Dervan rated it really liked it

Easy Rollins, the black Los Angeles detective, had a visit from a young war veteran suffering from PTSD. The young man claimed that he had been camping in an orange grove outside LA when he hear a woman screaming nearby. He discovered that the woman was tied to a tree and being abused. So the man stepped in to help and ended up tussling with the abuser. He claims he stabbed the abuser with that man's gun and then was knocked out. The young man came to and discovered that he was alone with no sig Easy Rollins, the black Los Angeles detective, had a visit from a young war veteran suffering from PTSD. The young man claimed that he had been camping in an orange grove outside LA when he hear a woman screaming nearby. He discovered that the woman was tied to a tree and being abused. So the man stepped in to help and ended up tussling with the abuser. He claims he stabbed the abuser with that man's gun and then was knocked out. The young man came to and discovered that he was alone with no sign of the woman or her abuser. The young man wanted to hire Easy to find out if he had killed the abuser.
The detective was not sure whether he believed the veteran's story but the man suggested that Easy contact his mother. After meeting the mother, Easy sets off to investigate and discovered several recently murders. They included the young veteran and several of his associates.
This well crafted mystery will keep the reader interested until the solution at the very end. The author also uses the book to describe the plight of black men in the racist society of Los Angeles in the late 1960s. Some would say that not much has changed in the last 50 years. ...more

Jan 28, 2021 Shay rated it liked it

It's not often I read the 15th book in a long-running series before I read any of the previous releases, however here I am!

Blood Grove by Walter Mosley centers around Easy (Ezekiel) Rawlins, a hard-boiled Private Investigator juggling fatherhood to his teenage adopted daughter with his investigative work. The book is set in 1969 in sun-soaked LA with all of the racial tension you might expect.

Thankfully despite Easy's significant backstory, I didn't feel at all disadvantaged picking up this book

It's not often I read the 15th book in a long-running series before I read any of the previous releases, however here I am!

Thankfully despite Easy's significant backstory, I didn't feel at all disadvantaged picking up this book without having read the others. While I could tell there was a lot of additional detail and nuance I had missed out on, Mosley did a great job of providing enough context to ensure I wasn't completely lost.

In the beginning I was confused by the constant references to characters ethnicities. It was only when I put together the timeframe and the location that it started to make more sense - of course a black PI in the late 60's would have been painfully aware of everyone's race. Call it self-preservation or an occupational hazard - the man would have needed to be all over it.

I enjoyed the breezy writing style but I had some trouble connecting to the other characters. Despite clearly giving some effort to create a historically accurate account of the racial tensions of the day, the characters all felt a little one-dimensional. The hippie uncle. The bombshell. The business-like and aloof secretary. However it's possible this was a symptom of missing some vital pre-reading in the previous books.

I struggled with the complicated plot, too. There was a *lot* going on, with a lot of characters coming in and out. I didn't pick the twist straight away which is always a plus, but I didn't feel any satisfaction at the culmination of the action. I enjoyed the passages involving Feather (Easy's step-daughter) the most, perhaps an indication that I should go back to the beginning and start the books in their chronological order.

There's no doubt Mosely is a talented writer. The pages came to life with colour and movement almost instantly, and I appreciated the strong and nuanced central character of Easy.

The narration was solid with great use of tone and cadence. I feel the audiobook has an advantage over the written version due to the great delivery.

All in all this was a solid detective mystery. I came away with an appreciation for Mosley's work and his extensive fan base that have supported 15 Easy Rawlins tales (and counting).

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Jul 27, 2021 Shannon M rated it really liked it

I'm glad that I read "Blonde Faith" before I read the latest Easy Rollins novel, BLOOD GROVE. It's been so long since I read an Easy Rollins book that the recurring characters — Christmas Black, Jackson Blue, Jesus, Feather, etc. — everyone in fact except for Easy and Mouse, were only vague memories. In "Blonde Faith", these characters are described in detail. In BLOOD GROVE, they made only cursory appearances.

The first half of BLOOD GROVE was a five-star read, but then it meandered to such a de

The first half of BLOOD GROVE was a five-star read, but then it meandered to such a degree that it ended up, for me, a four-star read. Plot has never been Mosley's strength; it's his characters and dialogue that are so great. But this novel has three femme fatales that I kept confusing with each other (two are white and one is black, but they all speak and act identically).

Still all Mosley novels are definitely worth reading, if only for the richness of the dialogue.

Addendum: In BLOOD GROVE, Mouse is discovered (by Easy) reading a book. Changes are occurring!

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Jan 17, 2022 Amos rated it liked it

Hanging with "Easy" Rawlins is always time well spent!

3 "Who-Dunnit" Draped Stars

Hanging with "Easy" Rawlins is always time well spent!

3 "Who-Dunnit" Draped Stars

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Apr 12, 2022 Matthew rated it really liked it

Shamefully this was my first Mosley but it won't be the last. A twisty and completely entertaining crime novel with great characters.

Feb 12, 2021 Leslie rated it it was ok

I typically enjoy the Walter Mosley books I read. This, however, was not one of those books. It felt as if the author was fulfilling a contractual obligation rather than even attempting to craft an entertaining story. Disappointing.

I enjoy reading the Easy Rawlins stories. They keep you entertained and incorporate enjoyable characters that are consistent.

"Compartmentalization is one of the indispensable bulwarks of the detective game," Easy Rawlins explains midway through Walter Mosley's latest mystery, BLOOD GROVE.

Set in 1969 in the Watts section of Los Angeles, which is still smoldering from protests and anger, the story begins with the appearance of a white Vietnam veteran, skittish and anxious about a murder he may have committed. Easy, an African American who owns a detective agency, suspects that the young man is lying, but he agrees to look into the matter. Easy experiences trauma from his fighting in World War II, and flashbacks of horrific situations are part of his makeup. As a result, he sympathizes with other people's trauma.

So Easy compartmentalizes. And as any reader of Mosley's work can testify, the compartments in any installment of this series contain an astonishing number of characters. Some are old friends from years ago --- Christmas Black, Raymond "Mouse" Alexander and Jackson Blue --- and he trusts these men with his life. Layered into the story are newcomers, all of whom are suspects: Donata Delphine, Eddie Brock and Alonzo. Easy traces the young veteran's life up to the night that he may have killed a man. What he finds is deceit and greed. Easy's life as an outsider has taught him to know when to trust and when to walk away. He also has learned when a half-lie is the same as a half-truth.

Another compartment is filled with the love he has for his adopted daughter, Feather. Milo Garnet, her biological uncle, appears on his doorstep and wants to make her aware of her birth family. Feather is growing up to be a lovely young woman, and Easy's love for her feels threatened by the unknown new influences in her life.

However, the prejudice against Black people cannot be compartmentalized, and it permeates Easy's life. He recalls incidents from WWII when white soldiers shunned Black soldiers until they were needed. In the first pages of BLOOD GROVE, Easy is driving a new yellow car and is stopped by police demanding proof of ownership. Apparently, he doesn't belong behind the wheel of a 1968 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV.

Later, as he greets an old friend, a Southern Italian immigrant, Easy asks what is in his hand: "Carving a crucifix for my aunt in Cefalù," Cosmo Longo replies. "He pulled out the moderate-size red garnet stone that he was slowly fashioning into the religious icon. It was both ornate and primitive, something reminiscent of another homeland, one I had never known." Mosley reminds readers that he, too, is an immigrant in a foreign land, just not a willing one.

At another moment, Easy explains the difference to Milo, a white man, using the illusion of being lost. Easy is on an island. Milo may think he is on an island, but he is really on a peninsula. If Easy sets out looking for food or company, or maybe a new view, he'll just walk in a circle. The white man takes the same walk, and he'll end up back in the bosom of America: hot dogs, women, enough drugs to forget that one time when it seemed like they were in the same jam. Easy encourages Milo to get a crew cut, put on a gray suit and red tie, and test the theory.

Milo sneers. Then he falters. "But that's wrong," he says.

"You right," Easy replies.

No compartment is large enough for the discrimination and prejudice against Black men that Easy encounters. He knows what is happening each time he is subjected to a racial slur, a deliberate, unnecessary search, or the look between white men that confirms their distrust and superiority. He moves on.

BLOOD GROVE ends at the citrus grove where this mystery began, still a complicated and messy story, but with another surprise twist. Easy sees around curves in the road, and he makes immediate decisions that resonate far past the moment. Once again, Walter Mosley shows readers that Easy is not only a good detective, he is also a good man.

Reviewed by Jane Krebs

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Mar 31, 2021 Carey Calvert rated it it was amazing

I was so excited about Walter Mosley's 15th Easy Rawlins mystery, I gave away a brand new copy on its publishing date, 2/2/21, to a reader new to the series.

That was a mistake.

Blood Grove is for long time Easy fans who last saw the iconic hardscrabble detective in 2016's Charcoal Joe who, along with Christmas Black, Fearless Jones, Jackson Blue, and of course,, Raymond 'Mouse' Alexander, make cameo, yet telling appearances.

Blood Grove features more dead bodies and more murders than previous it

I was so excited about Walter Mosley's 15th Easy Rawlins mystery, I gave away a brand new copy on its publishing date, 2/2/21, to a reader new to the series.

That was a mistake.

Blood Grove features more dead bodies and more murders than previous iterations. It also seems to highlight more of the police brutality and harassment incumbent in an Easy Rawlins mystery. Perhaps Blood Grove reflects a Mosley peeved at recent current events; the George Floyd trial notwithstanding.

Yet Easy perseveres, wending his way through the chattel and detritus of bank heists and barflies, Vietnam vets, and an America that continues to lose its way.

...more

Mar 23, 2021 Max rated it really liked it

It's always great to visit with Easy and the family. He's more settled and domestic than ever these days, and Feather is growing up. Even Mouse is growing and maturing. Yet, and always, Easy gets his buttons pushed by a hard-luck story and ends up in the muck once more.

Vietnam vet Craig Kilian needs clarity on a night-gone-bad, and sends Easy on another adventure through 1969 Los Angeles, hippies and power brokers all.

This is a great return to form for Mosley and Easy, where I felt the last coup

Vietnam vet Craig Kilian needs clarity on a night-gone-bad, and sends Easy on another adventure through 1969 Los Angeles, hippies and power brokers all.

This is a great return to form for Mosley and Easy, where I felt the last couple Rawlins books weren't as inspired. Blood Grove is a "greatest hits" of all your favorite characters and bit players, and introduces a few others you'd love to see pop up again in the future.

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Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins books are usually very well done. A finely constructed plot, great pace and interesting characters. This edition to the series, mostly due to plot, fell somewhat flat, and was, for me, disappointing.

Rambling and convoluted, it veered off plot so many times I lost the train of the story. More often than not I kept wondering what this book was actually about. So many threads were introduced it was like the plot was fraying and Mosley kept trying to weave it back togeth

For me, the characters were the redeeming part. Colorful and quixotic, they made the book interesting. Many of them didn't really drive the plot forward, in any measurable way, but they made reading it a little less of a chore.

The book is entertaining enough, if you can ignore all the side ramblings that lead nowhere like dead end streets.

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Walter 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 numero Walter 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. ...more

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"Jackson Blue, who had read and retained every important book the central library had to offer, once told me that when a child is orphaned at an early age a large part of his psyche remains fixated there. "It's like the boy just turns into a man instead'a growin' up into one," he said." — 0 likes

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Walter Mosely Easy Rawlins Novels in Order

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