This is one of two audio books I bought to listen to while on a plane to Hawaii, the other being Cinnamon Kiss. These are my first experience with audiobooks, too, and I was quite pleased with the experience.

I'm a huge fan of Walter Mosley and his character, Easy Rawlins, who first appeared in the book "Devil in a Blue Dress", 1990, which was made into a successful movie (1995) staring Densel Washington as Rawlins and bringing Don Cheadle to fame in his role as Mouse Alexander, a natural born killer and Rawlins' best friend.

These novels are the perfect solution for anyone who enjoys the noir fiction of people like Dashiell Hammett and Ray Chandler, who's gritty street life "hard boiled" characters display such depth and complexity.

These Easy Rawlins' novels are the answer to the question of "How do you write a noir novel at the end of the 20th century?". The answer is to create a world view of post WW II Los Angeles from the eyes of a black man who, denied the luxury of obtaining a private detectives license due to his color, uses his natural skills at helping people solve difficult situations by "doing favors".

Couched in noir detective novels, this series of books leaves you feeling that you have not only been entertained on the surface level, but have gained some insight into the complexities of society and relationships on all levels.

These stories span a period in history from the late 40's through the Watts riots of 1968, a time when plentiful jobs fuel the black migration from the south to Los Angeles. Mosley has written 10 Easy Rawlins novels, starting with Devil in a Blue Dress and ending with Blonde Faith (yet to be released), all titles based on a color (Blue Dress, Yellow Dog, Little Scarlet, Blonde Faith, you get the gist). All worth while reads.

I've managed to read most of the Easy Rawlins series, and look forward to polishing off the series soon.

Walter Mosley's website

More books by Walter Mosley