From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)

Walter Mosley

Start date: April 15, 2025

Finish date: May 15, 2025

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: spoko

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 428 topics — 16,892 comments total

Reading List

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
By Lynn · 1 post · 41 views

last updated Jun 20, 2025 08:37AM

Circe - discussion with spoilers
By Jane · 17 posts · 23 views

last updated Sep 06, 2025 04:48PM

showing 4 of 4 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Dec 08, 2020 Dree rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: california, african-am-can-diaspora-lit, 2020-reads, los-angeles, mystery, california-book-club

This is a tough one to rate--the reading level is fairly low so this is a super quick read. Mosley nails the classic noir style, so if noir is your thing, you should love this. I'm not a huge fan of classic noir in general (because helpless beautiful women trope), but here it is the sights/sound of LA that I love.

Is this great literature? No. Is it a great show of LA, including parts of LA, like Watts, that you don't often see in fiction? Yes. Is this a nice palate cleanser between more-literary ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Jennifer rated it liked it

The first in a series of mysteries starring a black private detective in 1950s Los Angeles. I enjoyed the perspective and the setting more than the actual mystery.

Like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Sara rated it really liked it

My first Walter Mosley, and I have no idea why I waited. Listened to the audio, which had a great narrator, and loved the characters.

Like · see review

Apr 08, 2025 spoko rated it really liked it

Shelves: race, fiction, book-club, canon-classic, mystery

As a piece of genre fiction, it works pretty well. There are a few deus-ex-machina moments ((view spoiler)) that you have to forgive, but there’s plenty of intrigue, good pacing, interesting characters, and a fairly gripping mystery.

As an exploration of the socioeconomic & racial landscape, though, it’s even better. That alone made it well worth reading, for me. ...more

Like · see review

Aug 09, 2011 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: los-angeles, mystery, audio, black-voices

A superb series starter - Easy is a character that grabs you right from the beginning, and Mosley's deft and true-to-life handling of racial issues elevates this well above the usual crime fare. No pat answers here, but a wealth of complexity that I look forward to exploring in future installments. ...more

Like · see review