Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins

Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins is a fictional character created by mystery author Walter Mosley. Private investigator Easy is a black hard-boiled detective and World War II veteran living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, and features in a series of best-selling mysteries set from the 1940s to the 1960s (to date). The mysteries combine traditional conventions of detective fiction with descriptions of racial inequities and social injustice experienced by African-Americans and other persons of color in the Los Angeles of that period and the present.

The character was played by Denzel Washington in his first and (as of 2007) only on-screen appearance, the 1995 film adaptation of "Devil in a Blue Dress". Mosley has written several novels starring Rawlins to date, his most popular character.

Bibliography

*"Devil in a Blue Dress". New York : Norton, c1990.In his first adventure, Easy Rawlins searches out a mysterious French woman, the mistress of a wealthy man that brings him into a dangerous game of corruption and crime. The help of his friend, dangerous man Raymond "Mouse" Alexander is key to his success. At the end of the novel, Rawlins adopts a mute Mexican boy, Jesus, as his son.

*"A Red Death". Thorndike, Me. : Thorndike Press, 1993, c1991.Rawlins investigates an espionage problem at a major aircraft manufacturer. He entangles with European Jewish refugees and communist agents.

*"White Butterfly". Thorndike, ME : Thorndike Press, 1993, c1992. Investigating a serial killer's murdering spree, and the death of a white stripper, Easy Rawlins ends up adopting a baby girl, Feather, as his wife and daughter leave him.

*"Black Betty". New York : W.W. Norton, 1994.Meeting again the beautiful woman he was in love with when he was a kid back in Texas, Easy Rawlins investigate a complex inheritance feud.

*"A Little Yellow Dog". New York : Norton, c1996. Investigating the murder of two twin brothers, Easy Rawlins falls for a beautiful heroin smuggler. He meets Bonnie, his girl friend for the following episodes. His friend Mouse disappears from the picture.

*"Gone Fishin"'. Baltimore : Black Classic, c1997. Recollection of Easy Rawlins' youth back in Texas, with his friend Mouse.

*"Bad Boy Brawly Brown". Boston : Little, Brown, and Co., 2002. Looking for the estranged son of a friend, Easy Rawlins uncovers a plot to rob a bank.After being chased by killers, Easy Rawlins decides to give up smoking.

*"Six Easy Pieces". New York, N.Y. : Atria Books, c2003.Short stories collection. The return of Raymond "Mouse" Alexander.

*"Little Scarlet". Boston : Little, Brown, and Co., 2004. After the Watts Riots of August 1965, Easy Rawlins investigates the murder of a woman called Little Scarlet. The LAPD hires Rawlins to investigate the crime since it could trigger another outburst of violence.

*"Cinnamon Kiss". Boston : Little, Brown, and Co., 2005. In 1966, the Summer of Love, Easy Rawlins is desperate to find money for the treatment of his adopted daughter, Feather. Hired by an eccentric private investigator named Robert Lee, Easy sets to find Philomena "Cinnamon" Cargill, the lover of a disappeared liberal lawyer with secrets harking back to World War II.

*"Blonde Faith". [" [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/11/16/books.theeasywayout.ap/index.html A famed detective reaches the end] ," "CNN", November 16, 2007]

References