This is a character driven story and there are is an amazing list of characters from Otherguy Overby, to the folk singing trio of Ivory, Lace and Silk, though a former CIA agent who’s gone out on his own, to big time record producer and the head of a criminal syndicate.

It’s the 60’s – a violent time in our history. An violence is the vehicle that Mosley uses to drive this story. Watts 1965. For those who don’t know what went down, go Wiki it for the full 411. But here’s a snapshot…

Watts, is a black neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles, California, that erupted violently in August 1965 after a white highway patrol office stopped a black driver. Blacks in the neighborhood, like Blacks all over the country during the 60’s were fed up with injustice. And more so with non-violent protest. They gathered, observing this unusual traffic stop. They began throwing rocks at the police. This escalated into five days of burning, looting, and bloodshed. Blacks attached white people, fought police and shot at firefighters. It took 15,000 National Guard troops to squash the rebellion.

Sounds familiar. Riots. LA. 1992. Rodney King. Baby, there ain’t nothing new under the sun.

Watts, Los Angeles, August 1965, five days after the riots began is where the story Little Scarlet kicks off.

Ezekiel Rawlins, as the white folks called him, fronts as the head custodian at Sojourner Truth High School while keeping a private investigator business on the down low. You know the brother doesn’t have a PI license, but that doesn’t stop him for helping folks in his community. Easy ain’t no push over, but deep down he can’t get over his southern gentleman roots. Roots that lead back to Louisiana and Texas. He enlists the help of several interesting characters including his, shoot first and never ask questions, “ace boon coon”, Raymond Alexander, better known as “Mouse”

In the aftermath of the riots 34 people are killed. Although the news only reports 33, the 34th is a young black woman who the police suspects was killed by a white man. They need Easy’s assistance in solving the crime, because they would get nowhere with white cops investigating the murder of a black woman by a white man. That would be just the spark needed to rekindle the riots.

Mosley, one of the best-selling mystery writers, has weaved a story that is real, compelling, engaging,…and puts the issue of black – white relations on blast. He does it in a very easy and subtle way, which is contrasted with the way Easy moves through the story.

Yes, the story takes place in the aftermath of the Watts Riots…black-white tension;

Yes, Easy is a black man who doesn’t trust the white police…black-white tension;

Yes, there is the murder of a black woman by a white man – black-white tension;

This tension explodes when Easy discovers who the murderer is and the fiery rage that consumes him. Once the murderer is revealed, you will not be able to put the book down. These are just a few of the many parallels that exist in the story.

You will definitely want to know what Easy and his friend Mouse gets into next. There is a film in the works starring Jeffery Wright and Mos Def.

Look for Jilly from Philly as Precious Ramotswe in the forthcoming BBC adaptation of the series.

Readers of Donna Leon’s books set in and around Venice will find here the antipode of northern Italian life.

The only disappointing thing about this and all of the Inspector Montalbano books is that they end too soon.