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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Several violent confrontations and a murder, depicted in hard-boiled style
Language
Some
Period-authentic strong language including racial slurs used by antagonists
Sexual Content
Some
Adult romantic content and references to sexual exploitation of Black women by white men
Substance Use
Some
References to drinking and drug use in the period setting
Emotional Intensity
Some
Themes of racial exploitation, female agency, and the vulnerability of Black communities
What this book is about
Easy Rawlins is hired to find Betty Lips — a beautiful, mysterious Black woman who has vanished from the wealthy white world she worked in. Set in 1961 Los Angeles, Easy's investigation uncovers old wounds, racial violence, and the dangerous desires of powerful men. Mosley delivers a brooding, beautifully written mystery that cuts to the heart of racial dynamics in mid-century America.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
period racism including racial slurs from antagonists
sexual exploitation themes
violence
Reader Verification
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