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Gone Fishin by Walter Mosley

© Walter Benefield

The act of writing is a kind of guerrilla warfare; there is no vacation, no leave, no relief.

-Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley the creator of that ever-popular character Easy Rawlins has written his sixth novel, "Gone fishin." Mosley is a best-selling author and with a motion picture, "Devil in a Blue Dress" adapted from his novel of the same name starring Denzel Washington as Ezekiel (Easy) Rawlins, the author’s notoriety should be unquestionable.

"Gone Fishin" predates Mosley's earlier Rawlins novels in its setting and provides the reader with a point of origin for the major characters, Easy and Raymond (Mouse) Alexander his sidekick. This novel is therefore the ideal first novel for those not familiar with Walter Mosley.

In lyrical, easy to understand language Walter Mosley takes readers on a road trip laden with mishaps and conflicts to unveil the history of his characters in "Gone fishin." Easy is the young hero and Mouse, the violent and ruthless sidekick. Mouse concocts a plan to extort money from his crazy stepdaddy, daddyReese in Pariah, Texas and convinces Easy to come along as driver on the promise to get paid fifteen dollars.

The novel takes these two young men as they travel to Texas in a borrowed (I use the word loosely) car. The duo meets a young couple that Mouse takes the liberty of playing mind games with along the way. Meanwhile Easy once in Pariah meets and grabs the attentions of a woman best described as a Bayou witch, MommaJoe. After a meeting with Mouse's stepdaddy, it is apparent that he is not going to give up the money of his own free will. Through a series of strange goings on to include mysterious sicknesses and explainable attractions Easy and Mouse are determined to extract whatever is available from Pariah’s bizarre environment. The ending is a twisted compilation involving a cast of characters that will leave you surprised and what else would you expect from a master of the mystery novel.

"Gone Fishin" is a coming of age story set in an unusual backdrop; with more too offer Easy Rawlins fans than just a mystery with surprising results. Money was the reason for trip by Easy and Mouse but the two young men gained much more in their first adventure together and it is obvious to readers of other Easy Rawlins novels that these men are in their fledgling stage of development.

Walter Mosley is an entertaining writer evident by his use of dialogue throughout the novel this coupled with lighting fast plot takes the reader on a journey of discovery along with Easy and Mouse.

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