Fear Itself

Walter Mosley's Fear of the Dark is the third in a series in which we find Paris Minton, the struggling bookstore owner amidst the criminal element of South Central Los Angeles during the 1950s. Once again, trouble comes looking for Paris and although reluctant to plunge head first into a dangerous situation, Paris fails to realize his own courage as he goes about doing what must be done. To shield his aunt Three Hearts from danger, Paris, and his companion/protector, Fearless Jones, set out to find Three Hearts' wayward son Ulysses S. Grant IV (a.k.a. Useless) and uncover a blackmail scheme that Useless is at the center of. Paris and Fearless quickly learn that they are not the only ones searching for Useless. The criminals seeking Useless do not hesitate to leave a trail of lifeless bodies and at anytime Paris and Fearless could end up amongst the dead. Fear of the Dark is a light and crisp murder mystery. Mr. Mosley's vivid depiction of Paris' surroundings was amazing. I walked the streets with Paris and entered the same dark and dank places. Fearless was not Paris' only companion, I was there too. Mr. Mosley's ability to effortlessly spin creative and thought-provoking social commentary/messages intrigue me to no end. Marian E. APOOO BookClub

While I enjoyed the Easy books, I prefer the new characters of the Fearless Jones books. I purchased this book on unabridged audio while on a business trip, and soon lost all bearings on the road. Don Cheadle is a masterful reader, combining the many voices seamlessly on CD. The audio quality is superb. We are taken through many eccentric characters, including Paris Minton, the first. Fearless Jones, his best friend and co-conspirator in his adventures, is a man expertly skilled in the art of survival in racist Los Angeles in 1955. I won't divulge the plot, but their adventures take them into the world of black wealth and white criminals. It is Mr. Moseley's mix of humor-Paris's self-professed weaknesses-with a labyrinthine plot that kept me listening for the many hours required. In the couple of months since I purchased the book I have listened to it again, simply for the pleasure of Mr. Cheadle's voice. I have since purchased his third Fearless Jones mystery on CD and am awaiting shipment on the first.

I truly enjoyed listening to this particular Mosley masterpiece. I've always been fond of this writers' talent and gift but the reciting presented by Mr. D. Cheadle made it that much more thrilling. It reminded me of the old radio shows that my father used to tell me of. Mr. Cheadle brings to life the words through his acting out of the main character, Paris, as well as all the others. I knew when I read that he was the narrator that I would be pleased!

Los Angeles, 1955. Paris Minton is a retiring and none too courageous owner of a tiny bookstore. Fearless Jones is his best friend, but whenever he appears trouble is sure to follow. Milo Sweet is a conniving, double-dealing bail bondsman and disbarred lawyer. Kit Mitchell is missing. That's where the trouble starts, for it seems everyone is looking for Kit, and looking for him turns out to be extremely dangerous. And there are many, many more characters--the eccentric, the mad, the wealthy, the warm-hearted, the wicked. Things go from strange to dangerous to deadly as Paris and Fearless navigate the web of deceit and double-crossing spun by the characters. So, what is the big secret everyone's looking for? Who is Kit Mitchell and why does everyone want to find him? Will Paris, the fearful book-lover, survive this dangerous web of intrigue? Author Walter Mosley is a brilliant writer with a unique African-American voice. If the story doesn't make complete sense, if the plot doesn't quite hang together, if the characters are hard to keep track of, well, who cares? You can just listen to this book as if you were listening to jazz. It just rolls right along from one outrageous complication to another. The sentences, the words, the scenes, the dialogue--unbelievably good. I recommend this book, but, don't try to hard to follow the plot. Just listen to it! Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber

The return of Paris Minton and Fearless Jones is cause for rejoicing around this desk. Though it might be considered heresy in some circles, Minton is my favorite creation of Walter Mosley's. Yes, Easy Rawlins is certainly better known and more popular, and I will readily and happily concede that Rawlins deserves all the attention he gets. But...but...there are so many unique elements Minton possesses that he gets my nod. Maybe it's the fact that he's a short guy who likes to read...well, it's more than that, actually --- a lot more.FEAR ITSELF picks up where FEARLESS JONES left off, in the uneasy racial turbulence of Los Angeles in the 1950s. Minton has reopened his bookstore and, while not independently wealthy, is at least keeping his head above water. His life is quiet and he is content...at least until his friend Fearless Jones comes knocking. Jones, it soon develops, has inadvertently landed himself in trouble again, and he turns to his friend Minton for help. Minton and Jones make an unlikely but somehow realistic pair. Minton is well schooled and bookish, a veritable encyclopedia of unrelated but always useful facts. Jones is a graduate of the streets, an enigmatic individual with a quiet but stalwart courage and rumpled nobility that manifests itself in unusual but notable ways. Minton will go blocks out of his way to avoid trouble, but when Jones comes knocking he is unable to turn his friend away and soon finds himself involved in a set-to between two very different forces.The story starts off simply enough. An attractive woman, seemingly in distress, has asked Jones to find Kit Mitchell, a man who had briefly employed Jones for day labor and who is now missing. Jones starts making inquiries but soon finds himself to be the subject of some police inquiries. Jones, on the run, asks Minton to assist him in locating the man. It only takes a few hours, however, before a suspicious --- and dangerous-looking --- stranger is knocking on Minton's door, looking for Jones. Minton reluctantly becomes involved in Jones's inquiry and is soon caught between warring factions of two different worlds that are both jockeying for position in the lucrative gas station business in Los Angeles. Minton soon realizes that what was supposed to be a missing person matter now involves theft, kidnapping and murder --- and that he inadvertently possesses the key to resolving the situation.The plot of FEAR ITSELF is extremely challenging and complex; it is best to take this novel a bit at a time to avoid becoming lost in some of the machinations of the characters. The reading, however, is worth every minute. Mosley is quite simply at the top of his game here, contrasting two extremely interesting characters against the social and cultural backdrop of mid-20th century Los Angeles. And the ending, while extremely satisfying, has an element that will leave you who are blessed with hindsight groaning in sympathy for Minton and wanting to see more of him in future novel