Rating: 
Summary: Just Listen To It
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: I am happy to know ya Tristan Jones
Review: Once again a story about my main man Fearless Jones. How is it that there are no real men like Fearless? Excuse me, I do know of two young brothers just like fearless, in every sense of his name.
I am glad to see that Paris is getting some back bone, and I find it amusing how Fearless always seems to know how to punk Paris into do the right thing. this story like his introduction was wonderful. It keeps you guessing until the end, and this ending was great. thanks again to Mr. Mosley for bringing Fearless to the public.
Rating: 
Summary: Fearfully Exciting
Review: Paris Minion is a coward and he knows it. Fearless Jones is fearless and he knows it. Put these two unlikely friends together, and you have a millenium remake of the odd couple African American style. When Fearless knocks on Paris' door in the middle of the night, Paris' intuition tells him it is trouble. Nonetheless, Paris invites Fearless in and even worse, listens to his dilemma. Before he knows it, he agrees to assist Fearless in his quest to help a damsel in distress. It does not take long for Paris to discover himself waist deep in drama and neck deep in trouble. What appeared to be a slow moving road to a simple inquiry suddenly turns into a fast ride on a rollercoaster, stopping only at a valuable family heirloom. Add murder, lies and deceit to the plot and you have a delightfully exciting story. Walter Mosley did not disappoint. I found this book to be exciting and outfitted with several unexpected turns of events throughout the plot. I did, however, find Paris' personality a bit distracting. For instance, Paris consistently referred to himself as a coward, yet he knowingly jumped head first into danger throughout the book. Although this proved a bit distracting, it was not overly so. I found the book to be paced well and the characters interesting. If you're looking for an exciting mystery, pick up a copy of "Fear Itself." Mosley does not disappoint. T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub
Rating:
Summary: The Return of Fearless
Review: Paris Minton is a bookstore owner, which is an excellant profession for him because he would rather read a book than deal with people. The only person that is really capable of pulling Paris out of his shell is his closest friend Fearless Jones. Early one morning Fearless shows up on Paris' doorstep with a tale of woe. He has met a woman who is in search of her missing husband and the father of her son. Because he feels sorry for the mother and child Fearless begs Paris to work on the case with him. While they are not private detectives or policeman, they are adept at locating people. Paris' instincts tell him to kick Fearless out of his apartment but because Fearless is like a brother Paris reluctantly agrees to help. What follows is an intriguing tale of betrayal and murder. In his latest work FEAR ITSELF: A FEARLESS JONES NOVEL, author Walter Mosley has once again hit the mark with unique characters and dangerous situations that keep the pages turning. Paris and Fearless are two very different people whose adventures keep things interesting. Paris is the quiet and introverted type and Fearless is trouble with a heart of gold and together these two make a perfect combination. For mystery fans, this story is a must read. Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewesr
Rating:
Summary: A FIRST-RATE READING
Review: Stage and cinema star Don Cheadle is an actor audiences seldom forget. His performances in "Boogie Nights" and "Traffic" leave an indelible impression, while his Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Sammy Davis, Jr. on HBO's "The Rat Pack" was more than well deserved. His training as a classical actor comes to the fore in his energetic, suspense filled reading of the latest Fearless Jones adventure.
Listeners are transported to 1950s California - Los Angeles to be exact where Fearless enlists the help of Watts resident and bookstore owner Paris Minton. A good looking woman (of course) wants Fearless to locate her husband, and he wants Paris to join in the hunt.
In true Mosley style it's not too long before Paris finds himself at odds with one of the richest black women in L.A. He's at a loss to know from whom to hide as danger closes in on him from all directions.
The plot is complex as he careens from mishap to close call to almost-gotcha.
Here's a first rate detective story spun by a master.
Rating:
Summary: A FIRST-RATE READING
Review: Stage and cinema star Don Cheadle is an actor audiences seldom forget. His performances in "Boogie Nights" and "Traffic" leave an indelible impression, while his Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Sammy Davis, Jr. on HBO's "The Rat Pack" was more than well deserved. His training as a classical actor comes to the fore in his energetic, suspense filled reading of the latest Fearless Jones adventure. Listeners are transported to 1950s California - Los Angeles to be exact where Fearless enlists the help of Watts resident and bookstore owner Paris Minton. A good looking woman (of course) wants Fearless to locate her husband, and he wants Paris to join in the hunt. In true Mosley style it's not too long before Paris finds himself at odds with one of the richest black women in L.A. He's at a loss to know from whom to hide as danger closes in on him from all directions. The plot is complex as he careens from mishap to close call to almost-gotcha. Here's a first rate detective story spun by a master. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: Expanding the Franchaise?
Review: The plot of the Story very Chandler-esque with a bit of a James Ellroy hink. However, the heavy 'oppressed negro' theme got quite boring. Mosley is a one trick pony with characters. 'Fearless Jones' is 3/4th 'Mouse' and 1/4 'Easy' from the Easy Rawlin's series. Paris Minton is a riff on the 'Jackson Blue'(?), genius, cowardly, burglar who stole Jesus's savings character from Easy Rawlin's with a dash of Mosley himself. I think the author needs to decide, which series to go forward with. I vote for Easy Rawlin's and not more of the same in Fearless Jones.
Rating: 
Summary: The mystery is convoluted; the writing is not his best.
Review: The problem, for me, is Paris Minton. In this, the second book in the series, he comes off as a whiney, frightened, and weak individual. I lost interest in the book (and the mystery) about half-way through. The character of Fearless Jones is one of those confident, self-assured, but marginalized main characters that appears as "mean," "threatening," and a "killer" when in fact he's gentle, kind, bright, and giving. I thought the mystery was convoluted and to be honest, it didn't make a lot of sense to me. I also had problems with the structure and execution of the story. For example, I didn't believe for a minute that Paris just "happens" to find that manuscript where and when he did. It seemed like a cheap plot device. That said, I did enjoy the passages from that manuscript. THAT would have made a better story.
Perhaps I'm not that bright, but when it was over I kept asking myself: "The point of this was...? I prefer the Easy Rawlins series.
Rating:
Summary: Walter Mosley is at the top of his game!
Review: 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 novels. This is one not to be missed. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Rating:
Summary: listen to the music
Review: This book is so well read by Don Cheadle, that plot and characters are secondary. I listen to mystery, crime or detective stories when I walk because they keep my attention and therefore keep me motivated. Mosely's stories blend just the right amount of intrigue with intelligence. This particular combination of narration and novel stuck the right balance.
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