Rating: 
Summary: Lots of fun to read
Review: "Fearless Jones" is the first of Walter Mosley's novels that I have read, so I have no basis to compare it to others.The novel is set in LA in the 50's. Paris Minton has found a business niche for himself, selling public libarary castoff books and comic books from a storefront that also serves as his home in West LA. One day he is engaged in his favorite passtime -- reading -- when into the store strides Love. Elana Love to be exact -- a breathtaking beauty looking for something that is missing. Before Paris can do a thing, he finds himself beaten, shot at, robbed by Elana herself, and homeless, as someone has burned down his store and home. Paris pays a fine to get his friend Fearless Jones out of the pokey to assist him on a mission of investigation and revenge -- what has happened to the foreign bearer bond that Elana was looking for? Who burned Paris's store? Why are the Tannenbaum's murdered? The plot does get a bit convoluted, but it keeps the reader involved and interested. Fearless and Paris happen to be African-American, and the there are many intriguing comments on what it was like to be black in 1950's LA. It's not exactly social commentary, but it sets this book apart from manyother noir novels. I enjoyed Fearless Jones and its bigger-than-life characters. Mosley writes very well, especially the dialogue. I will search out other Mosley novels for my enjoyment.
Rating: 
Summary: One of Mosley's Best
Review: "When me and my squad'd go out in Germany it was always the first man get killed get to us," he said in an impossibly calm voice. "Didn't matter if it was one'a us or one'a them. It's just that first dead man that reminds you that this is serious business." -From Fearless Jones And it definitely is serious business for Paris Minton and his titular pal, Fearless Jones. I started reading Walter Mosley with his first Easy Rawlins novel, Devil in a Blue Dress. I enjoyed the tight writing and the very different viewpoint character. By the time Black Betty came out though, I felt that Easy had begun to run out of steam and I took a pass on the next couple of books by Mosley. Then I saw that Mosley had a new novel out featuring a new protagonist and I decided to give it a try. I'm REALLY glad that I did. In Fearless Jones Mosley takes us to the mean streets of Fifties era Los Angeles. Forget James Ellroy. No one has written about the sun blighted City of Angels with this much sheer pain and poetry since Raymond Chandler. Mosley makes you feel the tensions, be they racial, political, sexual, or whatever. It comes across. His prose is more stripped down than ever and it carries the story along quickly and with no wasted verbiage. Paris shares some similarities with Easy Rawlins but he's very much his own man. And Fearless? He's almost as dangerous as Easy's pal Mouse, but a lot nicer to be around. He's got an almost knight-like sense of honor and loyalty. (I suspect it's no accident that his first name is Tristan.) This is great crime fiction. I hope to see more of Paris and Fearless in the future. And maybe I'll go back and read the Mosley books I passed over.
Rating:
Summary: Fearless v Easy v Socrates...
Review: After reading Fearless Jones I was not disappointed. Walter Mosley paints an effective picture of what day to day life was for many African Americans in the '50s. Its interesting reading about those days, long before the existence of many things we take for granted; ie cell phones. Of all the male protagonists that Mr. Mosley has created, Fearless is very appealing. I'm hoping that he will continue the series and meet Easy Rawlins and my all time favorite Mosley character, Mouse. If you are a fan of Walter Mosley writings, you will enjoy this effort.
Rating: 
Summary: JAM-PACKED Action and SUPERB Writing!!
Review: Any fan of Mosley's will definitely want to read Fearless Jones, and if you're a lover of a good mystery, this novel is a MUST have. It was a typical day for Paris Minton. He was busy minding his small bookstore, when in walked Elana Love, a sister laden with beauty, sex appeal...and a heap of trouble. Elana questions Paris about a missing Reverend, which begins a 24-hour period in which Paris gets beat nearly to death, makes love to the elusive Elana, gets robbed, loses his bookstore to a mysterious fire, and finds himself in the middle of a mystery too thick to handle alone. Paris recruits the help of his longtime friend, Fearless Jones, an army veteran who can be cool, calm and collected one minute, and deadly the next. After Paris pays the fine to get Fearless out of jail, the two embark on a journey to find Elana and uncover secrets that are buried under years of betrayal, money and murder. If dealing with the bad guys isn't enough, the pair must also face the harsh society of 1950s Los Angeles. While battling racist cops, the two use their individual strengths and wits to collectively solve the mystery. I don't think there are enough words to say how much I enjoyed this novel. Mosley's writing style is pure beauty, with a rhythm and flow that lends itself to music and poetry. There's a cadence to it that creates a seamless piece of fiction. The characters are lively, their dialogue on point, and the storyline is wonderful from beginning to end. Mosley mixes in the harsh societal climate of the time perfectly with this action-packed mystery, and as a new reader of Mosley's work, I know that I will be rushing to read previous novels. Reviewed by Shonie
Rating:
Summary: In Love With Fearless
Review: As a long time fan of Walter Mosley and the Easy Rawlings books, I eagerly read Fearless Jones. Though the premise is similiar (2 black men in 1950's Los Angeles, solving a mystery with common sense and bravado), I enjoyed the new characters and the book. It is refreshing to see a main character (Paris) who isn't afraid to admit when he is afraid. It was also nice to see the 'muscle' (Fearless) have a compassionate side (though some of Fearless' good deeds were not believeable). All in all, a very good read. I can't wait to read the next Fearless Jones mystery.
Rating:
Summary: When Love Walked In
Review: Fearless Jones is a thriller, yes, but it is also a story about friendship and courage. The novel is narrated by Paris Minton, a black bookstore owner in 1954 Watts. Minton is not a troublemaker and has a hard time understanding why his friend, war hero Fearless Jones, always seems to attract trouble. When trouble--in the person of Elana Love--arrives quite uninvited in Minton's own bookstore, though, understanding begins to dawn. No sooner has Love walked into Minton's life than he is brutally assaulted by her pursuer, then seduced, robbed, and abandoned by Miss Love herself. When Minton returns to his bookstore the next day, he finds it a pile of ash and rubble. Not knowing where else to turn, he finally relents and bails his friend Fearless out of jail. That's when the action really heats up. The plot is far too complex for me to try to boil down into a few short paragraphs, and that is one thing I love about Mosley's books. There is so much coming from all directions that there is no sense of a scenario manufactured for tidy wrap-up by page 300. The characters are also so well developed that you can imagine them going about their off-page lives even when Paris isn't around to tell us about it. As Paris and Fearless try to unravel the mess, it entangles them in the lives of a Jewish immigrant family, a chase after the spoils of war, a variety of fraudulent schemes, and a violent power struggle within a mysterious religious organization--the one Elana Love was looking for when she found Paris by mistake. They do manage to sort things out eventually, and that in itself is a fascinating adventure. Just as exciting, however, are the lessons in loyalty and betrayal. (adapted from a "Skullduggery" review)
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Acts: A Rhapsody in Noir
Review: Fearless Jones is the finest new mystery I have read in decades. Its qualities place it alongside classics like The Maltese Falcon, while its deep exploration of human nature causes it to transcend the mystery genre. The story's subtle psychology reminds me of an ancient Greek drama. This book represents a new peak in the imagination and the writing of the immensely talented Mr. Walter Mosley. You have a rare treat in store. Start this book early in the day. You probably won't want to put it down. Like the frozen expressions on Greek tragedians' masks, Fearless Jones considers three kinds of human motivation: The self-interested satisfaction of the senses; the rational mind assembling the pieces of a puzzle; and good character that comes the heart. The narration builds from the rational mind and conveys all of the classic elements of the best noir mysteries. Mosley's point is that good character will naturally triumph because of the finer emotions and responses it will evoke in others. I suspect that you will agree with him, and feel uplifted by this tale despite the plot's pathway through many dark alleys of depravity. Few writers can take you inside the mind and body of the characters like Mr. Mosley. In this novel, you will think and feel along with Paris Minton, the owner of a used bookstore in Watts in 1954. Minton is a largely self-educated black man from Louisiana who came to California to find libraries that were open to all. His store's books are discards from local libraries. He has achieved a fragile kind of peaceful life, living and working in his bookstore (and reading when there are no customers). Suddenly, a beautiful woman, Alana Love, walks in the door seeking his help. From that moment on, his life will never be the same. Fast-paced action takes him from the contemplative life into the crosscurrents of desperate characters in moments. Like The Maltese Falcon, this story involves a treasure hunt with many clues, red herrings, and double-dealing villains. The plot connects back into the darkest shadows of the thirties and despicable acts of inhumanity. The plot evolves rapidly and spontaneously from the chance circumstance of Love and Minton meeting. I guarantee that you are likely to be kept on the edge of your seat and guessing right until the book's end. Minton realizes that he is badly out of his league. He takes the last of his savings and uses the money to pay a fine to get his friend, Fearless Jones, out of jail. Fearless Jones is a larger-than-life character who will cause you to rethink your own life. "Fearless was more free in that iron cage than I was, or would be, on the outside." A World War II hero, the two met when Minton spontaneously bought Jones a drink during the post-war celebration. "He appreciated my generosity and gave me a lifetime of friendship for a single shot of scotch." As you can see, Mr. Mosley writes like an angel in this book. Be sure to pay attention to the names of the characters and references to books. There are many interesting literary and pop culture allusions contained in them. No review of this book would be complete without observing that Mr. Mosley again demonstrates an unbelievable ability for capturing the black experience in Southern California in the post-war period. He has an equally uncanny skill for weaving a personalized view of that vulnerable, hopeful footing into the fabric of the overall society during those years. After you finish reading the book, I suggest that think back to the many moments of spontaneous generosity in the story. How did you feel when you read them? How would you feel if someone behaved in this way towards you? When was the last time that you offered the fullness of your heart's message to a stranger or near-stranger? How would you feel if you did so more often? Who are you? Who could you be? Who do you want to be? Live beyond your fears and your desires . . . and be free!
Rating:
Summary: Mosley still has it!!
Review: FEARLESS JONES, while a great book, is something of a misnomer when it comes to titling this novel. This book is more about a somewhat fearful Paris Minton.
Paris Minton is a guy we all know. He's a guy who gets afraid when a much larger man threatens him. He's a guy who immediately determines a woman's desireability factor when he meets them for the first time. He's a guy, who though is thoughtful, sometimes acts before he thinks, to his detriment. He's a guy who hopes for a better tomorrow, while wondering how to get through today. He's a guy who makes mistakes, often wishes he could run from them, but struggles to correct them. He's a guy who is ... sometimes a little over confident, sometimes a little underconfident, and often self-deprecating. The mystery in this book is a good one. Often, it seems the mystery and plot take a back seat to social explorations of 1950's Los Angeles, but the book never lacks for those side journeys. Also, even though the mystery often plays a secondary role in this novel and some of the clues are easy to decipher, the payoff is as good, thrilling, and magnificent as anything you'll read this year. The characters in this book are frighteningly real. The situations presented gave me pause as I read them, as I pondered what I might do in those situations. The suspense is strong. The story centers around a fortune in stolen money, a sometimes missing woman, and Jewish/African-American relations. I don't want to say too much about the details of this novel, because I feel there is nothing greater than discovering the secrets of a great book. Exposing even minor details destroys tiny moments of joy for a book reader, and believe me, there are many pieces of joy within this book. If you are a Walter Mosley fan, you will cheer this book as an exemplary examply of his talents. If you are a mystery fan who has never read Mosley, you would do yourself a huge favor to pick this book, the first to feature these characters, to join the Walter Mosley bandwagon. If you like period novels, you owe it to yourself to experience this slice of Americana. Awestruck, Earl
Rating:
Summary: Oh well
Review: Good characters, great dialogue, absolutely forgettable story.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: I agreed totally with the review in the New York Times Book Review, which I didn't read until after I had read the book--my mistake. It was a terrible disappointment from the creator of Easy and Socrates. Save your money.
| 
