Farewell, Amethystine

By: Walter Mosley

Narrated by: Michael Boatman

From “master of the genre” (Washington Post) Walter Mosley, Detective Easy Rawlins’ latest client sends him down a warren of memory and nostalgia—blinding him to reason and risk.

January 1970 finds Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, LA’s premier Black detective, at 50 years of age despite all expectations. He has a loving family, a beautiful home, and a thriving investigation agency. All is right with the world… and then Amethystine Stoller, his own personal Helen of Troy, arrives. Her ex-husband is missing. A simple enough case. But even as Easy takes his first step in the investigation he trips. He falls into the memory of things past. Little things, like loss, love, a world war, and a hunger that has eaten at him since he was a Black boy on his own on the streets of Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas.

The missing ex, a young white man named Curt Fields, is found dead. Easy’s only real friend in the LAPD, Melvin Suggs, has gone into hiding rather than allow his femme fatale wife to go to the gas chamber. And that’s only the beginning.

Easy finds himself pressed into a reckoning. All of his success cannot succor his heart. The 1970’s have ushered in new expectations of men and women, Black and White, and Easy has to make a choice that will almost certainly hasten a permanent descent, one that might sunder his soul.

Critic reviews

"With his amazing portfolio of voices, Michael Boatman draws listeners into PI Easy Rawlins's world in 1970s Los Angeles. Mosley's writing paired with Boatman's narration once again delivers a sociological tableau that keeps listeners engaged throughout."—Audiofile Earphone Award Winner

The narrators performance was top notch!

I liked the story because it highlighted Easy's loneliness and yearning for someone he could love and trust. The Overall story was intriguing, however this time I wished that Eay would have been a little more principled toward justice instead of loyalty by making Amythistine face her demons and take responsibility for her actions.

Love Easy Rollins!

Very good story. Just enough twists and turns to keep your attention! The 1970s was a time of transition. A good mix was f the old and new. Thanks for the memories!

Easy is Back

Easy is back with an amazing story. Fun tead about the bygone era of classic LA.

Great example of Walter Mosley’s work

Loved this mystery. Will look for more from this author. Fun that the stories are based in LA where I live.

Retiring Easy

A very good but meandering way to close the chapter on the iconic Easy Rawlings.