The Man in My Basement

By: Walter Mosley

Narrated by: Ernie Hudson

This masterpiece by celebrated New York Times bestselling author Walter Mosley is the mysterious story of a young Black man who agrees to an unusual bargain to save the home that has belonged to his family for generations.

The man at Charles Blakey's door has a proposition almost too strange for words. The stranger offers him $50,000 in cash to spend the summer in Charles's basement, and Charles cannot even begin to guess why. The beautiful house has been in the Blakey family for generations, but Charles has just lost his job and is behind on his mortgage payments. The money would be welcome. But Charles Blakey is black and Anniston Bennet is white, and it is clear that the stranger wants more than a basement view.

There is something deeper and darker about his request, and Charles does not need any more trouble. But financial necessity leaves him no choice. Once Anniston Bennet is installed in his basement, Charles is cast into a role he never dreamed of. Anniston has some very particular requests for his landlord, and try as he might, Charles cannot avoid being lured into Bennet's strange world. At first he resists, but soon he is tempted—tempted to understand a set of codes that has always eluded him, tempted by the opportunity to understand the secret ways of white folks.

Charles's summer with a man in his basement turns into an exploration of inconceivable worlds of power and manipulation, and unimagined realms of humanity. Walter Mosley pierces long-hidden veins of justice and morality with startling insight into the deepest mysteries of human nature.

©2004 Walter Mosley (P)2004 Time Warner AudioBooks, a division of the Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"Will hold readers rapt; it is Mosley's most philosophical novel to date."—Publishers Weekly

"A provocative, page-turning story that constitutes nothing less than a masterpiece."—Bookmarks Magazine

"This is fine, provocative writing from the prolific Mosley, whose gifts extend well beyond his excellent mysteries."—Booklist

Wrong and Right

A strong read about Right and Wrong, and most importantly dealing with the ever lingering consequences!

Unexpected read

Would you listen to The Man in My Basement again? Why?

This was a book I may have never picked to read. However, my book club decided to read it and I am glad we did. Interesting with many messages.

The ending was extremely anticlimactic.

The book built up to nothing. All the characters other than the man in the basement didn't change or evolve.

The interaction between the characters

The story was very well read, and the characters took on their own voices. Very impressive acting.

An Enjoyable Listen

This is an easy listen. Certainly different from your everyday stuff, as the perspective makes it a very interesting book. I enjoyed it.

Makes you think

This is classic Mosely after his dectective genre. Mosely is the type of author that makes one think and deals with real issues in an interesting way. This book deals with the ideas of slavery, heritage, right versus wrong, and some other issues. It held my attention but I probably would have liked the print format better. No a bad listen because the narrator is excellent, just have to pay attention.

Enjoyed very much

I couldn't stop listening to it. It kept my interest and I really enjoyed it

Good stuff

The concept, the prose and the reading are excellent.

This was weird but interesting

I enjoyed this even if I didn’t fully get it. The premise is strange but the story keeps you involved and the whole time you’re wondering what will happen next.

Man in Basement

I enjoy the book and the narration was done very well ,would like to hear more books read by Ernie Hudson. Mr. Hudson has a strong voice and a soothing tone.