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Preview
  • Devil in a Blue Dress

  • An Easy Rawlins Mystery
  • By: Walter Mosley
  • Narrated by: Michael Boatman
  • Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (147 ratings)

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Devil in a Blue Dress

By: Walter Mosley
Narrated by: Michael Boatman
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Summary

Los Angeles, 1948: Easy Rawlins is a black war veteran just fired from his job at a defense plant. Easy is drinking in a friend's bar, wondering how he'll meet his mortgage, when a white man in a linen suit walks in, offering good money if Easy will simply locate Miss Daphne Money, a blonde beauty known to frequent black jazz clubs.
Hear more of Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins mysteries.
©2002 Walter Mosley (P)2009 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Richly atmospheric.... Devil in a Blue Dress honors the hard-boiled tradition of Hammett/Chandler/Cain in its story line and attitude, but Mosley takes us down some mean streets that his spiritual predecessors never could have.... A fast-moving, entertaining story written with impressive style." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)
  • Top 100 Mysteries of All Time (Mystery Writers of America)

What listeners say about Devil in a Blue Dress

Average customer ratings
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not bad, but not for me

This was my first time listening to a noir or hardboiled novel and I can say that the style is simply not for me.

That said, the story kept me entertained and I did want to know what was going to happen next. But I didn't like the whole atmosphere of the story.

Michael Boatman is excellent as the narrator. I can't give high enough praise. As a general narrator, he is very enjoyable to listen to. But on top of that, he convincingly does other voices for characters that really give you an impression of what they're like. He's one of the best narrators I've listened to.

This is the first in a series (there are 14 more novels), so he has hit the right chord with many people, but I won't be listening to them.

Would I listen to another novel written by Walter Mosley? Perhaps, if it was a different genre. He tells a good story.
Would I listen to another novel narrated by Michael Boatman? Definitely.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb.

A quite magnificent book from one of the greatest writers ever, and the narration was superb,

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant book

Where does Devil in a Blue Dress rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Never read any Walter Mosley books,this is a brilliant book,Rally,Really.Really enjoy it.

What did you like best about this story?

The Characters,the Story Line the Whole feeling of the book,a different insight to a different style of life.

Have you listened to any of Michael Boatman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Michael Boatman make the book really come to life,Very good Narrator.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I read this book over a couple of days,its one of them books you don't want to put down.

Any additional comments?

just really brilliant book,i would recommend this to anybody.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story , and a little different...

Really brings the lot of black Americans during the prohibition period to life. I learnt a lot. The characters are powerfully drawn, enabled by superb narration. In fact I don’t think I ever heard a story read better. Michael Boatman has every character nailed right down. However there are a lot of characters in this book and a large number of shootings and crime and double dealing ....sometimes I got a bit mixed up, but I enjoyed every minute. Fast paced, exciting, involving. Intriguing. Buy it. You won’t be sorry.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very good.

Exciting, a great story and very well read. I will definitely read more by this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not my usual listen

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Bought as a BOGOF and its sat in my library for ages - my bad. Basically a black war vets asked to look for a white woman and it’s the story of how he goes about it. We meet some colourful characters along the way and it’s got a few twists - yes I really enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Recommended. well read.

If you could sum up Devil in a Blue Dress in three words, what would they be?

Gripping. Evocative. Exciting.

What did you like best about this story?

Evokes the time and location very effectively. You feel like you are walking around solving the mystery.

Have you listened to any of Michael Boatman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

no

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easy's early days

I'm glad I circled back to this earlier book in the series. Sleazy goings on in the dark side of L.A. Fabulous narration - a voice like liquid honey.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Raymond Chandler on steroids.

An interesting and engaging listen. I'm new to this author but will keep an eye for more books and he is now on my list of "better" authors in this genre.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully crafted detective novel

Exciting, expertly plotted story, fascinating characters, hard hitting and incisive social commentary, with a virtuoso power house of a performance from the narrator. A real treat of a read from start to finish.

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