Fear of the Dark

by: Walter Mosley

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Reviewed by Elysabeth Eldering

What happens when you help a young lady of the white persuasion, when you are a young black man in the 1950s in Los Angeles? Trouble and then some. Add a cousin who is nothing but trouble and a boyfriend to the white woman who is as big as a gorilla, and you have a fast-paced mystery on your hands.

When Jessica shows up to Paris Minton's bookstore right after he has turned away his good-for-nothing cousin, all holy heck breaks loose and none of it is really all that good for Paris. First, Paris is chased by the goon-boyfriend and runs for his life; upon returning under the guard of his friend, Fearless, he finds that the man has been murdered in his store and now has to wiggle his way out of something he was indirectly responsible for.

One murder leads to another and yet a third before Fearless and Paris and some other characters find the reason for all of the murders--in addition to why someone was originally after Paris. With the help of his cousin's mother, Paris's Aunt Three Hearts and the cousin's female companion, all the pieces come together and the original reason "Useless" came to Paris is worked out so that Paris and his cousin part ways and never have to see each other again--until the next time Trouble comes a-knocking.

Fearless Jones and Paris Minton are good friends who work well together, with one being afraid of nothing while the other is afraid of everything, even his own shadow. Everything complements everything in these fast-paced stories involving some characters who seem totally opposite from each other. What is that old adage, opposites attract? Guess it's true even in fiction.

Armchair Interviews says: Good characters in a good mystery.