The main plot of this novel just doesn't work. The who-done-it and why is almost ridiculous. The reader is dragged through a mire of too many characters and meandering subplots, toward an undramatic (Ho-Hum) conclusion. Along the way, Mosely tells you the hue of every character's skin, even if said character is only in the book for one paragraph.
Sometimes it's just as simple as:
"His skin was not quite as dark brown as mine."
or
"...a black man..."
or
"...a white woman..."
or
"...a lanky brown man..."
or
"...a white stranger..." (Wow!)
Sometimes, Mosely gets more specific:
"very dark-skinned"
or
"Ethiopian skin"
or
"Golden-brown skin"
There's the poetic:
"He had a New World Hispanic tint to his skin."
And, there is also the political/poetic/stupid:
"The big white guy read my smile the way Barack Obama read the hearts of the American people."
These descriptions, at first laughable, eventually became highly annoying. Come on, Mosely--you're a better writer than that!
If you're a fan of the "Easy Rawlins" novels, you'll wonder if this is the same author. Although there were some really well-written scenes, this novel, as a whole, was a mess. ( )

I also really liked the second volume of the Leonid McGill series.
This time Leonid has to protect a young woman on the one hand, help his sons uncover a girl trade and help a former victim out of trouble. He also reveals other corrupt government employees and finds that his wife has a much younger lover.
Fortunately, he can always fall back on old friends, but cannot avoid getting involved in various physical battles and has to find out that he is no longer the youngest. ( )

I'm hooked. Wish I weren't. ( )

This is the second in Mosley's Leonid McGill series. McGill is a middle-aged black man with an unusual marriage, three children (only one of whom is biologically his) and a history of working deep in the criminal underground. He has recently made the decision to go straight...or as straight as possible...and he works now as a PI in New York City. He still finds it useful, naturally, to call on former associates for assistance from time to time. When his oldest son disappears, and a man with a powerful but unofficial city job seeks his help in making sure a young woman has come to no harm, Leonid crosses paths with several different sorts of evil. Luckily he is fitter than he looks to be, and has virtually no fear. Fast paced and fairly intense, but no graphic violence.
Reviewed in June 2016 ( )

While very well written, Mosley made one mistake that I REALLY HATE in a book. He has his character discuss how his life is not like a character in a novel...gimme a break, this just irritates me to no end. Sorry, I guess it may be a personal thing. Otherwise, the plot and characters were pretty good, but this second novel in no way measured up to the first Leonid McGill book and a few subplot points were easily solved in what appeared to be time to end the book. Will I read another....maybe, but as I stated when I reviewed the first book in the series, this is definitely Robert B. Parker Spenser lite. ( )