Fearless Jones was Walter Mosley's return to noir crime fiction set in post war LA. It is quite similar to his Easy Rawlins work so if you like those stories I think you will enjoy Fearless Jones. It even takes place in the same universe and the legendary Mouse is name checked. Like the Easy Rawlins stories, Mosley has split the hero into two characters. There is the quiet more analytical man, who's not quite cowardly but certainly doesn't go looking for trouble or violence and prefers to think or negotiate his way out of a tough jam. Then there's the more brash fellow who's not stupid but would rather be acting than thinking when it comes down to it, won't back down from anyone, and is no stranger to severe acts of violence.

In this book the first sort of man is Paris Minton. Minton is a relatively short man who doesn't have a lot of luck with ladies and generally keeps a low profile as much as he can. He's a go along to get along type of fellow. He runs a used bookstore, one which he maintains despite routine harassment from racist cops. He doesn't make a lot of money from his business but it's enough to pay his rent and allow him to do what he likes to do best all day, which is read and not bother or be bothered by people.

One day Minton is minding his own business when a beautiful woman runs into his store and asks him if a Reverend Grove is there. Once Minton stops drooling over her looks he explains that Grove had a church down the street but moved out a short while before. She's in despair and runs into Minton's back room. A thug comes in asking for the woman and then beats Minton like a rented mule. Once he's awake Minton runs into the woman again. Her name is Elana Love. She tells him a rather fantastic story, makes love to him, and then steals his car. Confused Minton goes back to his shop only to find out that someone burned it down. And suddenly people are shooting at him.

Minton decides that it's time to spring his buddy from the clink, one Fearless Jones, so nicknamed because he really doesn't not give a bleep who you are, if you hurt him or his there's gonna be hell to pay. Jones is a WW2 vet. He's tall, good looking, a ladies man and deadly. Only Minton knows how far Jones is willing to go to help his friends. And Minton needs help. This all happens in the first 20-30 pages. It's a breakneck speed read that kicks off an initially confusing but ultimately rewarding tale of revenge, international intrigue, organized crime, and black life in mid 20th century Los Angeles. Mosley had a Jewish mother and his depiction of Jewish home life and food are quite entertaining and interesting. Jones tells the over cautious Minton that although Minton is not what Jones would describe as full-bad ,that description being reserved for Jones himself and two or three other men, including the dreaded Mouse, Minton is nonetheless a hero because he tries to do the right thing despite his fears whereas Jones simply isn't afraid of anything on God's green earth.

This was a good read but quite complex. You might have to occasionally go back a few chapters and see who a seemingly small character really was. I liked that though. It will stretch your reading comprehension in a good way.