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Not long ago, Walter Mosley decided to bring his Easy Rawlins series to an end. In commenting upon why he’d made that decision, he indicated that there were other characters whose stories he wanted to tell.

He does just that in DIABLERIE, a novel published this year (2008). Although not that long, DIABLERIE tells a compelling story about a character who’s not certain about what he may or may not have done at one point in his life.

In presenting this character’s life story, Mosley offers several sexual activity scenes which may prove to be too graphic for some readers’ tastes. Yet, despite the vivid descriptions of sexual acts taking place, Mosley succeeds in spinning a yarn which is remarkable for the depth of psychological insights it offers into the main character himself–a man who readily admits to leading a boring life, doing a boring job, and having no illusions about his place in the world.

Yet, despite his ordinariness, he’s distinctive in more ways than one. Mosley illustrates this beautifully as he draws readers into the quagmire in which this lead character finds himself.

DIABLERIE works on more than level. And if Mosley’s going to be producing other such gems, then bidding Easy Rawlins adieu may not be so sad after all.

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