Trouble Is What I Do

Four stars

Fans of Walter Mosley - like me - will get exactly what they hope for here: an engaging and fast moving plot, the characteristic charm of Leonid, the juxtaposition between visible and invisible players/motives/settings, and a complex investigation of race, family, and human connection.

I love Mosley's work, and this novel - despite its brevity - reminded me of exactly why.

Writing as smooth as the 147-year old corn liquor Leonid savored, Trouble is What I Do met me with lyrical, witty prose. Pour yourself a couple fingers of your favorite cognac and follow Leonid on his latest caper.

This is a racially-charged and politically gripping noir detective tale, where a 21st century real-world problem fuels the storyline and enhances the clever tale of P.I. Leonid McGill.

Having been five years since the last Leonid McGill story, Mosley fans will welcome McGill back with open arms as he works on a time-sensitive case for Philip “Catfish” Worry, all while facing his own demons.

I was pulled into McGill’s life and began to understand who he was thanks to the parallel narratives - relationships with his father, his son, his wife, and his past.

This book has changed the way I view crime fiction and has set a new bar upon which I will evaluate other books in this genre.

While this is detective fiction at its best, it sends a message that many refuse to hear, or are too deeply rooted in their own antipathies to even see there is a problem. This problem - underlying racial hierarchy and ethnic purity - was elegantly portrayed.

Highly recommended to fans of Mosley and those seeking realistic detective fiction.

Over the course of so many books, through different genres, in different series, Mosley never seems to disappoint. I first fell in love with his writing, as most have, through his Easy Rawlins series. Because of the consistent greatness of that series, I was willing to come on board in 2009 when Mosley debuted a new series lead in Leonid McGill. Quickly, McGill became as valued a character as Easy, which is no easy feat. Mosley's writing is always crisp, poetic, and peels back the layers of social commentary in ways other writers can quite accomplish. This newest, TROUBLE IS WHAT I DO, is no different. The plot is simple enough: A 92-year old Mississippi bluesman needs Leonid'd help in delivering a letter to a wealthy heiress that details her secret black lineage. Of course, with Mosley, nothing is ever as simple as it seems on the surface. In this short novel, he manages to create a labyrinthine plot that astounds with every twist and turn. This is top-notch crime fiction.

I love revisiting Mosley's characters and Leonid McGill is one of my favorites. Like Easy Rawlins he is a smooth character who easily navigates this dangerous world with wit and charm. In this installment McGill has been tasked to carry a letter to a new bride. This letter decrees her ancestry is not as pale as her Mayflower heritage suggests. Sounds like a simple task for a complicated man like McGill. But fans would know that if Leo had any luck it is bad luck. Danger quickly finds him and threatens to thwart his endeavor. <b>Trouble Is What I Do</b> may be a short novel but in typical Mosley fashion there is much to chew on. For the book is not simply about the case at hand, but rather a look at the broader issues that haunt the Black community. If you are new to Mosley or McGill have no fear, <b>Trouble Is What I Do</b> reads well as a standalone. So come on in and settle down. The bourbon is poured, the lights are dimmed and your armchair awaits.

<i>Special thanks to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Walter Mosley for advanced access to this book.</i>

This is the first Walter Mosley's story I read and won't surely be the last.
I loved the lyrical style of writing, the well thought cast of characters and the atmosphere of this noir.
Mr Mosley is a great storyteller and the plot flows engrossing you in this great story.
I look forward to reading other books with these characters.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are mine

I’m new to Walter Mosley’s mysteries. So, let me explain how this smooth, polished black man in a fedora caught my eye. If the gorgeous cover wasn’t enough, toss in an attention-grabbing title, you can only say INSTAGRAM MADE ME DO IT.
The latest installment in the New York City P.I., Leonid McGill is utterly absorbing. He’s a middle-aged ex-boxer and former career criminal. He is the kind of guy you must keep an eye out for. As describe by one of the many colorful characters:

“This man you’re walking up on is Leonid McGill. He’ll break half the bones in your body for business and the other half for fun.”

It’s very hard to review without quoting so much excellent dialogue. There are too many to highlight. The wisecracking banter is some of the best I have read.

“ Back then there was no such word as innocence in my lexicon. An innocent man or woman was simply the lucky one found not guilty, or better, never even charged.”

Leonid living in New York City is the perfect backdrop. The detailed streets of NYC are an excellent secondary character. Leonid moves from the Upper East Side, Financial District and Harlem as if he's your personal tour guide. He’s also deals in favors with some of the most notorious gangsters. Therefore, if you want a job done you go to Leonid. He’s connected , feared and revered among the criminal underground.

“...maybe you’re not fully aware of my standing in our community. If I say I need to talk to somebody, then they need to talk to me.”

92-year-old Catfish Worry from Mississippi hired Leonid to deliver a letter to a billionaire heiress before she gets married to explain her family's Black roots. Racial identity played a significant character in Trouble Is What I Do. We see how the dangers and fears of passing as white create consequences for Charles and Justine Sternman.

The job is a piece of cake, right? Simply delivery a letter. There are, however, chaotic forces at play to prevent him from completing such an easy task. Along the way, her billionaire father is trying to kill him, his colleagues and Catfish, the client who hired him.

Now that I have found the joys of Leonid McGill, my mission is to tackle the previous books. Colorful characters. Outstanding dialogue. Page turning storytelling.