Walter Mosley Novel Introduces A New Character
Leonid "L.T." McGill Makes "The Long Fall" An Exceptional Read
Jun 18, 2009
In the years since he burst onto the literary scene with Devil in a Blue Dress, Walter Mosley has built a sizable following of dedicated readers. Devil introduced detective Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, an African American man who navigated the streets of Civil-Rights-era Los Angeles, solving crimes and aiding the otherwise defenseless.
After a series of successful Easy Rawlins novels, Mosely pursued other ventures. Other Mosley projects introduced and developed new characters. Socrates Fortlow (Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned; Walkin' the Dog) and Fearless Jones (Fearless Jones, Fear Itself) each served as the protagonists of various Mosley works.
He has also written excellent books in other genres. Futureland and Blue Light were noteworthy contributions to contemporary science fiction; Diablerie and Killing Johnny Fry revealed Mosley's knack for writing raw, more erotic material.
The Return of Walter Mosley
Mosley now returns to the mystery genre with his newest work, The Long Fall. The mystery story line is solid but not spectacular. Nevertheless, this entry in the Mosley catalog is worth reading for another element: the introduction of Mosley's best and most complex protagonist yet. The novel centers on Leonid "L.T." McGill, another African American detective.
However, that is where the similarities to Rawlins end. Unlike Rawlins, McGill lives in New York City -- and equally important, in the present day. Our limited information about his background suggests a violent past in which he used his training as a boxer to punish opponents both inside and outside the ring.
However, McGill has reached a turning point, at which he became more aware of both his morality and his mortality. He decides to change his ways and use his talent for detective work -- and his pugilistic skills, when necessary -- to help people in need of assistance. Consequently, McGill constantly must negoatiate his connections to the worlds of legal and illegal activity. He attempts to walk the straight and narrow while dealing with the consequences of his past actions.
The Emergence of Leonid McGill
The aforementioned description alone would make The Long Fall one of Mosley's best books. However, it does not address the most important aspect of McGill's character: his unconventional home life. McGill lives with a wife, Katrina, he no longer loves and who regularly cheats on him. Three children call him daddy, but only one is biologically his; the other two do not know that their conceptions resulted from their mother's infidelity.
McGill loves his children and takes great pains to prevent them from falling into his old habits. The complex family situation leads to several beautifully-written (and painful) scenes, including one in which Katrina returns home after an injudicious liaison with a suitor and asks for another chance to make the marriage work.
The Long Fall works on several levels. As a mystery novel, it ranks among the top half of Mosley's prior work. As a study of a troubled father and husband, the book's prose is superlative. And as a case study of how people attempt to overcome their pasts and become better people, the book is filled with insights and questions that will make Leonid McGill another in an ever-growing line of exceptionally-written Mosley characters.
