BookBingeEasy Rawlins Books in Order
The short answer
Walter Mosley · 17 books
- How many books?
- There are 17 books in the Easy Rawlins series, published 1990–2025.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, but the next book doesn't have a release date yet.
- Where to start
- Start with Devil in a Blue Dress (1990).
About 5,200 pages — roughly 90 hours of reading
A Black World War II veteran turned reluctant private investigator navigates the racial fault lines of postwar Los Angeles.
Here is the complete Easy Rawlins reading order — all 17 books by Walter Mosley, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Devil in a Blue DressIn 1948 Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins takes on a search for a missing woman that pulls him into a dangerous web of secrets.1990219 pages
- A Red DeathEasy is coerced by the FBI into infiltrating a suspected communist organization during the Red Scare.1991278 pages
- White ButterflyEasy is pulled back into detective work when a killer targeting Black women in Los Angeles finally claims a white victim.1992295 pages
- Black BettyEasy searches for a legendary woman from his past who has mysteriously disappeared, uncovering old secrets along the way.1994330 pages
- A Little Yellow DogA stray dog and a beautiful teacher draw Easy into a murder investigation that threatens his newly settled life.1996322 pages
- Gone Fishin'Set before Devil in a Blue Dress, a young Easy returns to Texas with Mouse on a journey that reveals the roots of their friendship.1997199 pages
- Bad Boy Brawly BrownEasy searches for a young man drawn into a militant political group, navigating the tensions of 1960s Los Angeles.2002320 pages
- Six Easy PiecesA linked collection following Easy through a series of interconnected cases in his life as an amateur investigator.2003288 pages
- Little ScarletIn the aftermath of the Watts riots, Easy investigates the murder of a Black woman found in a burned building.2004320 pages
- Cinnamon KissEasy takes on a risky case involving a missing woman to raise money for his daughter's life-saving surgery.2005320 pages
- Blonde FaithEasy searches for a friend's missing daughter while his own personal life unravels around him.2007308 pages
- Little GreenRecovering from near-death, Easy searches the psychedelic Sunset Strip scene for a young man who has gone missing.2013304 pages
- Rose GoldEasy is hired to find the missing daughter of a wealthy arms manufacturer, entangled with a radical political movement.2014320 pages
- Charcoal JoeEasy investigates a murder to clear the name of a young physicist, working alongside the legendary criminal Charcoal Joe.2016315 pages
- Blood GroveEasy investigates a violent incident in an orange grove that a troubled veteran claims to have witnessed.2021328 pages
- Farewell, AmethystineA woman hires Easy to find her missing husband, drawing him into a case shadowed by violence and betrayal.2024336 pages
- Gray DawnEasy takes on a new case that forces him to reckon with old enemies and the changing city around him.2025400 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Long-running mystery series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Easy Rawlins books are there?
There are 17 books in the Easy Rawlins series by Walter Mosley, from Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) to Gray Dawn (2025). Together they run to about 5,200 pages.
Is the Easy Rawlins series finished?
No, it's ongoing. The most recent book is Gray Dawn (2025), and Walter Mosley hasn't dated the next one yet.
What is the first Easy Rawlins book?
Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) is book one, at 219 pages. In 1948 Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins takes on a search for a missing woman that pulls him into a dangerous web of secrets.
Should I read the Easy Rawlins series in publication order?
Yes. For the Easy Rawlins series, reading order and publication order are the same — Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) through Gray Dawn (2025).
How long does it take to read all Easy Rawlins books?
About 5,200 pages across 17 books — roughly 90 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Gray Dawn (400 pages); the shortest is Gone Fishin' (199 pages).