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Paris Minton and Fearless Jones are back in their third chronicle, aiming to protect Paris from sundry dangers in 1956 and preserving his way of life which allows him to spend his days reading the classics in necessary peace. Minton's cousin Ulysses Grant IV, more commonly known as "Useless", attempts to wriggle into his cousin's life by requesting, through the closed door of Paris' used book shop, a glass of water. Since Useless has, on other occasions, used the same tactic to embroil Paris in trouble, Minton refuses. He is currently paying the rent of a white girl but has to flee when Jessa's boyfriend comes calling. Paris discovers Tiny's corpse, which should have relieved him but then he has to spend time in a crawl space with said corpse. Fearless Jones, Paris' friend, has come to his troubled, cowardly friend's aid. Minton's aunt, Three Hearts (did people really have names like that in the 1950s?) comes looking for her son Ulysses and, of course, Paris can't turn her away – primarily because she is reputed to have the "evil eye" and Paris, himself, has seen evidence of its dire effects. Before too long, Fearless and Minton are searching for Useless, along the way encountering blackmail schemes, bigotry, racial prejudice together with occasional, unexpected kindness. Paris, who considers himself well-endowed, is bedded by several women, some of them more than once. The people in the book are written well. Cowardly Minton comes across, despite his seemingly self-deprecating attitude as rather more self-appreciating than not. Fearless Jones is a loyal, brave cohort with rather more brains than he is credited. Three Hearts Grant is a selfless woman intent only on the best interests of her worthless son while Angel, Ulysses' girlfriend is a woman of many talents – some of them quite unexpected. I have to admit that FEAR OF THE DARK impressed me considerably more than did KILLING JOHNNY FRY, the Mosley book I read last year. While it is not an Easy Rawlins, it is still enjoyable and gives the reader an insight into the trials and tribulations suffered by black people in the 1950s.
Reviewed by Denise Pickles, August 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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