An expansive context in which to discuss A Little Yellow Dog is the obvious one of different portrayals of detective heroes. The group might read a novel by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, or some other major mystery novelist for points of comparison. Readers might also focus at length on Easy Rawlins as an African-American hero. What specific problems does he face? What moral values does he espouse that are thwarted by the power system he confronts? This line of discussion also should turn the attention of readers to Mosley's innovative use of the novel as social history. The reading of any other novel in the Easy Rawlins series will aid in understanding this approach. Readers will find Mosley's novel Gone Fishin' of particular interest as background for the lines of relationship among a number of characters who recur in Easy Rawlins novels.

1. Easy obtained his supervisory...