A Red Death, Mosley addresses Inanti-African American and anti-Semitic attitudes by means of the actions of detective character Easy Rawlins.

The year is 1953 in the McCarthy era, when the United States government is anxious to root out communists. As the story opens, Easy has received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service informing him that his tax history is under investigation. Since his past financial dealings are indeed suspect, Easy reluctantly acquiesces in the request of FBI Special Agent Darryl Craxton to do undercover work for the agency in exchange for a harmonious resolution of the tax matter. Easy is put on the trail of Chaim Wenzler, a Jewish communist whom the FBI claims is a threat to America.

Easy's situation subjects him to painful encounters with white racist and anti-Semitic police and federal agents, made worse by guilt he feels at betraying the Jewish man...