Book Review: White Butterfly - A Murder Mystery Thriller by Walter Mosley

How I Found It

I went back to Walter Mosley's catalogue on my own. There was something in me that wanted to continue reading his books.

I chose White Butterfly, a murder mystery thriller and suspense novel, because it was the third book in the Easy Rawlins series. I purchased the book on April 19th, 2026, but didn't start reading it until May 2nd, 2026.

It was a slow read for me. I was fighting against burnout, but I prevailed and finished the book. I also started another book at the same time—a romance novel by Jenny Hale—and I'm currently on chapter seven of that novel.

What It's About

Los Angeles, 1956: several mysterious murders have taken place. The murders are of Black women, but when a white woman known as White Butterfly is murdered, the police come to Easy Rawlins' doorstep for help.

Easy knows the streets and knows how to extract answers from people. At first, he turns down the police because for the past couple of years he's been living a quiet married life with his wife, new baby, and adopted son. He doesn't want to disrupt the stability he's found. However, the police won't take no for an answer. With a little persuasion, they convince Easy to investigate the murders, which he reluctantly does.

What I Loved/Didn't Love

I didn't start enjoying this murder mystery until about three-fourths of the way through the novel, that's where everything became interesting. Easy was excellent at tracking down key witnesses, and with the help of his friend Mouse, getting the answers he needed came easily.

However, there were many things I didn't like about the novel. The police wanted Easy's help but also wanted him behind bars. He would give them information, and they would use it for their own benefit, undercutting Easy in the process.

One thing in particular bothered me: how Easy knew who the murderer was. I must have missed this detail while reading. The story pointed to one person, but Easy never knew what he looked like until just before that person was killed by an undercover cop. Then I discovered someone else had actually committed the murder of White Butterfly—and Easy was framed for it. I won't go into details because I've spoiled enough already. Let's just say the murder reveal was interesting, yet typical at the same time.

Themes

Violence, murder, betrayal, alcohol, blackmail, abandonment, and family dynamics.

Who Would Enjoy It

If you enjoy a slow-paced murder mystery with a charismatic, fun-loving side character and are a fan of Walter Mosley, then this novel is right for you.

My Rating

3.5 out of 5 stars

I gave White Butterfly three and a half stars. I wanted to give it at least four stars, but it felt a little disjointed for several chapters. That's my opinion, and I would say the novel is still a solid read due to Walter Mosley's writing.

👉 You can find the book HERE if you're interested.