with more money than any other character. He dated Monet until she stole $30,000 from him and vanished. He hires Albright, and later Easy, to bring Monet back to him. He also helps Easy to avoid jail time. Analysis The novel is an important contribution to African-American and ethnic detective fiction in that it focuses on a black protagonist who falls into the role of detective, but by the series' end, has made both the profession and the identity that often comes along with it his own. Particularly noteworthy are Easy's use of African-American English and the emergence of "the Voice" (an inner voice that advises Easy during particularly stressful or dangerous situations). Literary scholars of ethnic detective fiction have explored these qualities by means of genre study and gender identity approaches. Reception First published by W.W. Norton in 1990, Devil In a Blue Dress won the 1991 Shamus Award in the category of "Best First P. I. Novel". Adaptations Devil In a Blue Dress was adapted into a 1995 film of the same name, which starred Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins, and also featured Jennifer Beals, Tom Sizemore, Maury Chaykin, as well as Don Cheadle as the unhinged "Mouse". In 1996, a 10-part abridgement by Margaret Busby, read by Paul Winfield, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4, starting on April 1. References 1990 American novels Novels by Walter Mosley Novels set in Los Angeles American novels adapted into films Shamus Award-winning works African-American novels 1990 debut novels American detective novels