I absolutely loved the first King Oliver book, Down the River unto the Sea, so I was eager to read Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right. But first I had to catch up and read the intervening book, Every Man A King. Reading the second and third books in this series back-to-back was a treat, because it meant the family relationships weren't just vague memories, as can happen when reading books a few years apart, but were between people I knew well. Even so, Mosley always provides sufficient context so having read earlier books is never a prerequisite. Been Wrong So Long is full of dynamic, complicated, endearing characters as is always true in Mosley's books. As is also always true, it is the protagonist who steals the show. At times I almost forgot this was a PI story because of the emotional depth and the focus on King’s personal journey. I'm already impatient for the next King Oliver book. And maybe someday there will be a series with Aja as the protagonist when she takes over her father's business.

Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this DRC. All opinions are my own.

It seems like Walter Mosley has been around forever, but the writer first came on the mystery scene in 1990 with the publication of “Devil in a Blue Dress,” the first Easy Rawlins novel. (Perhaps it’s because “Devil” was set in the immediate post-World War II era, and subsequent Rawlins novels have similarly progressed in time.) Rawlins is still going strong, but Mosley has created and abandoned other series characters in the intervening years. However, his latest fictional detective, King Oliver, shows signs of genuine staying power. The latest Oliver novel (third in the series), “Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right,” compares with his better Rawlins stories, and that’s high praise for any author.

Joe “King” Oliver is an ex-cop turned private investigator in modern-day New York. He’s got a convoluted family tree that resembles what you find in a typical soap opera. He hasn’t seen his father in 30 years, since the man he knew as “Chief” was sent to Attica for shooting two men in a botched robbery. As “Been Wrong So Long” starts, Joe’s 94-year-old grandmother asks him to locate Chief for a last get-together before she undergoes cancer treatment. Joe learns his dad has been out of jail and lying low for several years. One of the men Joe’s father shot 30 years earlier has now been murdered, and Joe is the prime suspect. Joe also learns that his father was framed back then and agreed to take the fall after the non-existent robbery.

While Joe tries to make up for lost time, locate Chief, and discover the actual killer, he also works on a second case, a referral from his former cop partner. A California woman with a seven-year-old daughter fled to New York in a custody dispute, and the girl’s father hires Joe to find the missing pair. Locating the missing woman is easy, but Joe learns that there’s far more than a simple custody dispute at stake. Instead, the husband is a dangerous abuser who wants to make his wife pay permanently for the trouble she’s caused him.

“Been Wrong So Long” has plenty to offer fans of both hardboiled detective action and more traditional whodunits. The abusive ex-husband is wealthy and has access to several unsavory goons to do his bidding. Fortunately, Joe has some highly skilled friends available to act as bodyguards for the wife and daughter who go into hiding with his help. That case concludes in a hail of bullets and a rising body count. Joe also has to get down and dirty in his quest to clear his father’s name, rescuing a woman from a human trafficking ring along the way. Many of Joe’s connections are characters from earlier novels in the series. Newcomers like me may be unfamiliar with the origins of these earlier relationships, but their combat skills are apparent and entertaining.

When Joe isn’t making war, he’s making love. He has an eye for the ladies and no difficulty getting them to spend an hour or an evening in bed with him. He has encounters with three or four different women (essentially every age-appropriate female character in the story) throughout a little over 300 pages. However, although “Been Wrong So Long” is densely plotted, I had little difficulty keeping up with the various plot threads, despite Joe shifting attention from one case to the other several times during the book. The author dropped too many names in rapid succession a few times. A few times, Joe conversed with multiple characters identified only by their first names. These had all been introduced earlier in the story (and sometimes in other books in the series). However, I had to figure out how they got in the same room with Joe and what their relationship was with each other. My occasional confusion in this regard is my one criticism of the book.

“Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right” takes its title from a putdown Joe delivers to his father when the two finally meet. In that regard, the author could easily have come up with several dozen similar titles taken from the story’s colorful dialog. Walter Mosley is an expert at descriptive phrasing in dialog and Joe’s narrative description of people and places. My favorite pitch-perfect character description occurs when one of Joe’s friends refers to the abusive ex-husband and says: “It’s like he’s a rat with a permanent case of rabies.” (Joe’s own nickname for the man, “Ogre Orr,” pales in comparison.)

The book is a joy to read beyond its story for the offbeat characters. One minor character is Grandma B’s new boyfriend, a fellow nonagenarian who is one of the wealthiest men in the world and who met Grandma at their ballroom dancing class. He’s pretty much a throwaway character, but the author makes an extra effort to give him far more personality and intriguing character traits than the plot requires. The bad guys are sleazy, but they feel fully developed as well. The abusive ex-husband sends a couple of goons (nicknamed Cain and Abel by Joe) after his former wife, but they turn out to be quite distinct personality types from each other. Joe’s encounters with them are different and more complex than you usually find in this type of novel.

Crime fiction fans will love “Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right,” no matter what appeals to them in the genre. The book has a tricky plot, lots of action, great description, and interesting characters. The author also keeps things going rapidly, even as Joe goes from one end of New York to the other. Walter Mosley hasn’t missed a step, and this is one of his better books. Readers won’t be wrong reading the latest Joe Oliver novel; instead, it will feel just right.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

BEEN WRONG SO LONG IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT
Walter Mosley
Mulholland Books
336 pp.
$29.00

“You been wrong so long it seems like right to you.” That’s just one of the great sentences in book three of Mosley’s Joe King Oliver series, in which Joe admonishes his father Chief Oliver, after tracking him down. Chief abandoned Joe and his mother when Joe was a child, getting himself sent to prison. Now, Joe hunts him down because Joe’s grandmother wants to see her son Chief before she undergoes a dangerous operation. Joe has mixed feelings when he finds him—“Wanting to be with my Dad was like wanting to look into the sun”—but has even more difficulty when he finds out Chief is wanted on a murder charge. Somebody killed somebody that Chief said he was going to kill. Joe has to find the real killer before the police catch up to Chief. The search takes him all the way from Chief’s past to Joe’s present, entertaining the reader with the usual cast of colorful characters Mosley comes up with.

Mosley adds a second thread to the narrative when Joe takes on the case of a hunted woman and her child. Instead of turning her over to her husband as he was hired to do, Joe takes her under his wing, at once protecting her and setting a trap for her dangerous spouse. Joe’s tactics take us into a New York underworld that only Mosley could imagine, full of off-beat characters, hidey holes, and safe houses all around the city. The cat-and-mouse narrative complements the convoluted path Joe takes to prove Chief innocent.

The story is accomplished with one great sentence after another. Some of the best ones come from Joe’s many assignations with women(He falls in love with four of them.). When one of them asks him how is he doing, he replies, “I’m just tryin’ to stay alive long enough to get to know you better.” After kissing another woman, he thinks of “…my mother and father in shadow on the outer edges of my hungry heart.” No mystery writer comes up with as much good writing as Mosley does. He takes us deep into the life and loves of his characters. He’s the best.

I couldn't get into this book and stopped reading it. It felt slow and disjointed with the characters not very complete or filled out. Perhaps if one has read many of the author's previous books the characters and story line may be more interesting but this was my first read of Mosley and I didn't find it enjoyable.

The story finds the novel's protagonist following two story arcs, one where is working to help a women who has fled her husband and a second where he's working to find his father whom he hasn't had contact with for many years. I found neither arc very compelling.

This is the third book in the King Oliver series, which is the more recent younger brother to his long running Easy Rawlins series. The plot was fine, pretty basic detective story fare, but Mosley’s best skill as a writer is to create character ensembles, a new book allows you not just to check in with the main character but all of the interesting people surrounding him, his grandmother, his sociopathic friend, his daughter, and I enjoyed the moral quandaries that Mosley always places his characters in.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Walter Mosley's "Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right" is an engrossing addition to the addictive King Oliver series. This series continues to captivate readers with its rich blend of mystery, social commentary, and deeply human storytelling. In this latest installment, Mosley reintroduces us to Joe King Oliver, a former NYPD detective turned private investigator, whose life was marred by wrongful imprisonment and betrayal.

The novel opens with Oliver taking on a seemingly straightforward case, but as he delves deeper, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of deceit, corruption, and moral ambiguity. Mosley's deft hand at crafting intricate plots is on full display, as he seamlessly weaves together multiple storylines that challenge Oliver's investigative skills and personal convictions.

What sets this novel apart is Mosley's ability to infuse the narrative with a profound sense of empathy and introspection. Oliver is a man grappling with the ghosts of his past, seeking justice (and redemption) for his clients as well as himself. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets, adding layers of depth to this story.

Mosley's prose is lyrical and gritty, capturing the essence of the urban landscape and the complexities of human nature. This novel's exploration of themes such as redemption, systemic injustice, and the pursuit of truth is timely yet timeless, making it a thought-provoking read.

Highly recommended for fans of crime fiction and anyone who appreciates a novel that goes beyond the conventions of the genre to offer a nuanced and deeply affecting story. "Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right" is a testament to Walter Mosley's masterful storytelling and his ability to illuminate the human condition through the lens of a gripping mystery.

This author never fails to captivate me with the magical web that he weaves with his stories; 5 stars from this thrilled reader!

1-21: Posted on TikTok.

A forty four year-old detective takes on a tough, personal search for his father. His latest case involving a woman and her young daughter on the run from a ruthless billionaire leads him into unexpected tangles. This fast-paced, literary-quality novel satisfies with delicious noir vibes and hard, dark edges.

I first read Walter Mosley when his groundbreaking Easy Rawlins mysteries caught my eye. I went to see the movie of his debut novel, Devil in a Blue Dress, starring Denzel Washington in 1992. This book, his newest King Oliver thriller, made me whip through the pages all night long. This was the first book I've read in this series and it worked fine as a standalone. I want to read all of them now.

The novel took me on a tense ride full of heart and earned truths. It punches home with wounds, action, and naked masculinity. Once enveloped by this world, I didn't want to leave. I could relate to these intense characters with their defences, flaws, troubles, mistakes, and multiple loyalties.

Joe King Oliver is one of the best male main characters I’ve read this year. He’s magnetic, honorable in his own way, and refreshingly authentic. I loved the women in this, from the matriarch to the lovers, and his tough, hard-fighting, muscular cohort.

The one distraction is that many characters have nicknames and it's a large cast. I'm sure it will be easier as I read the series.

The action, detective work, and complications kept me captivated to the end. It’s a moving, at times wrenching, book with great depth to it. At its heart, it takes on family in the widest sense of the word.

Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right to Me is hard-hitting and as beautiful and wise as it is naked and grim. I want everyone to read it.

Walter Mosley is a master. I need to read more of his books this year. Highly recommended for seasoned thriller readers who are comfortable with gritty, detailed crime fiction, polyamory, and sensuality. Thank you, Mulholland Books, for the eARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

Walter Mosley is absolutely a favorite writer of mine. I've been an Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones Fan forever. So, when Joe "King" Oliver showed up in my to be read pile in 2017, I gave him a whirl and I was not disappointed. But then King took a long time to appear again. Still, Walter Mosley does not ever disappoint and I saw King again just in 2023 and lo and behold he's back.

If you don't know King, his back story is that he was a NYC police detective and great at his job, but he got set up on false charges, served time on Rikers Island and came out with a scar down one cheek and no job. He opened a detective agency. King has been estranged from his father, Chief, since Chief went to prison for a holdup for shooting/wounding two men.Soon after Chief went to jail, King's mother had a breakdown and ended up in a mental institution where she died. This story opens with a visit from King's grandmother, Chief's mother. Brenda is old and needs surgery and she wants King to find Chief. Isn't he in prison, you may ask? Well, now I can't tell you any more of the story at all, but as you know if you have read one or more Walter Mosley books, they are character driven and Been Wrong is not going to disappoint you. King connects with his father's old friends, people he met in prison, one of the guys Chief shot and many of his former girlfriends. At one location, he meets a darling little girl, age six, with a big voice. At another, the lovely adult daughter of one of his dad's exes who is trapped in a problematic relationship. His daughter Aja, a young woman, works for him but wants more detection responsibilities. His grandmother is married to the richest man in the world, so that guys' "house" is itself a character. Throw in the couple of cops who are still friends. A woman whose husband wants to kill her and retrieve their 9 year old daughter that she took to New York and the various crazies the husband hired. King is a womanizer but ethical so he only "falls in love" three or four times in this story. And then there are Melquarth and Oli. If you read the other Kind Oliver novels, you know that Melquarth is beyond certifiable and for some reason he is actually in a relationship of sorts with Oli. A book just about them would be fun. So, even avoiding spoilers, I can show you how wildly varied and fulfilling it is to have this particular Walter Mosley novel out for all to enjoy.

He never disappoints. No exception. Read Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right!

The book was a bit slow for me. Good character developments and an interesting story, but perhaps for me just not the type of a book I enjoy. Walter is a brilliant writer and people will enjoy it.

Bursting with intrigue, with sexiness, with valuable backstories and family history and love and loyalty, Joe King Oliver's latest adventures prove non-stop engaging and most satisfying. Can't think of a more compelling title in this series. Bravo, again, Walter Mosley.

I love Walter Mosley and his latest reminded me why. All of the great character development one expects from his work, coupled with a bang up plot make this a winner!

Walter Mosley is like a fine wine, he just gets better with age. Just amazing how Mr. Mosley consistently delivers these amazing engaging mysteries. In this latest Joe King Oliver caper, he has brilliantly intertwined two interesting narratives, that are equally compelling.

The pacing and plotting is, dare I say, damn near perfect. We find out more of King’s father’s story which although, he appeared in the previous stories, his background wasn’t as fleshed out as it is here. And alongside that thread is the story of a woman on the run from her “ogre” of a husband.

King gets involved in trying to help her and that thread takes us back to his usual team of helpers. Melquarth, Oliya and of course Aja. These two threads are given equal heft. Mosley always writes with a meaningful didactic prose, teaching history and dropping cultural gems on these pages.

The ending here, was quite a pleasant surprise and whets the appetite for further King Oliver mysteries and thrillers. I selfishly hope Mosley never stops creating stories! A big thanks to Netgalley and Muholland Books for an advanced DRC. Book drops Jan. 28, 2025

It took me ten days to read this book; that is because I kept starting and stopping. Still, I did finish it. Then it took me 10 days to think about how to write this review. Of course, I could have written a vague two-sentence comment—many reviewers do—and then given it a middling rating. But that’s not my way. I like to provide meaningful feedback for others who are seriously thinking about reading the book being reviewed.

This is the most sexist book I have ever completed. Not the “most sexist” I have ever encountered, but previously whenever I have found myself reading a novel that made me uncomfortable because of its sexism, I would stop reading it, throw it in the dnf pile. (This goes for novels that push the feminist agenda as well; I don’t like reading overhyped propaganda.)

What kept me reading “Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right” were the brilliant philosophical insights interwoven throughout the novel. As I read, I highlighted passages that were masterfully written comments on the complexities of human experience. Walter Mosley is a genius in terms of his understanding of the human condition, at least the male human condition, both on psychological and on sociological levels.

The storyline is based on the hard-boiled detective genre that was popular from the late 1940s to early 1970s. The protagonist, King Oliver, becomes involved in two separate cases, one of which, the Marigold Hart plot thread, was highly predictable and could have been omitted. Had it been excluded, a large chunk of sexism would also have been erased. The other plot thread, the search for King’s father, was less predictable, and although it still had a component of unsettling sexism, was overall more balanced in its portrayal of women.

In the 50s, 60s, and early 70s, the novels and movies utilizing the hard-boiled detective theme did promote sexist attitudes towards women, but this is 2024, not 1971. The story does not take place fifty years ago. Were I a Twitter (or X) user, I would promote a #NeverViewedRead thread, because they were of my time, but indeed, I never saw a single one of those movies, nor read any of the novels. And having completed “Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right”, I will never enter into that prejudiced world again.

In addition to the sexism, there was one other element that disturbed me as I continued reading. We see everything through King Oliver’s eyes, and he describes in intricate detail everything he sees—the clothes other characters are wearing, their faces and bodies, the way they move, plus the buildings he enters and their furnishings. Yet I could see nothing. All that incredible detail provoked no images in my mind. At first I thought there was something wrong with me—an inability to form visual images. Then I realized that I had good mental representations for scenes in books I had read recently, and for one I read while thinking about this review. The details seen by King Oliver were like reading a nonfiction book—a list of items. What is fictional is the overall storyline, taken directly from the hard-boiled detective genre. What is good are the non-fictional musings of the protagonist—philosophical musings on moral ambiguity and social justice.

Consequently, I do not wish to give this book a rating. The thinking part of me believes that the author is a brilliant philosopher and its philosophical musings deserve four stars. The emotional/intuitive part of me feels like it is hackneyed fiction designed to promote masculine sexuality and worth at most two stars.

Thanks to Mulholland Books for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

This book is the third in a series, a fact that I did not know when I started to read. Bu two chapters in, I felt the missing backstories.

The book is a well done set of character studies, including his usual thorough and believable physical descriptions, but no real “mystery”. Reading is a pleasure and the plot moves rapidly with a great deal of wonderful imagery.

While I wish I’d read the first two books before starrting this one, I can certainly recommend "Been So Wrong… in or out of sequence.

Walter Mosley delivers another winner!

This is the third book in the Joe King Oliver series and the best one yet. The story reveals a bit more about King's character, making it even easier to root for him. Mosley's prose is like urban poetry and so enjoyable to read. I loved the ending. When I finished reading, I wanted more. Hope Mosley continues to write stories in this universe. It would be a crime if he didn't.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a sneak peek.

Hightly recommended!

Walter Mosley continues to prove why he's a master of the detective genre with his latest Joe King Oliver novel, delivering a story that masterfully weaves together family drama with high-stakes investigation. As a longtime follower of detective fiction, I found myself completely absorbed by this third installment, which elevates the series to new heights.

The narrative follows two compelling threads: King's search for his long-estranged father at the behest of his dying grandmother, and his involvement with Marigold Hart, a woman on the run from her billionaire husband with her young daughter in tow. Mosley demonstrates his storytelling prowess by balancing these plotlines with remarkable skill, each one feeding into the other to create a rich tapestry of moral complexity.

What sets this book apart is its deep dive into King's family dynamics, particularly the nuanced exploration of his relationship with his father, Chief Odin Oliver. The protagonist himself continues to fascinate - a former police detective who chose integrity over corruption, operating with his own moral compass that doesn't always point true north. His complex relationships with women and his friendship with the psychopathic Melquarth add compelling layers to his character.

Mosley's prose crackles with tension, particularly in scenes where King must navigate between personal desires and professional obligations. The author never takes the easy way out, forcing his protagonist to grapple with difficult choices that have no clear right answer. While the book can stand alone, the richness of character development through the previous novels adds significant weight to the emotional stakes. "Been Wrong So Long It Feels So Right" represents Mosley at his finest - a perfect blend of hard-boiled detective work, family drama, and moral ambiguity. It's not just a great detective novel; it's a great novel, period.

A big thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting book. A man hunts for his missing father at his dying grandmother request. It is ultimately a story of redemption and live.

In Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right, Walter Mosley delivers a powerful and introspective narrative that grapples with themes of identity, justice, and the search for personal redemption. Known for his masterful storytelling and keen social insight, Mosley’s latest work is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to confront one's past and seek a path toward a better future.

The novel follows a deeply flawed protagonist whose journey of self-discovery is both compelling and heart-wrenching. Mosley’s characters are richly drawn, each carrying their own burdens and struggles. The protagonist’s introspection reveals a tapestry of regrets and aspirations, inviting readers to engage with the complexities of human experience. Mosley’s skillful writing captures the nuances of his characters' lives, making them relatable and authentic.

At the heart of the narrative is a profound examination of systemic issues, particularly those related to race, inequality, and the criminal justice system. Mosley does not shy away from addressing uncomfortable truths, using his platform to illuminate the injustices that persist in society. This social commentary adds a layer of depth to the story, prompting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and the world around them.

Mosley’s prose is both lyrical and incisive, creating a rhythm that draws readers in. His ability to blend personal narrative with broader societal themes makes the story resonate on multiple levels. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for moments of reflection that enhance the emotional weight of the story. Mosley’s wit and insight shine through, balancing the heavier themes with moments of humor and humanity.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its exploration of the concept of wrongness and rightness. Mosley invites readers to consider how perceptions of morality can shift over time and how the struggle for redemption can redefine one’s sense of self. This philosophical inquiry adds layers to the narrative, making it a rich and rewarding read.

In conclusion, Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right is a compelling and insightful novel that showcases Walter Mosley’s exceptional talent for storytelling. With its engaging characters, poignant themes, and sharp social critique, it is a work that challenges and inspires. Mosley’s exploration of the complexities of human nature and the quest for redemption is a testament to his status as one of contemporary literature's most important voices. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human condition and the societal structures that shape our lives

Great story. Great writing. Great pacing. What more is there to say? Mosley continues at the top of his form with this third installment in the King Oliver series. One can only hope for many more to come. I couldn't put it down and neither will you.