The author of 30 critically acclaimed works, Walter Mosley has had his novels translated into 23 languages. The Tempest Tales, an Essence Book Club Recommended Read, features Tempest Landry, a black man shot down by an over-eager cop. But that's not the end of the line for Tempest. Unwilling to accept St. Peter's judgment that he spend eternity in Hell, Tempest is sent back to Harlem- guardian angel in tow-to make things right.
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"The Tempest Tales by Walter Mosley was a fast read that leaves you with much to think on. There are strong themes of religion and questioning of it in this book. Tempest Landry is walking home one night when police mistake him for a thief and shoot him. When he dies and stands before St. Peter and hears the list of sins and the pronouncement that he's being sent to hel, however, he denies his sin and that he should go to hell. This actually puts heaven in a predicament because apparently Tempest has the power to destroy heaven with a word. So, they send him back to earth with Joshua Angel, an accounting angel, to try and convince Tempest to accept his sin and be sent to hell. It's not an easy job. This is a fun read with lots of interesting moral quandries to ponder."
— Kristi (4 out of 5 stars)
" Beautiful piece of prose that had me really examining some my unargued ideas about Heaven and Hell. the main characters Tempest and Mr. Angel are an awesome team whose dialect and banter kept me intrigued til the last page....definitely hoping to here from them again. All in all, an great read twice over!! "
— Anjanette, 2/13/2014" He don't want to go to hell, so his fight to saty on earth or go to heaven thats what is going on in tempset landry life. And the fight is on when he gets killed by accident. Very good read "
— Sharon, 2/2/2014" This months bookclub book. "
— Gail, 1/24/2014" Book that explores the light and the dark at the same time. Really good. "
— Kelly, 1/19/2014" I bought this book out of the bargain bin at Borders. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Tempest raised quite a few questions that challenged intent for good when comitting not-so good actions. It's described as a collection of tales, but it read like a novel, with each tale being a chapter. I definitely would recommend this book for any book clubs or discussions about good and evil. "
— Revae, 1/19/2014" This was a thought provoking read. It was chosen as the senior summer read at OPRFHS this summer 2010. "
— Mrs., 1/13/2014" This is an interesting Walter Mosley sketch. That's it. "
— Vee, 12/25/2013" Usually I prefer Walter Mosley's detective fiction, but this was an interesting change from him. "
— Teri, 12/19/2013" This was an interesting book. Not great, not bad. I thought it had a couple interesting reflections on the concept of sin and justifications for what are considered sins. But I felt like race was entered into but not really addressed and was mostly just a distraction. "
— Angela, 12/16/2013" Just wonderful. Deep and moving. Thought provoking. Other general words of praise. Seriously, just read this. "
— Benjamin, 12/14/2013" Walter Mosley takes on St. Peter and Beelzebub on the streets of Harlem - it gives a new twist on the meaning of sin and redemption from Amerika's only living black socialist mystery writer (that I know of anyway). "
— Tom, 12/4/2013Walter Mosley is one of America’s most celebrated writers. He was given the 2020 National Book Award’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, and honored with the Anisfield-Wolf Award, a Grammy Award, a PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert Kirsch Award, numerous Edgar Awards, and several NAACP Image Awards. His work is translated into twenty-five languages. As an executive producer, he adapted his novel, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, for AppleTV+ and serves as a writer and executive producer for FX’s “Snowfall.”