Pacific Burn

In recognition for his role in solving the Japantown murders in San Francisco, antiques dealer and sometime-PI Jim Brodie has just been brought on as the liaison for the mayor’s new Pacific Rim Friendship Program. Brodie in turn recruits his friend, the renowned Japanese artist Ken Nobuki, and after a promising meeting with city officials and a picture-perfect photo op, Brodie and Nobuki leave City Hall for a waiting limo.

But as soon as they exit the building, a sniper attacks them from the roof of the Asian Art Museum. Quick thinking allows Brodie to escape, but Nobuki ends up hospitalized and in a coma. Brodie soon realizes that, with the suspicious and untimely death of Nobuki’s oldest son a week earlier in Napa Valley, someone may be targeting his friend’s family—and killing them off one by one.

Suspects are nearly too numerous to name—and could be in the United States or anywhere along the Pacific Rim. The quest for answers takes Brodie from his beloved San Francisco to Washington, DC, in a confrontation with the DHS, the CIA, and the FBI; then on to Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond, in search of what his Japanese sources tell him is a legendary killer in both senses of the word—said to be more rumor than real, but deadlier than anything else they’ve ever encountered if the whispers are true.

PACIFIC BURN (International Thriller)

By Barry Lancet

Simon & Shuster

ISBN # 978-1476794884

Price $26.00 (hardback)

368 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“Smooth Writing, Fast Paced, And Non-Stop Action.”

A murder in Napa Valley brings Jim Brodie into the case. Brodie, a dealer of Japanese and oriental objects de art, is an expert on Japanese language and culture. The Napa Valley murder involved a Japanese male, and his son was a witness, and the police need Brodie’s help in translating. The murder may also tie in with the mayor’s wishes to unite his city with the Pacific Rim Friendship program. In fact, the father of the Napa Valley dead man is shot on the City Hall steps, and might die from the wound.

Brodie is pulled even deeper into the case when the Nobuki daughter is also targeted, and government agents of the CIA, FBI, and DHS try to derail him and arrest the Japanese girl. The case has deeper significance as an assassin called the Steam Walker is hired to kill the Nobuki family and Jim Brodie. So far, the assassin hasn’t failed in a mission, and his martial arts skills are far beyond that of Jim Brodie.

This was another fast paced action thriller that takes place in America and Japan. The writing is smooth, and the characters come alive. The plot has many twists, until the mastermind behind the assassin is finally uncovered, and the assassin unmasked. This is topnotch story telling from the first page to the last. Highly recommended for thriller and action lovers.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE PULP DETECTIVES

Japantown

Japantown (A Thriller)

By Barry Lancet

Simon & Shuster (hardback)

ISBN #978-1451691696

Price $14.83

400 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“Just A Darn Good Thrill-A-Minute Ride.”

Jim Brodie lives in San Francisco where he owns an art shop, specializing in Japanese art and Asian artifacts. He is also half owner of Brodie Security in Tokyo, Japan, his co-owner was his father’s partner in the business, and Jim inherited his share when his father died. Jim Brodie is also a single father raising a six-year-old girl alone since his wife died in a fire.

Then one night his friend, Lieutenant Frank Renna of the San Francisco Police Department called for his assistance at a crime scene in Japantown. At the scene of the brutal murder of a Japanese family and their bodyguard, a scrap of paper with a unique character printed on it is found near the bodies. Lt. Renna hopes Brodie can identify the Japanese character and give them a clue to the killers. The same symbol had been at the scene of Brodie’s wife’s death, and this may prove that she was also murdered. Though he doesn’t know the meaning of the characters, he promises to use his detective agency in Japan to research it.

The next day he is approached by a billionaire Japanese businessman who wants to hire Brodie to investigate the killing also. He explains that the woman murdered in Japantown was his daughter. But Brodie learns the man has other reasons, as well. And before the case concludes, Brodie, his company investigators in Japan, and the San Francisco police will be up against professional killers: The Soga; a private army of assassins for hire of Japanese origin based somewhere overseas.

This was a fun and exciting read, with the action set in both America and Japan. There were a lot of similarities between Jack Seward’s Curt Stone, and Earl Norman’s Burns Bannion, but better written (maybe not the same kind of fun as Burns Bannion, though, but much better written). The Soga group reminded me of CYPHER, the organization of ex-soldiers who were also an army of hired assassins The Shadow put out of business in that series. The difference being, CYPHER was an organization made up of trained soldiers, Soga is made up of martial arts experts from all walks of life. But the ideals are the same. This thrill-a-minute action will keep the reader turning the pages. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

Protection For Hire by Camy Tang

Tessa Lancaster's skills first earned her a position as an enforcer in her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang. Then they landed her in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Now, three months after her release, Tessa's abilities have gained her a job as bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. But there's a problem or two ... or three .... There's Elizabeth's abusive husband whose relentless pursuit goes deeper than mere vengeance. There's Uncle Teruo, who doesn't understand why Tessa's new faith as a Christian prevents her from returning to the yakuza. And then there's Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton, who Tessa doesn't know is the one who ensured that she did maximum time behind bars. Now Tessa and Charles must work together in order to protect their client, while new truths emerge and circumstances spiral to a deadly fever pitch. Factor in both Tessa's and Charles's families and you've got some wild dynamics---and an action-packed, romantic read as Tessa and Charles discover the reality of being made new in Christ.

Protection For Hire (Mystery/Action/Suspense)

By Camy Tang

Zondervan Publishing

ISBN #978-0310320333

336 Pages

Price $11.65

Rating 5-Stars

“An Action Hero With A Christian Attitude.”

After finding the Lord, Tessa is trying to build a new life after serving seven years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Once an enforcer for her yakuza mob boss uncle, as a Christian she knows she must turn away from that life. But finding a job, as an ex-con isn’t happening, and the police still want to harass her for her past. While volunteering at Wings Shelter for abused women, she meets Elizabeth St. Amant who is running from her abusive husband. Elizabeth hires Tessa as her bodyguard, and things get rough when it appears that her husband now wants her dead, and Tessa will defend Elizabeth with all her martial arts skills. But why does he want her dead? The answer may be bigger than Tessa can imagine, and reach into the very past she’s trying so hard to forget.

This was an action-packed suspense, written by a Christian author about a Christian character with a criminal past, and I loved it. It shows that novels can be written without sex and profanity, and Christian writers are as good with action as the next author. There is a touch of romance, but not overly done, and Tessa worries that she is not capable of forgiveness in her new life as a Christian, yet the author is not preachy.  The story is well written, and the characters come to life. Not only recommended for Christians, but highly recommended for all action and suspense lovers.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

Black Karma

Black Karma (Action/Mystery)

By Thatcher Robinson

Seventh Street Books www.seventhstreetbooks.com

ISBN #978-1616140038

275 Pages

Price $12.63

Rating 5-Stars

“A Complicated Plot, Filled With Action, Danger, And Mystery.”

Bai Jiang (pronounced Bi Chang) is a souxun – a finder of missing people. She and her partner Lee Li (also her martial arts instructor) work out of her office on Grant Street in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Bai was the daughter of a Shan Chu – the head of the Sun Yee On triad, but when her parents were killed her uncle Tommy Hu took over the leadership and raised her; this makes her a triad princess, which she tries to put behind her by helping others. Her ex-husband, is a Hung Kwan, the second in line to the leadership, and commands a small army of triad soldiers. He still protects his ex-wife and their 13-year old daughter, Dan, so when things get dangerous she has plenty of back up, whether she wants – or needs – it or not.

Inspector Kelly of the SFPD approaches her to find Daniel Chin, who the police suspects of killing policemen in a botched drug sting. Bai thinks something is phony with the task, but wants to find Chin anyway, to see what is going on.

This is the second book in the series, and is a complicated plot, filled with lots of action, danger, and mystery. Before it concludes, people will die, and Bai will find another stray to take under her protective wing. The author has created characters from the shady realm of international organized crime, but some you quickly learn to love and respect, as they live by a code the bad guys don’t want to cross. When you meet Bai Jiang and Lee Li, you will want more of them. Highly recommended for action and mystery lovers of all ages.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

White Ginger

White Sugar (Mystery/Action/Pulp Thriller

By Thatcher Robinson

Seventh Street Books

ISBN #978-1616148171

293 Pages

Price $15.95

Rating 5-Stars

“Smooth Writing And Easy Reading.”

Bai Jiang (pronounced Bi Chang) is a souxun (pronounced so-soon), a people finder – or tracer of missing persons. Wealthy in her on right, Bai’s godfather is head of the San Francisco Chinatown triad, and she is the ex wife of a high-ranking enforcer; she is closely connected, though not a part of the criminal organization.

When a young Chinese girl comes to Bai, asking her to find her friend, who has been sold into the flesh market, Bai and her partner, Lee Li take the case. Almost on the heels of their initial investigation, she gets a call from the school where her 12-year old daughter, Dan, has been involved in an assault against two boys. It appears altogether separate from the case she’s on, but then other things begin happening that also seems unconnected as well. There is a contract out on her, and an assassin tries to kill her at the airport en route to Vancouver, Canada on the trail of the missing girl. Mysteries pile up on more mysteries, and the case continues to take wild turns.

Her ex husband is ordered to safeguard her, and the triad attempts to protect her, but Bai moves on her own, trying to find the missing girl, and discover who has ordered her death, and why.

The novel never slows down, the writing is smooth and the action is fast. Her partner and martial arts trainer, Lee remains by her side, but she is feisty and quick to act on her own. Good with fist, feet, and weapons – especially knives, she usually acts first, not thinking about the consequences. Her ex husband Jason controls an army of triad soldiers, and demands respect in his circles. He also kills without thought, something that Bai doesn’t like, though there is nothing she can do about it. The police and F.B.I. know who she is, and what her status is in Chinatown, and they keep an eye on her. They are really after Jason and the leaders of the triad, but hope to find them through her.

This is a nice complicated plot, but the characters are the driving force of the story. Bai Jiang moves the action along with a nice pace, and each chapter drops a Chinese proverb that’s straight to the point. The dialogue is often witty, and the reader becomes attached to each character, though we may not be sure which side they are on at any given moment. The strong characters, fast action, good plot, and excellent writing read like exciting new pulp, but this novel has to be a grade above mere pulp fiction. Still, I found it a wonderful reminder of those thrill-a-minute pulp magazines and paperback tales of a bygone day, and anxious to read more stories about this new tracer of lost persons. Remember Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons? Now meet Bai Jiang, people finder, and Chinese triad princess. Yeah! Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories