New noir mystery novel by bestselling, award winning author of Kona Winds and Red Dirt.

Territory of Hawaii, January 1954. Chinatown. Honolulu Police Department Homicide Detective Sergeant Francis "The Sheik" Yoshikawa finds himself a reluctant stand-in bagman, extracting protection money from gambling den and brothel racketeers, when a couple of gamblers cut each other's throats on one of his collection runs. Sheik gains back his true purpose but loses a material witness. As he navigates his way through the dens of iniquity and the body count rises, Sheik finds himself in the crosshairs of both his extortionist police patrons and a special investigation bent on rooting out corruption in the department.

Scott Kikkawa's Char Siu grabs you by the throat right away and doesn't ever let go. Kikkawa has accomplished the masterful feat of immediately embroiling the reader in a fascinating time and place. His command of these elements is reminiscent of Ellroy, and in that way, Char Siu struck me in much the same fashion as L.A. Confidential. While I've never thought of Honolulu in the same way as L.A., Kikkawa has managed to change that--this burg is every bit as gritty as the City of Angels. Frankie Yoshikawa is a flawed, complex, and ultimately sympathetic protagonist whose view of the world keeps things interesting. He has plenty to examine--not only vice and murder, but a mixture of different cultures. If traditional noir is what you're missing, Char SiuU will take you on the ride you're looking for!"--Frank Zafiro, author of the River City series

Fiction. Asian & Asian American Studies.