Book Review: Summer of the Big Bachi

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Summer of the Big Bachi     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Naomi Hirahara
Class/Genre:   Mystery

A new voice on the mystery scene, and a new setting - the Japanese American communities of the Los Angeles area.

Mas Arai has a small gardening service. His wife has died, his daughter moved across the country. He spends his time with a dwindling number of customers, as wealthy members of the entertainment industry retire and sell their large homes and as Hispanic gardeners and large landscaping services move into capture Arai's previously lucrative market.

Little by little we learn of Arai's history - he is a lifelong American citizen but was living in Hiroshima on the day the bomb was dropped. Now people arrive from Japan, asking pointed questions, invading traditional poker games, upsetting established routines.

This is a story of cruel identity theft, and of the long term consequences of war and destruction. Hirohara is a new entry to the list of skillful American authors of intriguing mysteries. I'll be waiting for the next book featuring Arai!

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM