Jade Lady Burning

September 28, 1992
A dense wallow in the sleazy, labyrinthine decadence of Vietnam War-era Seoul, South Korea, in the company of army investigators Ernie Bascom and George Sueno gives this debut mystery a unique atmosphere. Unfortunately Limon, himself a U.S. Army veteran who served in Korea for 10 years, moves his narrative forward at a strangely leisurely pace. The two barely moral sleuths trudge through an endless succession of dark bars, propositioning or being propositioned by the local business girls (the negotiations lead to deals on several occasions), all the while asking questions about the brutal murder of Miss Pak 0k-suk. Limon renders an unforgettable setting and a nasty killing into which the local authorities and military bigshots seem reluctant to pry, gives us a patsy in the shape of the victim's seared GI fianee and creates sympathy for Kimiko, an older local woman who is trying to survive in a young girl's market. But the plot lags, and Limon underutilizes Bascom, whose innocent-looking puss conceals a classic crime-fiction psychotic. A mixed-bag first effort, with an evocative setting and a sluggish pace.

September 1, 1992
George and Ernie pal around as military investigators for the Eighth Army in Korea, making daily visits to Itaewon for bars, booze, and "business" women. When an American serviceman apparently murders a young Korean woman, they use their unusual contacts to find clues but stumble on evidence of a conspiracy aimed at grabbing millions of dollars in army contracts instead. Limon's clipped narrative style fits the military life he describes and the duo's methodology as well. A competent and promising first novel with a unique setting.

Copyright 1992 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 1992
This is one of the most original concepts for a mystery yarn to emerge in recent memory. The seamy side of U.S. military life in postwar Korea is vividly described through the observations and actions of two beer-swilling army CID detectives as they attempt to track down leads in the torture/murder of a Korean woman. Despite their less than gung-ho attitudes, they draw the line at letting U.S. and Korean authorities pin the crime on an innocent GI. The settings and personalities here reflect the author's extensive knowledge of Korea, gathered during 10 years of military service in the country. He's an astute observer of the human condition, and even though his plotting may be a bit on the understated side, this first novel demonstrates a solid understanding of the craft of fiction. ((Reviewed Sept. 15, 1992))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1992, American Library Association.)