Hunters Point by Peter Kageyama is a good mystery with twists, but the unusual setting, unique protagonist, and surprise characters are what really set it apart.
The action takes place in San Francisco during the 1950s. Though not true noir (like The Big Sleep, etc.), that influence remains strong. But now tradition is being challenged as beatniks gather and racial and sexual boundaries are pushed. Meanwhile, the government is engaged in a nuclear arms race.
Kats is a Nisei (second-generation Japanese American). During WWII he and his family were interned; later he earned a Silver Star as a Ranger in the Korean War. Now a PI, he’s called in to find out who’s behind the strongarm tactics forcing owners in the warehouse district on San Francisco Bay to sell their property.
His first stop is the library; at his second, he finds Molly. Tough and lovely, she forces Kats to face hard truths about himself—but also provides a soft place for him to land. It’s not a spoiler to say she becomes his love interest since it’s immediately evident that will be the outcome, but happily the book remembers that it’s a mystery and not a romance. Still, their relationship provides interesting insight into some dilemmas faced by interracial couples.
As Kats and Molly, with a few other friends, dig deeper, the plot thickens and twists, dangers lurk, and surprises abound. Based on real-life contamination of the bay, the story imagines how several parties—from the mafia to the US government—try to profit from the incident and subsequent cover-up.
The author gives plenty of description to put the reader in the scene, from the aroma and flavor of various foods to the effect of pepper bombs. I could have used a little less description of moving through buildings, but that’s me. Overall the action is fast paced and keeps you guessing. Of course Kats’ Ranger skills are used extensively, but never going so far that the reader cannot suspend disbelief to enjoy the ride.
It takes a little help from actor Jimmy Stewart (one of several surprise characters who appear throughout the book for extra fun) to put the final piece of the puzzle in place, allowing Kats and the gang to wrap up the case with a bang.
I received an advance copy of HUNTERS POINT for an honest review. You can get your copy here.