Apr 29, 2014

Murder on Bamboo Lane by Naomi Hirahara

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B; choose two teaser sentences from a random page of your current read. Give the title and author for readers.

Murder on Bamboo Lane
Title: Murder on Bamboo Lane: An Office Ellie Rush Mystery by Naomi Hirahara
Published April 1, 2013 Berkley
Genre: mystery
Most locals consider Olvera Street just a tourist trap where you can be swallowed up in a pit of tchotchkes that look Mexican but are probably made in China. Dig a little deeper, I tell my friends. It's more than taquitos. There's an adobe house there that may not look like much, but it's the oldest standing house in Los Angeles. And then there is the Siqueiros mural, painted in the 1930s and restored recently for ten million dollars. (ch. 7)
My comments: This new mystery series by Hirahara may sound as if it's about the Mexican population in Los Angeles, but in reality it has a new bike cop, Ellie Rush, ranging around in areas populated by Asian groups - Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Apart from the mystery plot, the novel takes you through Los Angeles ethnic neighborhoods and enclaves. I liked that about the book, in addition to the unique murder story.

Publisher description:
Trouble awaits rookie LAPD Officer Ellie Rush as she patrols the mean streets of Los Angeles on her bicycle… Bike cop Ellie Rush dreams of becoming a homicide detective, but it’s still a shock when the first dead body she encounters on the job is that of a former college classmate.

At the behest of her Aunt Cheryl, the highest-ranking Asian-American officer in the LAPD (a source of pride for Ellie’s grandmother, but annoyance to her mom), Ellie becomes tangled in the investigation of the coed’s murder—with equal parts help and hindrance from her nosy best friend, her over-involved ex-boyfriend, a smoldering detective, and seemingly everyone else in her extended family…only to uncover secrets that a killer may go to any lengths to ensure stay hidden.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review/feature.. 


11 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting. I like mysteries and will have to add this one to my wishlist. My teasers this week comes from Royally Lost by Angie Stanton and A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn. Happy reading!

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  2. I enjoy books that give me a glimpse into other places and people. This sounds like a good one.
    My Teaser is from A SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLAN.

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  3. Sounds good. I like interesting settings and this seems to fit the bill.

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  4. Oh, I love the sound of this one...I adore books that take me right into the heart of the neighborhoods...and the mystery is a nice bonus. Thanks for sharing.

    Here's
    “A DESIRABLE RESIDENCE”

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  5. Loved the teaser! Very descriptive about the neighborhood.

    I hope you can stop by and visit:

    http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2014/04/teaser-tuesday-42914.html

    Colletta

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  6. Replies
    1. Freda, amazon has the first few pages of the book here:
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425264955/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0425264955&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

      Delete
  7. This sounds like a compelling mystery. I hope you enjoy it!

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    Replies
    1. I'd love your take on the book, Suko, as you are also a Californian, as is the author and the characters in her book!

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  8. It seems like the plot and the setting of this one is a little different from the norm. Of course that is a good thing.

    I assume that the author knows something about these Los Angeles neighborhoods.

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    Replies
    1. I think the author was born in California, Brian, and being Japanese-
      American herself may be in a unique position to write about the Asian communities there.

      Delete

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