Mr. Kill by Martin Limón

Book Description
On a crowded train from Pusan to Seoul, the brutal rape of a young mother sparks rage on the powder-keg peninsula of Korea, pitting Koreans against Americans and the 8th Army brass against the truth. Eyewitness accounts indicate the culprit was most likely a U.S. serviceman, but by the time Sergeants George Sueno and Ernie Bascom, U.S. Army investigators, are called in, the rapist has disappeared and anti-American fervor in this proud Asian country is threatening to explode.

George and Ernie search in vain for the culprit, all the while becoming entangled in the web of military apologists who deny that any Americans were involved, and the designs of a beautiful blonde musician who fronts an all-female country western band--a woman who is out to entertain the troops in more ways than one.

Delay causes more tragedy--and this time murder--and sets off a frantic search for a killer that stretches from the sizzling hot Demilitarized Zone to the cold waters of the Yellow Sea and introduces George Sueno and Ernie Bascom to a ruthless Korean homicide investigator known to anyone foolish enough to cross him as Mr. Kill.

My thoughts
This is my first mystery involving Sergeants George Sueno and Ernie Bascom, who are US Army investigators in 190’s Korea. First, there is a rape of a Korean woman on a Seoul bound train that could have been done by a member of the U.S. Army. When the perpetrator vanishes, the duo investigates further, especially when another woman is raped and murdered. Meanwhile there is also an investigation of petty theft from a USO troupe performing. While trying to clear the name of the U.S. Army, they have to deal with a Korean investigator aptly named Mr. Kill.

I found the premise intriguing enough to want to read the book, and I was glad I did. I thought the characters of Sueno and Bascom interesting and with Mr. Kill. The description of 1970’s Korea made it different. A very enjoyable detective novel.

Disclosure: I received this book for review through goodreads.com. I received no compensation for my thoughts.