by John Ball
First published 1972
An importer lies dead, and Detective Virgil Tibbs must sort through a web of suspects with secrets. Yumeko, the victim's beautiful companion of mixed black and Japanese heritage, had access and motive. Johnny Wu, a wealthy Chinese-American businessman, moves through the same circles. Other customers dealt with the dead man regularly. Political enemies from across the Pacific might have followed him to America. Tibbs navigates the exotic world of jade trading while Communist Chinese agents operate in the shadows. Hard drugs complicate every lead. Each suspect harbors dangerous connections that could turn deadly. Tibbs must stay alive long enough to identify the killer among people who profit from violence and deception.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: America, China, Pacific
Period: 20th-century
224 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown & Co.