First published 2009
Captain Jay Marsh never doubted his allegiance until he arrived in postwar Tokyo. He had seen the carnage Japanese forces left during their retreat. He had left behind his Filipina fiancée to complete his mission. Now he serves as General Douglas MacArthur's translator, confidant, and secret intelligence gatherer in occupied Japan. Marsh moves through the shadow world of imperial palaces and geisha houses, playing a deadly game of deception. He watches MacArthur's ego grow as the general positions himself as America's emperor in the East. The defeated Japanese emperor and his cunning advisors manipulate MacArthur's ambitions for their own survival. Marsh finds himself caught between competing loyalties as he witnesses brutal injustices committed in the name of occupation. The young captain must navigate the treacherous waters of power, duty, and personal honor while the woman he loves remains an ocean away. His service to MacArthur demands a terrible price that will strip away his innocence forever.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-fiction, action, political-thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Japan, Tokyo
Period: Postwar
480 pages · Kindle Edition · Bantam
Content warnings: violence