Burning Moon: A Wil Hardesty Novel (Wil Hardesty Novels) [Hardcover]

Richard Barre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2003 | Series: Wil Hardesty Novels

Two brothersùVietnamese boat people who made good in America, each on a different side of the lawùconfront Hardesty with a hierarchy of Asian gangs whose tentacles lever unimagined deceit, betrayal and murder. Facing him as well: his most challenging personal crisis yet, involving ex-wife, Lisa. To survive, Hardesty must battle old demons and terrifyingly corrupt Asian gangs.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Richard Barre just won't let the past rest in peace. Like Ross Macdonald, one of his literary influences, he concocts modern detective tales in which the crimes are connected to, and disastrously complicated by, historical events.

Burning Moon finds Barre's Southern California surfer-turned-private eye, Wil Hardesty (introduced in the Shamus Award-winning The Innocents ), being hired by a Vietnamese refugee and fisherman, Vinh Tien. Vinh is sure that the disappearance at sea of his son, Jimmy, and Jimmy's pregnant girlfriend wasn't accidental, but can be blamed on their association with Vinh's younger brother, Luc, a "free-living, free-spending," and perpetually shadowy businessman. The case is convoluted enough on its surface, placing Hardesty in the middle of a family feud that may have contributed to Jimmy's death, and now threatens to propel Vinh's rebellious daughter into Luc's clutches, as well. Yet on top of all this are Luc's possible links with rivalrous Asian gangs; allegations that Jimmy cooperated with ATF agents against his uncle; and the revelation of Vinh's having once fought with the Viet Cong--a fact that, while troubling to Vietnam War vet Hardesty, positively enrages the local citizenry after Luc is murdered and Vinh becomes the prime suspect.

No less than the Tiens, Hardesty wears his history like a hair shirt. The surfing mishap that claimed his only son long ago, the dissolution of his 20-year marriage and a spiraling descent into the bottle--these things still weigh heavily on his mind, making him an easier target for clients in distress. "In a sense," the PI explains, "[saving people is] what I am. Depending on who you talk to, it may be all I am." Of course, not everybody wants to be saved, including Hardesty's accountant ex-wife and one of his oldest friends, who regular Barre's readers will recognize from an earlier series installment, The Ghosts of Morning. Burning Moon ignites slowly, as its underappreciated author outlines the cultural dynamics that are essential to this tale and reintroduces Hardesty (last seen in 1999's Blackheart Highway). However, Barre's vivid but economical prose and strong character development eventually make this Moon shine. --J. Kingston Pierce --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Jimmy Tien and his pregnant girlfriend, Wen, were on a small boat that sank in rough weather off the Southern California coast. Jimmy's father, Vinh Tien, a former North Vietnamese soldier, doesn't believe that his son's death was an accident and hires private investigator Wil Hardesty to learn if there is a connection between Jimmy's death and his work for his crime boss uncle. Wil, a Vietnam vet, is reluctant to work for a man who was once his enemy, but when federal agents tell him that Jimmy was on their pad as an informer, he changes his mind. The case takes on broader, more dangerous implications for Wil when he's unwillingly drawn into a turf war between Vietnamese and Chinese gangsters. Shamus Award winner Barre is a direct descendant of the world-weary Ross McDonald school of detective fiction. Hardesty pushes ever forward while dogged by the shadowy burdens of his own life. A lyrical, melancholy glimpse into the soul of a man who attempts to solve others' burdens even as he succumbs to his own. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 348 pages
• Publisher: Capra Pr; 1 edition (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592660134
• ISBN-13: 978-1592660131
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,539,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome Back Wil!, May 27, 2003

By 

Cyndia Depre "Cyndia" (Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burning Moon (Wil Hardesty Novels) (Hardcover)

Once again Richard Barre displays his mastery over words. He's always used them sparingly, never more so than in Burning Moon. The style makes his novels easy to pick up and hard to put down. It's been years since the last installment in the Wil Hardesty series, and it's a joy to see him again.
When Jimmy Tien and his pregnant fiance are killed in a boating accident, Jimmy's father suspects foul play. He hires Wil to investigate the incident. Wil follows the trail, which becomes more and more complicated. Every answer he finds leads to another question. As in all the Hardesty books, Wil's past both haunt and comfort him.
One of the reasons I enjoy Barre's books so much is his ability to handle intricate plots. He weaves subplots into the story, and somehow manages to tie up all the loose ends by the last page. If you like intriguing characters, complex plots, and a few surprises, you will love Burning Moon.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hardesty is back in great form, June 27, 2003

By 

cdyrkacz (Hinsdale, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning Moon (Wil Hardesty Novels) (Hardcover)

A few years ago when I was new to the mystery genre, I was introduced to Richard Barre's Wil Hardesty series through a book review in my newspaper. After reading the review of "Blackheart Highway", I decided to invest the time and money and "surf" my way through the series (4 books) from the beginning with "The Innocents". What an exhilirating ride! I have been hooked on mysteries ever since and appreciative of this author's talent. The character developments and story plots got better and better with each book. Barre delivers a perfect balance of suspense, action, and emotion in his books.

Wil Hardesty is a well-crafted, believable, interesting, and complex character. A middle-aged Vietnam vet and surfer P.I. with a lot of personal baggage - the loss of his son due to a surfing accident, subsequent drinking problem, and the crumbling of his twenty-plus year marriage. Wil is also a likable character as more and more about him and his background is revealed with each new book.

It was a bit of a wait for the latest installment, "Burning Moon", but again Barre does not disappoint. The story line is captivating and the writing is crisp and intelligent. This is a book about two Vietnamese brothers who make good in America, but on different sides of the law, and about a hierachy of rival Asian gangs fighting for control. A character from a previous book and Wil's past surfaces again, and at the end of "Burning Moon", the reader is hopeful about Hardesty's relationship with his ex-wife.

I am an avid reader of mysteries now and have read books by other excellent writers. If you enjoy Connelly, Lehane, Pelecanos, and Crais, to name a few, I highly recommend Barre. He definitely belongs in their league and deserves more kudos than he is getting. Hopefully, "Burning Moon" will not be the last time we get to read about Wil Hardesty, and I trust that the wait for the next book won't have to be as long.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars really draggy, July 29, 2006

By 

maryzeus "maryzzz" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning Moon (Wil Hardesty Novels) (Paperback)

tried 3 times to get interested in this book - too many half sentences, used phrases that were just not good "thermosed the tea" and "perimetered the building" Come on!!! Too clever by half. Have not read "the innocents" will have to get that one to see if he really can write or not. Gave up on this one. I agree with the reviewer - this book really drags.