Hibiscus Blood [Paperback]

J.E. ""Buck"" Ballow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2007

Agents E.Z. Behr and Charlie Bees resolve a difficult murder in the back streets of Koza, Okinawa, where there are no witnesses, physical evidence, or crime scene.

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Infinity Publishing (May 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0741438860
• ISBN-13: 978-0741438867
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,133,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Murder and mayhem in Okinawa, March 8, 2010

By 

Lee Boyland "Author: The Rings of Allah, Amer... (Melbourne, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hibiscus Blood (Paperback)

Men are being robbed on the back streets of Koza, Okinawa. Grabbed from behind, the victims feel a knife at their throats or a prick of a sharp object in their backs. The robber forces the victims to drop their pants and then knocks them to the ground, preventing pursuit. Then the crimes escalate to murder. Since Koza is located outside Gate 2 of an U. S. military installation, and most of the victims are military, the case belongs to the Criminal Investigative Division (CID).

When the first murder occurs E. Z. "Easy" Behr, a seasoned CID investigator on his second tour on the Rock (Okinawa), is handed the case. Easy and his partner, Charlie Bees, joined by a trainee, Ski Bronowski, take the reader on a wild ride through Koza as they pursue the criminals, who left few clues at the scene of the crimes. Bar girls, houses of ill repute, shopkeepers, and old loves. Okinawan police and detectives add local color. The author captures the pulse of Koza and offers insight into how a CID investigation is carried out.

Told in the first person, the characters are reminiscent of detective characters from the past, and fit well into the genera created by such well-know authors as Mickey Spillane and Philip Marlowe. The story has an authentic feel, is well plotted with twists and turns to keep the reader's interest. A good read, and an excellent companion for a long flight or a cold winter day by the fireplace.

The author continues Behr's adventures in Goodbye, Yobo