Pacific Burn (Jim Brodie #3)

Pacific Burn by Barry Lancet is the third book in the Jim Brodie series. Brodie owns an antique shop in San Francisco and inherited half of his father's P.I. business based in Tokyo.

Jim Brodie is working the the S.F. mayor on the Pacific Rim Friendship Program - exchanging art with our neighbors around the ocean. Brodie is the liaison with Japan and has convinced his friend and artist Ken Nobuki to come display his art.

A couple of days before the opening of the first art exhibit, Brodie is called by Det. Renna of the SFPD. There has been a death and Brodie is needed. When they arrive in Napa, a young boy is repeating a sentence in Japanese - asking for Brodie.

Shu Nobuki and his father Toru, a sketch artist, have arrived early. But now Toru is dead. The young boy is the only witness to his apparent fall. But Shu says he did it.
Soon a sketch artist is brought in and there is a suspect in the death of Toru Nubuki.

When Shu's grandfather, Ken, arrives in California, he and Brodie are shot at. Someone is targeting the Nobuki family. Brodie Security takes it upon themselves to protect the remaining two siblings as well as guard Ken's wife and grandson who returned to Japan.

An investigation spanning multiple countries, with too many possibilities, beings. Lancet has created a great mystery / thriller. Jim Brodie is a great character who has been compared to Gabriel Allon by Daniel Silva - likely for his expertise in art along with getting into dicey situations because of work. This is a great series - my only complaint is that I now have to wait for him to write another one. Work fast Barry Lancet!

Lancet, Barry. (2016). Pacific Burn. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Tokyo Kill (Jim Brodie #2)

Tokyo Kill by Barry Lancet is the second book in his Jim Brodie mystery series. Brodie owns an antique store in San Fransisco that specializes in Japanese are and furniture, but Brodie also inherited half of his father's PI business based in Tokyo - a job he was groomed for from a young age.

While Brodie is in Japan on an art run, an older man insists on seeing him at Brodie Security. A WWII veteran, the man is convinced someone is targeting the remaining members of his team. During the war they were assigned to Manchuria, China - land conquered by Japan.

At the same time, art that hasn't been seen publicly for decades begins to appear. Paintings by Sengai, one in London and one in Toyko, are starting a buzz in the art world.

After agreeing to protect the older man, a murder shocks Brodie Security, setting off a race through the art world, a Japanese Kendo club, and the backstreets of Tokyo's Chinatown.

Lancet has created a great character in Jim Brodie. He has been compared to Daniel Silva and Jack Reacher. Fans of mystery fiction or Japan will love this well-written series.

Lancet, Barry. (2014). Tokyo Kill. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Japantown (Jim Brodie #1)

Japantown by Barry Lancet is the first book in his mystery series featuring Jim Brodie. Brodie grew up in Japan until the age of seventeen when his mother returned to California and his father stayed. He now lives in San Francisco where he runs an antiques business. He inherited half of his father's P.I. business - the main office is in Tokyo with a satellite in his antique shop in S.F.

When a family is murdered in the Japanese part of the city, SFPD Detective Renna calls Brodie in to consult. Brodie is an expert in the language and culture. At the scene, the kill has left a kanji, or Japanese character. Renna hopes that Brodie can read it. Unfortunately, Brodie has seen it before but could find no trace of it's origin or meaning.

As Brodie starts investigating, he gets the attention of a couple of people. A famous Japanese business man wants to hire him to do what the police have already hired him to do - but in exchange for a lot of money he wants the killer dead when found. And someone who was left behind to make sure the police investigation goes nowhere is wary of Brodie's involvement.

Lancet has created a great character in Jim Brodie. He has some Veronica Mars qualities, as he was trained by his father from an early age to be an investigator. His background and knowledge of two cultures makes his moves between the two seamless. I will be devouring the next two books right away and then impatiently awaiting the next.

Lancet, Barry. (2013). Japantown. New York: Simon and Schuester.