G.I. Confidential

A bank robbery, apparently by three American soldiers, kick-starts Limón’s stellar 14th mystery set in 1970s South Korea (after 2018’s The Line). Instead of assigning U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division agents George Sueño and Ernie Bascom to look into the case, the brass selects two brownnosers who can be trusted not to vigorously pursue the truth. Proof that Americans were involved could imperil support for ongoing military and financial aid to South Korea, viewed as an essential bulwark against Communist expansion in Asia. After a second bank is hit and one of its employees killed, Sueño and Bascom investigate, but they’re sidetracked when their superior gives precedence to a second sensitive inquiry. Gen. Abner Crabtree, in charge of all army divisions stationed along the demilitarized zone, is reported to have arranged for prostitutes to be transported to the DMZ for a high-level meeting involving South Korean generals. Limón does his usual outstanding job of combining clever plotting and period detail with sympathetic, flawed leads. This series shows no sign of losing momentum. [em]Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyons Literary. (Oct.) [/em]