“I Wrote of What I Loved–I Wrote of Korea:” Martin Limón’s Sueño and Bascomb Novels

Of Martin Limón’s Korean-based series featuring U.S. Army criminal investigators George Sueño and Ernie Bascom , author Lee Child declared the books “easily the best military mysteries in print today.” Bookpage concurred in the judgment, noting that “Limón has crafted some of the finest military mysteries on offer.” The seven books in that series, all published by Soho, include Jade Lady Burning, Slicky Boys, Buddha’s Money, The Door to Bitterness, Wandering Ghost, G.I Bones, and the most recent, Mr. Kill, from 2011.  Part police procedurals, part thrillers, Limón’s novels, as Michael Connelly noted, “take you away to a brand new world.”

In a starred review of Mr. Kill, Publishers Weekly raved: “Excellent…A vivid view of Asia, from the Demilitarized Zone to the Yellow Sea, and an insightful look at the era lift this fine entry.” Booklist, in its starred review, noted: “This series is a must not only for procedural fans but also for anyone who enjoys crime fiction set in distinctive international locales.” Library Journal joined in the chorus of praise for this seventh installment, observing: “Twenty years on, this series remains remarkably sharp and fresh. Featuring a fast pace, nuanced characters, respect for the locals and their culture (Sueño speaks Korean), and plenty of twists to keep readers guessing, this is military crime fiction at its best.”

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“I Wrote of What I Loved–I Wrote of Korea:” Martin Limón’s Sueño and Bascomb Novels

Of Martin Limón’s Korean-based series featuring U.S. Army criminal investigators George Sueño and Ernie Bascom , author Lee Child declared the books “easily the best military mysteries in print today.” Bookpage concurred in the judgment, noting that “Limón has crafted some of the finest military mysteries on offer.” The six books in that series, all published by Soho, include Jade Lady Burning, Slicky Boys, Buddha’s Money, The Door to Bitterness, Wandering Ghost, and the most recent, G.I. Bones, from 2009.  Part police procedurals, part thrillers, Limón’s novels, as Michael Connelly noted, “take you away to a brand new world.”

Reviewing G.I. Bones, Publishers Weekly felt that the author “paints incredible word pictures of the sights, sounds, and smells of Seoul and the culture that inhabits it,” while Booklist termed it “an action-packed, convoluted tale of altruism, tragedy, revenge, and miscalculation, enriched by insights into Korean politics, culture, and society, as well as into the equally foreign culture of the U.S. Army.”

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