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MANDARIN PLAID
by S. J. Rozan
St. Martin's, August 1997
275 pages
$6.50
ISBN: 0312962835


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Award-winning author S.J. Rozan continues to write a strong entertaining series featuring Chinese American private investigator Lydia Chin and her partner-in-crime, Bill Smith. In this novel, the detectives are going to be working New York’s fashion and garment district trying to discover who is blackmailing up-and-coming fashion designer Genna Jing. It will not be an easy investigation and Lydia will do whatever she can. If only she could get away from her mother and her controlling brothers.

Mandarin Plaid is an entertaining ride where the author’s research regarding sweatshops and fashion shows are well developed for readers unfamiliar with the industry. There is more to a show that bringing clothes and Rozan shows it to us through one of the characters that may be responsible for the racket. Unfortunately, he is murdered. Lydia will also come face to face with her mother’s past when she explores some of New York Chinatown’s sweatshops and gain an insight of what her mother went through to make ends meet.

The plot is straightforward with several false leads put throughout the book to make it interesting. There are numerous characters that may act like stereotypes but will provide an impact later on. There is Eleanor Talmadge Ryan, the wealthy mother of Genna’s boyfriend, who answers everything with money and does not take no for an answer. Then there is Harry Krch, a disgraced police detective, who has a beef with Chin’s partner, and has no qualms in bringing Smith down. Finally, the most enigmatic character is, of course, Andi Shechter, a temperamental fashion model filled with secrets and an attitude to boot. There is suspicion that she lives a double life, but it has yet to be proven.

Readers unfamiliar with the series should not need to worry with this book’s installment. The plot is good that it stands well on its own and the author provides enough information so that readers can follow without being condescending. S.J. Rozan is one of the best ‘unknown’ authors out there and one should give her a try and there is no better way than with Mandarin Plaid. Pure fun.

Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, March 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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