I recommend this book to any mystery buff who enjoys a plot of medium complexity, some interesting characters, and a touch of humor. The book is one of a series featuring NYPD Detective April Woo, who is not anyone's idea of a stereotypical Chinese-American female. She, HOWEVER, must deal with multicultural Pressures Including her own zany mother who's prescription for any medical ailment is "dragon bones and sour herbs". The mystery Involves a missing child and a beaten mother and brings her back to April old haunts in New York's Chinatown where the reader is Introduced to a number of sinister characters. There is no gratuitous violence; There is not a long list of suspects or crimes. I had one disappointment with the plot. The book devotes much time in building up the reader's compassion for one of the characters only to have the character killed off; I would have liked a happier ending. But it held my attention and I look forward to more in the series.
