Five Decembers
Books | Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Historical
4.7
James Kestrel
Winner of the 2022 Edgar Award for Best Novel “War, imprisonment, torture, romance…The novel has an almost operatic symmetry, and Kestrel turns a beautiful phrase.”New York Times Five Decembers is a gripping thriller, a staggering portrait of war, and a heartbreaking love story, as unforgettable as All the Light We Cannot See.nominated for Best Novel in the 2022 EDGAR AWARDS NOMINATED FOR BEST THRILLER IN THE 2022 BARRY AWARDS FINALIST FOR THE HAMMETT PRIZE 2021 "Read this book for its palpitating story, its perfect emotional and physical detailing and, most of all, for its unforgettable conjuring of a steamy quicksilver world that will be new to almost every reader."Pico Iyer December 1941. America teeters on the brink of war, and in Honolulu, Hawaii, police detective Joe McGrady is assigned to investigate a homicide that will change his life forever. Because the trail of murder he uncovers will lead him across the Pacific, far from home and the woman he loves; and though the U.S. doesn't know it yet, a Japanese fleet is already steaming toward Pearl Harbor. This extraordinary novel is so much more than just a gripping crime story—it's a story of survival against all odds, of love and loss and the human cost of war. Spanning the entirety of World War II, FIVE DECEMBERS is a beautiful, masterful, powerful novel that will live in your memory forever.
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More Details:
Author
James Kestrel
Pages
384
Publisher
Titan Books (US, CA)
Published Date
2021-10-26
ISBN
178909612X 9781789096125
Community ReviewsSee all
"Now this is an action story"
Diane Morello
"Five Decembers finds Honolulu Police Detective Joe McGrady being called to investigate a brutal double murder within days of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. His investigation ultimately leads to the Philippines, where things go south for our detective, then there's the attack on Pearl Harbor. To tell anymore than this would be a disservice to the reader as it would spoil some of the plot points in the rest of the book.<br/><br/>All I can say is read this. It's honestly one of the best books I've read this year. You want to turn the pages as quickly as possible to find out what happens next, but you also want to take your time and soak in the vivid imagery of Hawaii that the author gives us and also take our time when he describes the vast death, destruction, and impact the war inflicted. <br/><br/>The plot is amazing and I found myself really enjoying getting to know the characters and following along on their journey and with the investigation. When I reached the end, I was disappointed it was over.<br/><br/>I am grateful to Hard Case Crime and author James Kestrel for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review."
C H
Chris Hicks
