A Review ( And Giveaway, Too) of Gaijin Cowgirl by Jame DiBiasio

June 18, 2013

Publisher: Crime Wave Press (March 8, 2013)

Formats: Print & eBook

380 pages

* I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

Working Tokyo nightclubs is easy money for beautiful and troubled American Val Benson - until a client with a rather unusual hobby - painting the private parts of his female liaisons - reluctantly gives up a map to a stash of Japanese war loot and tempts his favourite girl into a dangerous treasure hunt.

The Congressman's daughter is not the only one interested in the map: yakuza, bent cops, human traffickers, rogue CIA agents and her father are hot on her trail, snapping at her high heels.

So begins the dark, epic journey of a new anti-hero of Asian Noir, a protagonist both ambiguous and courageous, and utterly unreliable. From comfort women and tomb-raiding in Japanese-occupied Burma to the murderous echoes of the Vietnam War, long forgotten crimes come roaring back to life, as Val leaves a trail of destruction and chaos in her wake.

Together with her best friend, the equally unreliable nightclub hostess Suki, Val travels through Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok to the Thai-Burmese borderlands for a dramatic showdown with her pursuers. Finding the treasure before everyone else does is her only hope for survival, and perhaps redemption.

The author Jame DiBiasio

My Thoughts:

An exciting tale that goes from Tokyo to Hong Kong and Thailand- it combines WWII and Vietnam history into a coming of age, treasure hunting adventure that left me on the edge of my seat at times. The main protagonist Val went from a self-centered, shallow young woman into a mature, caring adult. If you like history woven into your thrillers, then you'll like this one. So, I'm going to give it:

Giveaway:

Crime Wave Press is giving away a copy of this book in the winner's choice- mobi or print for residents of the U.S. and Canada and for international residents a mobi copy. The contest will end one week from today on June 25th. To enter use the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway