The Iron Sickle

The ninth book in the Ernie Bascom and George Sueno series set in South Korea.When a U.S. Army Claims officer stationed in South Korea is murdered in grisly fashion the roustabout duo of George Sueno and Ernie Bascom go against orders to track a calculating killer.Early one rainy morning, the head of the 8th United States Army Claims Office in Seoul, South Korea, is brutally murdered by a Korean man in a trench coat with a small iron sickle hidden in his sleeve. The attack is a complete surprise, carefully planned and clinically executed. How did this unidentified Korean civilian get onto the tightly controlled US Army base? And why attack the claims officer-is there an unsettled grudge, a claim of damages that was rejected by the US Army?Against orders, CID agents George Sueno and Ernie Bascom start to investigate. Somehow, no one they speak to has been interviewed yet. The 8th Army isn't great at solving cases, but they aren't usually this bad, either. George and Ernie begin to suspect that someone doesn't want the case solved.Martin Lim n proves once again why he is hailed by his peers as one of the greatest military writers of his time.

“Praise for The Iron Sickle "Lim”

Praise for The Iron Sickle

2015 Washington State Book Award Finalist
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2014

"As always, the author vividly contrasts adventures in the seamy side of Seoul’s nightlife with a sensitive appreciation for Korea’s ancient culture."
—The Seattle Times

"Limón has a profound ability to depict everyday South Korean civilian life in a police state, where anyone can be taken off the streets and lost to an impersonal bureaucratic machine . . . His vivid portraits of Korea, particularly the Itaewon district where Sueño and Bascom often work black-market duty, are deeply textured, nuanced, intimate. He doesn't just describe the clamor and sweat inside an ex-pat bar crowded with GIs. He drops you onto the bar stool and hands you a glass."
—Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic

"Limón engages readers by blending Korean history, lore and geography with a tightly developed plot . . . Sueño and Bascom are a fascinating pair who add occasional levity without overshadowing the gravity of the novel's subject matter."
—Shelf Awareness

“Limón builds tension expertly . . . A fine, character-driven tale, drenched in fascinating Korean War history and reflecting the author’s firsthand knowledge of army life.”
—Booklist

"Readers will feel as if they are right there alongside Sueño and Bascom exploring the foreign Korean landscape."
—Bookreporter.com

“The Iron Sickle is a great introduction to the Sueño-Bascom series while building on what came before. Limón looks at history and culture, and at the sins of each, with two heroes who understand the true meaning of justice. You’ll be going back for the other books after you’ve read this one.”
—Scott Montgomery, BookPeople Bookstore

“Limón brilliantly combines a procedural with a harrowing portrayal of the wounds of war . . . The secret at the heart of the crimes is truly chilling, and Limón's nuanced characters enhance a fast-paced, carefully crafted plot.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
 
Praise for the George Sueño and Ernie Bascom series

"Limón is one of the best military writers ever. His stories are addictive entertainment today—and valuable slices of history tomorrow."
—Lee Child
 
"Limón is an expert guide to Korea and the U.S. army whose passionate commitment to his subject is expressed in direct, searing prose."
—John Burdett, international bestselling author of Bangkok 8
 
"[Combines] the grim routine of a modern police procedural with the cliff-hanging action of a thriller movie."
—Wall Street Journal
 
"[W]hat a great gift any of Limón's six mysteries starring Army Sgts. George Sueño and Ernie Bascom would make for those mystery lovers who haven't yet discovered them! . . . Imbued with affecting characters, a morally knotty storyline, and a last chapter that just plain stuns."
—Maureen Corrigan, NPR.org

"Throughout this critically acclaimed series, Limón has displayed a remarkable talent for weaving his background knowledge of the country into his plots."
—Booklist

Martin Lim nretired from military service after twenty years in the US Army, including ten years in Korea. He is the author of numerous books in the Sueno and Bascom series, including theNew York TimesNotableJade Lady Burning,Slicky Boys,The Iron Sickle,Nightmare Range, andThe Ville Rat. He lives near Seattle.

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