In Evergreen, Naomi Hirahara (An Eternal Lei; Clark and Division) details a fascinating world: that of the Japanese American people returning home after being held in detention centers during World War II. Evergreen, perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear or Sujata Massey, features a thoughtful, clever heroine trying to make the best of difficult circumstances, which include rampant racism and gender stereotyping. Aki Ito grew up in Southern California, but her family was sent to Manzanar during the war. Now, unable to return to their old home, Aki and her parents find a small place to rent, and are soon joined by her husband, Art. He is one of the young men who were allowed to leave the detainment camps if they proved their loyalty to the United States by fighting on the European front lines.
Aki works as a nurse's aide at the Japanese Hospital when an elderly man named Mr. Watanabe shows up with strange bruises all over his body. Aki suspects elder abuse and is appalled to discover that the man's son is Babe Watanabe, one of her husband's military buddies, who just returned from Europe himself. When Mr. Watanabe is shot to death soon thereafter, Aki can't stay out of it, even if she is putting her own marital happiness at stake. This astute mystery is sure to appeal to lovers of historical fiction and mysteries alike. Delicately exploring the nuances of American attitudes toward Japanese residents and mixing in a surprisingly twisty mystery, Evergreen is a gripping read. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer