Description

‘An epic, devastating, majestic mystery. Clever, richly imagined and outright thrilling’ Chris Whitaker

Berkeley, California 1944: A former presidential candidate is assassinated in one of the rooms at the opulent Claremont Hotel. A rich industrialist, Walter Wilkinson could have been targeted by any number of adversaries. But Detective Al Sullivan’s investigation brings up the spectre of another tragedy at the Claremont ten years earlier: the death of seven-year-old Iris Stafford, a member of the wealthy and influential Bainbridge family. Some say she haunts the Claremont still.

The many threads of the case keep leading Sullivan back to the three remaining Bainbridge heiresses, now adults: Iris’s sister, Isabella, and her cousins Cassie and Nicole. Determined not to let anything distract him from the truth – not the powerful influence of Bainbridges’ grandmother, or the political aspirations of Berkeley’s district attorney, or the interest of Chinese first lady Madame Chiang Kai-Shek – Sullivan follows his investigation to its devastating conclusion.

Chua’s page-turning debut brings to life a historical era rife with turbulent social forces and ground-breaking forensic advances, when access to power, and therefore justice, hinged on gender, race and class.

‘Riveting’ Daily Mail
‘Intriguing’ Sunday Times
‘Vividly intoxicating’ Janice Hallett

Publisher Review

Historical detective noir at its best. A vividly intoxicating story weaves the political landscape of post-war California together with the mystery and humanity of a notoriously tragic upper class family. A multi-layered read with something to say. Intelligent, surprising and satisfying. I can't believe this is a debut! -- Janice Hallett An epic, devastating, majestic mystery. The Golden Gate is clever, richly imagined and outright thrilling. -- Chris Whitaker All the elements I love in a mystery: A tough-guy homicide detective, an entrancing femme fatale, family secrets, a fabulous building in a beautiful city in a great time period, a touch of Agatha Christie, and a soupcon of Dashiell Hammett. And Amy Chua's terrific writing provides the icing. -- Lisa See A tour de force of a novel. Brilliantly detailed, unflinching and supercharged with colour and character. Bravo -- Elizabeth Buchan A sharp, stylish and fascinating mystery novel that bring to life the grit, glamour and complexity of 1940s America -- Anna Mazzola A richly satisfying historical mystery that draws on its setting for more than mere atmosphere * Publishers Weekly * Satisfyingly twisty, highly educational and lots of fun * Kirkus, starred review * A riveting mystery ... Chua skilfully creates tension * Booklist * A successful, compelling mashup of California history, ghost story, family drama and social commentary * Library Journal * A tough guy with room for gentleness... Detective Al Sullivan and his crew are a joy, introducing us to a Bay Area that is both intimately familiar and surprisingly new. -- Laurie R. King