Amy Chua

Hard-boiled and cynical detective intermingles with both the rich and powerful elite of Nob Hill, along with the people on the fringes of society in 1940s San Francisco. If this sounds like a story written by Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett, you wouldn’t be surprised. If I told you that this is the first novel by Amy Chua of the Tiger Mom fame, you might be shocked! Chua has written a literate, historical mystery with fascinating facts about the San Francisco locale (the Port Chicago disaster is particularly horrifying and mind-boggling). Besides having written one heck of an intriguing murder mystery, she deftly interweaves social issues seamlessly into the narrative. The richly drawn characters encounter various forms of class struggles, prejudice, racial injustice, child labor abuses.

The novel focuses on Al Sullivan, a Berkeley homicide detective, who has the unenviable task of solving a complex murder case involving a presidential candidate who has been killed at the luxurious Claremont Hotel. The victim, Walter Wilkinson, had many enemies with multitudinous reasons for desiring his demise. Meanwhile, another misfortune that occurred ten years earlier at the Claremont involving the death of a seven-year-old member of the mega wealthy Bainbridge family might have implications in the murder investigation.

The author has created characters that are complex, fascinating, and develop beautifully as the story progresses. Detective Sullivan has various weaknesses and preconceptions, but overall he’s decent and adheres to certain morals. The other characters are very captivating, such as the Bainbridge family, Sullivan’s niece, and the various suspects who populate the story.

This is an excellent mystery with numerous twists and turns that aren’t far-fetched yet provide for an enjoyable roller coaster ride. The conclusion is satisfying and wraps up most things nicely while still leaving food for thought. Golden Gate is a golden novel and has become my favorite book of 2023.… (més)

A former presidential candidate is murdered in one of Berkeley's best hotels and Detective Sullivan is asked to head up the investigation. The suspects are three rich cousins, all associated with another tragedy at the hotel. However there is also politics at play, the US is at war with the Japanese and the wife of the Chinese leader is involved. Trying to balance the differing parties whilst solving a crime where no-one tells the truth pushes Sullivan to his limits. in addition he is carrying his own baggage.
I liked the sound of the blurb for this book and didn't realise it was by the non-fiction writer and 'tiger mother' Amy Chua. If I had known this I may not have picked up the book but I'm glad I did. The scope is huge, covering race, the war, the supernatural, insanity and revenge but it really works and I ended up loving the complex story and the cast of characters.… (més)

In 1940s San Francisco, former presidential candidate Walter Wilkinson is found murdered in his room at the Claremont Hotel. Eyewitness accounts are indicative of a woman’s presence in his room before the murder. Three young women from an affluent and well-connected family - Nicole and Cassie Bainbridge and their cousin Isabella Stafford - are among the suspects. In 1930 Isabella’s sister Iris, seven years old at the time, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the same hotel. Coincidence, or is the recent murder somehow connected to the family tragedy?

Detective Al Sullivan of Berkeley P.D., who is half Mexican but passes for white – a fact that helped him secure his position, is tasked with the investigation. A deep dive into Wilkinson’s life reveals his personal connections to key political figures, affluent families, including the Bainbridge family, as well as some shady dealings. Who killed Walter Wilkinson and why? Political rivalry or personal grudges?

Combining elements of historical fiction, family drama and classic detective fiction, The Golden Gate by Amy Chua is a skillfully crafted novel with well-thought-out characters (a combination of fictional as well as those based on real people) and meticulously researched and vividly described historical backdrop of WWII era America/ 1940s California- the politics, the socio-economic divide, the racism and class distinction and much more. The 1940s timeline is shared from the perspective of Detective Sullivan with the deposition of the girls’ grandmother, Genevieve Bainbridge as she is questioned about her granddaughters’ possible involvement in the murder, interspersed throughout the narrative along with past events from multiple timelines. The pacing is a tad uneven but not so much that detracts from the overall reading experience. The author weaves these multiple threads, characters and timelines into an atmospheric and absorbing narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would not hesitate to recommend it to fans of historical fiction and/or fans of hardboiled detective fiction set in that era.

Do read the Author’s Note wherein she discusses the research that went into crafting this story and the different people and historical events that inspired this novel.

I combined my reading with the audiobook narrated by Robb Moreira, Suzanne Toren, and Tim Campbell, who have done an incredible job of voicing the characters and bringing the story to life.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the digital review copy and the ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.… (més)