The Pearl Harbor Murders

I'm of mixed minds about this whole trend of taking famous real-world people and turning them into murder-solving detectives. From a writer's standpoint, I can see why such an idea would be tempting -- not only do you get a "character" pre-invented, as it were, but you also, as author Max Allan Collins admits to doing in his acknowledgements, can write about people you particularly admire or are interested in. Much the same reasoning applies, I suppose, to readers of these kinds of stories. If you, too, are a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, seeing him and his son investigate a murder might be a very compelling read.Myself, I'm more a student of the Pearl Harbor attack, and I read this mystery in part for the story itself, but mostly to see how the author wove the true-life events of late 1941 into his story. And the answer is, pretty well (of course, he's had some practice at this, having written several other disaster-based murder mysteries as well).The crime-solving part of the story is a fairly standard follow-the-clues/unravel-the-secrets tale, and if it had been set in Dubuque in 1974, I don't think I would have given it more than three stars. But it's the way the tale is woven into the larger historical context of the Pearl Harbor attack (and it's not giving away any plot secrets to say that the attack ends up being part of the story) that's most interesting to me, and the author pulled it off quite well. True-life events, like the Mori "flowers in bloom" radiotelephone message (which may or may not have been in code), or a front-porch meeting between Colonel Kendall Fielder and General Walter Short on the evening of December 6, are drafted into service as part of this story. Author Collins credits his researcher, and lists in his acknowledgements many of the key titles in Pearl Harbor historiography, including the Prange trilogy. I second that commendation, because the factual scaffolding on which this story hangs seems pretty solid to me. Collins also does a nice job with the general "atmospherics" of late-1941 Honolulu.On the whole, the setting and the real-world history involved elevate the workmanlike mystery quite a bit. And if you happen to be a Burroughs fan, so much the better.

Max Allan Collins is a master. He starts with a fragment of history -- the fact that Edgar Rice Burroughs (author of the Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars yarns) was at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, and witnessed the attack -- and blends history and mystery in equal parts to present an ultimately satisfactory dective-styled procedural novel. He styles the book much like Burroughs did his, alternating points of view with each chapter and building to the climax we all see coming. Collins leavens the tale with observations about Burroughs' career, personal and family life, and other tidbits Burroughs fans will find engaging.An excellent novel, well worth the investment of a couple of afternoons in an easy chair.

On December 5, 1941, most Americans living on Hawaii knows that war with Japan is imminent, but they feel the islands are safe from an external attack. Most of the residences are more concerned with the loyalties of the local Japanese-American population, which is a third of the island and are afraid they will sabotage things on the islands.Edgar Rice Burroughs and his adult son Hully enjoy their time together on Oahu. Ed agrees to arrange a meeting between Amerasian singer Pearl Harada and Army Intelligence Chief, Colonel Kendell Fielder. Pearl needs to persuade Kendell that she loves his son and wants his blessing for them to marry. The next morning, a scream awakens Ed who runs outside to see the corpse of Pearl. Unable to resist investigating her death, Ed begins making inquiries. He wonders if one of Pearl's string of ex-lovers killed her, Bill's outraged dad murdered her, or as the evidence begins to mount someone silenced her because she learned something about the event that is to occur the very next day?Max Allan Collins is known for his award winning historical mysteries, especially those starring a famous author during a real life disaster. The current author-driven tale, THE PEARL HARBOR MURDERS, is an absolutely excellent blending of history and fiction into a powerful tale. Mr. Collins paints a picture of the islands just before and during the Japanese air attack while also providing a close look at the legendary writer. One day, a future author will star Mr. Collins solving a mystery while writing one of his fabulous novels for he has earned it with his achievements.Harriet Klausner