Luzon

Author's Summary

It's 1941, and Riza Manceda, a beautiful American intelligence officer, needs someone to impersonate a Japanese officer for a dangerous mission to her homeland of the Philippines. Her search uncovers the ideal man in Daniel Suhiro, a first generation Nisei with perfect credentials for the job...but maybe not so perfect. The mission is to prevent the Japanese from discovering the Allies have broken their "unbreakable" Purple code. This secret could shorten - or lengthen - the war by years, and is known by an officer captured in Luzon. Riza and Daniel train to either rescue the officer or, if necessary, assassinate him. The compelling story of their harrowing venture meticulously comes to life as the pair becomes drawn closer to each other and then thrown headlong into incredible peril.

MWSA Review

Author Richard Barnes takes readers right into the 1941 era and teaches about the Japanese-American plight during those days, while sharing a compelling story of a mission in the Philippines. Books that teach history through great characters and action are some of my favorites. Barnes does just that…an American officer, captured in Luzon, knows that the Allies have broken a Japanese code, which could have a major impact on the war, if discovered. The mission is to rescue the officer, if possible, or the extreme solution would be to assassinate him.

Daniel Suhiro, a Nisei (a person of Japanese descent, born and educated in the United States or Canada) has to deal with the fact that his family is taken to an internment camp. Daniel has accomplished earning a master’s degree in economics in Japan and is heading back to his home in the U.S.A. He had received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Now he would like to go to law school. Once enrolled in law school, he is approached and asked to help the army, which needs soldiers who can read, write, and understand spoken Japanese. He also is approached to be a “spy” of sorts. What does Daniel end up deciding to do?

Riza Manceda, an American intelligence officer receives a letter stating that she has been recommended for a position for a new U.S. government agency. She was selected to be part of the R&A (Research & Analysis). How does this get her involved with Daniel Suhiro? What is going to happen to her family in Manila? Author Barnes does a great job of bringing these two characters into a life of adventure and romance.

Then the bombs hit Hawaii and Manila. Japan attacked the United States. Now what was to happen to the Japanese people living within the U.S.? Who should be trusted? Who would be pulling the strings to make things happen? Who are acting as spies on both sides? All of this brings the tension into the story.

Luzon is a book full of history, adventure, mystery, and romance. It will appeal to a wide audience of readers. I found myself wanting to get back to the book…hoping for more reading time so I could see what was going to happen next. Congratulations, Richard Barnes, on a job well done on your novel, Luzon.

Reviewed by: Joyce M. Gilmour (2013)