Rating: 
Summary: If you were there, you believe it all!
Review: Having spent 4 tours in Korea, including one during the exact time Slicky Boys is to have occurred, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although he portrays CID agents in a much kinder light than I seem to remember them, the characters and the English-Korean interaction are extremely accurate. Can't wait for the next one. I felt like I was "back home".
Rating: 
Summary: Sueno and Bascomb in a made for TV movie
Review: If "Jade Lady Burning" was a film noir, then this one is the made for TV movie. While Limon's first novel was really quite cerebral and the action required only minimal suspension of disbelief, this one involves too many "perils of Pauline" scenes which detract from the plot's plausibility. Nevertheless, it is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Sueno and Bascomb in a made for TV movie
Review: If "Jade Lady Burning" was a film noir, then this one is the made for TV movie. While Limon's first novel was really quite cerebral and the action required only minimal suspension of disbelief, this one involves too many "perils of Pauline" scenes which detract from the plot's plausibility. Nevertheless, it is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Sueno and Bascomb in a made for TV movie
Review: If "Jade Lady Burning" was a film noir, then this one is the made for TV movie. While Limon's first novel was really quite cerebral and the action required only minimal suspension of disbelief, this one involves too many "perils of Pauline" scenes which detract from the plot's plausibility. Nevertheless, it is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: exhilarating Cold War military crime thriller
Review: In 1975, U.S. Army criminal investigation division agents Corporal George Sueno and Sergeant Ernie Bascom enjoy their duty assignment in Seoul, South Korean as they officially can make the rounds of the bars and whore joints catering to the Yanks. While doing their usual tour, a hooker Eun-hi informs "Geogie" that a virtuous woman wants to talk with him; if interested he is to go to the Kayagum Teahouse. Ernie persuades George to see what the woman wants. Miss Ku pays the duo to deliver a note to British soldier Cecil Whitcomb. Not long afterward, they learn that someone murdered Cecil at the rendezvous point provided in the note they personally hand carried to him.
Miffed for being played the suckers, East LA George and Detroit Ernie bully their way into the investigation because they have a score to settle. They quickly realize they need special local help, but not from the MPs or the Korean police. Instead they make contact with the underworld mob chief The Herbalist So head of the SLICKY BOYS. Working in tandem they begin to find more than they expected as an American military deserter apparently is killing anyone who interferes with his lucrative selling of military secrets to the Communist North.
This is an exhilarating Cold War military crime thriller that grips readers from the moment the dynamic twosome meet Eun-hi and see some easy money. The story line never lets up as the embarrassed George and humiliated Ernie make it their business to avenge the affront of being used. They make the tale as they provide readers with a fabulous joy ride through the underbelly of 1970s Seoul, catering to the young Americans.
Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A TERRIFIC read!
Review: Interesting characters. New geographical setting. Interesting plot. I couldn't put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe I'm Biased...
Review: Maybe I am biased, but I loved this book. The first one was great too. Having spent 2 years as a U.S.Army Korean Linguist, I quickly identified with a the book and the characters. Limon's use of GI terminology is still right on after all these years. Some of my best times were spent "running the ville" or drinking it up in Itaewon. Limon presents the immature behavior of young GIs in korea with a sense of poignancy and senitment. Limon's portrayal of the characters in this book are as grey as they seemed in Korea. Good people doing not-so-good things. The GIs are partly to blame, and so are the Koreans, and this seems to be an issue that is never really dealt with by the brass over there. Limon tackles this issue in a non-judgemental way and tells things the way they are. It is a retrospective but unapologetic look at the way things are. The overall feeling is that Limon is simply regurgitating everything that he saw in the form of an entertaining mystery. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody with fond memories of Korea. Without sounding to much like a romantic, I would even recommend this book to GIs currently lost in Korea. Like a pat on the back, Limon reminds us that maybe it's not as bad as it seems after all. Kick back and have a little fun while you are there. Learn a little bit about the culture, language, people etc...
Rating:
Summary: Maybe I'm Biased...
Review: Maybe I am biased, but I loved this book. The first one was great too. Having spent 2 years as a U.S.Army Korean Linguist, I quickly identified with a the book and the characters. Limon's use of GI terminology is still right on after all these years. Some of my best times were spent "running the ville" or drinking it up in Itaewon. Limon presents the immature behavior of young GIs in korea with a sense of poignancy and senitment. Limon's portrayal of the characters in this book are as grey as they seemed in Korea. Good people doing not-so-good things. The GIs are partly to blame, and so are the Koreans, and this seems to be an issue that is never really dealt with by the brass over there. Limon tackles this issue in a non-judgemental way and tells things the way they are. It is a retrospective but unapologetic look at the way things are. The overall feeling is that Limon is simply regurgitating everything that he saw in the form of an entertaining mystery. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody with fond memories of Korea. Without sounding to much like a romantic, I would even recommend this book to GIs currently lost in Korea. Like a pat on the back, Limon reminds us that maybe it's not as bad as it seems after all. Kick back and have a little fun while you are there. Learn a little bit about the culture, language, people etc...
Rating:
Summary: I was surprised...
Review: One of the more original books that I have read lately, it is nice to have characters that are not sugar-coated. Recommend
Rating: 
Summary: It moves along but seem flat at times.
Review: Plot was interesting, and author knows Korea, but too many dull sections
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