Siisters in Crime was founded twenty-five years ago, to support and promote the under-reviewed work of women crime writers.  To celebrate the anniversary, SinC has asked bloggers to post review of books by women authors.  This is the first of my reviews.

I’ll start the Blogging Challenge with the fabulous new Ghost Hero by S. J. Rozan (who is a friend, though I’d love this book even if I’d never met her).  SJ writes a PI series that alternates narrators, between Anglo Bill Smith and Chinese-American Lydia Chin.  This is a Lydia book, and it’s a zinger.

One of the things I admire most about SJ’s writing is her dialogue, scalpel-sharp and always—always—serving multiple purposes: furthering the plot, giving insight into character, throwing in touches of humor, slipping in a few red herrings, and keeping the pace at breakneck speed.  You could teach a writing class out of a Rozan novel, and this one is among her best, weaving together the world of modern Chinese art with the complexities of international politics and a native’s understanding of, and appreciation for, the streets of New York, enlivening the mix with the delicious Unresolved (so far!) Sexual Tension that crackles between Lydia and Bill.

And as I said, humor: Sj writes funny really, really well.  Like the quick throwaway reference to Bill, disguised as a gold-draped Russian gangster, as Lord of the Blings.

There is an excerpt from Ghost Hero, info about Chinese art with a bajillion links on it, and other stuff on SJ’s web page, here.