The Little Tokyo Informant

An FBI agent scours LA's criminal underground "in a noirish World War II–era thriller that's rich in atmosphere" by the acclaimed author of Fear Itself ( Kirkus Reviews).   Autumn, 1941. Special Agent Jimmy Nessheim is in Hollywood for two reasons: to consult on a movie being made about the Bureau, and to investigate a suspicious Russian payment to a Japanese bank. Jimmy taps his trusted informant, Billy Osaka, to look into the matter. But when Billy disappears, Jimmy's California vacation turns into a dangerous chase with no time to lose.   His frantic search takes him through the dangerous streets of Little Tokyo and into a risky undercover gambit in Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Little Tokyo Informant is another well-researched historical thriller from "a stirring successor to Frederick Forsyth" ( The Independent).   "Rosenheim is even better this time out at melding interesting leads with a thrilling story line and vivid descriptions of such locales as L.A.'s Little Tokyo." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)   "The ghosts of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler loom large." — Kirkus Reviews