Asian Sleuths
The modern meets the traditional in bustling Singapore. (Photo: Kin Pastor)
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By Carol Pouliot
I always enjoy learning about and experiencing a different culture and way of life, and what better than to combine that with reading a good mystery! It was great to “meet” a variety of Asian sleuths—from a young 20-something Singaporean woman to an older, time-tested Chinese-American man in Honolulu—each bringing something unique to the mystery genre. I hope you’ll enjoy these books as much as I did.
1. Masao Masuto
Sleuth – Masao Masuto, Nisei detective, Beverly Hills, California
Author - E. V. Cunningham (Pen name of Howard Fast)
Sergeant Masuto tackles sensitive murder cases with patience, grace, poise, and a shrewdness that is often underestimated by the suspects he investigates. His Zen philosophy allows him to stay grounded and calm when emotions run high. Highly intelligent and valued by his captain, Masao Masuto moves through the rarified Beverly Hills society tactfully, but his devotion to justice always keeps him focused on solving the crime and putting the criminal behind bars.
The Case of the Angry Actress (1967)
The Case of the One-Penny Orange (1977)
The Case of the Russian Diplomat (1978)
The Case of the Poisoned Eclairs (1979)
2. Charlie Chan
Sleuth – Chinese-American Detective Charlie Chan, Honolulu, Hawaii
Author - Earl Derr Biggers
Rex Stout said, “I would put Charlie Chan among the ten best fictional detectives.” The Chinese detective from Honolulu, created by Harvard-educated Earl Derr Biggers, was based on a real Hawaiian detective named Chang Apana. In the novels, Chan is described as a large man, with a large family, and a large repertoire of traditional Chinese sayings. He’s never without a maxim to suit the situation. I enjoyed Charlie Chan Carries On, a round-the-world murder mystery reminiscent of Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the controversy around Caucasian actors playing the character in the movies. An excellent source on this debate is Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yunte Huang.
The House without a Key (1925)
The Chinese Parrot (1926)
Behind that Curtain (1928)
The Black Camel (1929)
A small part of the largest imperial palace in the world: The Forbidden City, Beijing, China (Photo: Carol Pouliot)
3. Lily Wong
Sleuth – Chinese-Norwegian, Modern-day Ninja Lily Wong, Los Angeles, California
Author - Tori Eldridge
Lily Wong, the protagonist and title character of The Ninja Daughter, is a petite, unassuming young woman of Chinese and Norwegian descent. Highly skilled in the martial arts and haunted by what happened to her sister, she’s a crusader with a mission to protect women in trouble. A modern-day Ninja, undaunted, and fearless, Wong will go after anyone regardless of their size or terrifying reputation.
The Ninja Daughter (2019)
The Ninja’s Blade (2020)
The Ninja Betrayed (2021)
4. Mr. Moto
Spy – Mr. Moto, Japan
Author - John P. Marquand
For those who enjoy classic mysteries from the 1920s and 1930s, Mr. Moto may be your cup of tea. A whip-smart member of an aristocratic family, Mr. Moto is a master spy, acting for the Japanese government in the years before World War II. He is quiet and unassuming but has a mind like a steel trap. He is small of stature but well versed in the martial arts and can take down an adversary twice his size. Polite to a fault, he cultivates the impression of being a benign man who can easily fade into the background when, in reality, he is a threat to the enemies of his country.
Your Turn, Mr. Moto (1935)
Thank You, Mr. Moto (1936)
Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937)
Mr. Moto Is So Sorry (1938)
This lantern, surrounded by maple leaves, sits on the grounds of the Rurikoin Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, known for its outstanding autumn foliage. (Photo: Tina deBellegarde)
5. Lydia Chin
Sleuth – Chinese-American Lydia Chin, Private Investigator, New York City, New York
Author - S.J. Rozan
The moment I met her, I liked Lydia Chin. She's a gutsy young woman living in Chinatown, New York City, with her traditional mother. Lydia is a licensed P.I. with the intimate knowledge of her community and culture. Although she’s good at her job, her mother wants Lydia to get married and have children. They have a complex, but loving and interesting, relationship. Lydia's partner in crime and, I hope, future romantic partner is Bill Smith, an older, divorced, white, American man, head over heels with Lydia but patiently playing the long game. They make a terrific duo. I can’t wait to read more in this 16-book series.
China Trade (1994)
Concourse (1995)
Mandarin Plaid (1996)
No Colder Place (1997)
6. Aunty Lee
Sleuth - Aunty Lee, Singapore
Author - Ovidia Yu
Aunty Lee is a wonderfully engaging amateur sleuth. She's feisty, smart, and not afraid to lead the police to what she feels are obvious conclusions. She's warm and caring, and puts everyone at ease. Aunty Lee bases much of her instincts on her expert knowledge of the wonderful food and rich culture of Singapore, and she's almost never wrong. Aunty Lee is something of a modern-day Miss Marple, though a more complex, fuller character who feels like a real person. Aunty Lee is someone I’d love to sit down with and get to know—over a typical Singaporean dinner, of course.
Aunty Lee’s Delights (2013)
Aunty Lee’s Deadly Specials 2014)
Aunty Lee’s Chilled Revenge (2016)
Meddling and Murder (2017)
7. Chen Su-Lin
Sleuth – Chen Su-Lin, Singapore, 1936
Author - Ovidia Yu
Raised by her uncle and powerful, wealthy grandmother in 1936 Singapore, Su-Lin dreams of becoming an investigative reporter. She’s about to enter employment as the housekeeper to the powerful Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy, when the nanny of the acting governor’s daughter is murdered and Su-Lin is sent as her replacement. At the governor’s mansion, Su-Lin shows herself to be intelligent and clever with a talent for managing people. LeFroy befriends her, an action unthought-of between two people of different classes at this time, and soon comes to rely on her skills and knowledge of people. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Su-Lin and Inspector LeFroy.
The Frangipani Tree Mystery (2017)
The Betel Nut Tree Mystery (2018)
The Paper Bark Tree Mystery (2019)
The Mimosa Tree Mystery (2020)