Naomi Hirahara’s latest novel, “Grave on Grand Avenue,” will be released on April 7 by Penguin Publishing Group.
LAPD bicycle cop — and aspiring homicide detective — Ellie Rush is back on patrol in the newest mystery from the award-winning author of “Murder on Bamboo Lane.”
Ellie stops for a friendly chat with gardener Eduardo Fuentes while patrolling one of L.A.’s premier concert halls. A few minutes later she’s shocked to discover him lying at the bottom of a staircase, clinging to life and whispering something indecipherable.
Nearby, the father of Xu, a Chinese superstar classical musician, claims Fuentes was knocked down while attempting to steal his son’s multimillion-dollar cello — a story Ellie has trouble believing.
Meanwhile Ellie has issues of her own to deal with — like the curious theft of her car, a 1969 Pontiac Skylark. But after the gardener takes his last breath and Xu mysteriously disappears, it’s clear to Ellie she must act quickly before someone else falls silent.
“Readers will want to see more of Ellie, who provides a fresh perspective on LA’s rich ethnic mix,” said Publishers Weekly.
The launch of “Grave on Grand Avenue” will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. Hirahara will be joined by poet Amy Uyematsu, who will read from her new collection of poetry, “The Yellow Door.”
Those wishing to get books signed will be asked to purchase at least one copy of the author’s most recent title from Vroman’s. For more information, call (626) 449-5320 or visit www.vromansbookstore.com.
Hirahara is also the author of the Mas Arai mysteries, including “Strawberry Yellow,” and a book for younger readers, “1001 Cranes.” Born and raised in Pasadena, she received her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and studied at the Inter-University Center for Advanced Japanese Language Studies in Tokyo. She worked as a reporter and editor of The Rafu Shimpo. She has written, edited, and published several nonfiction books, largely about the Japanese American experience. She lives with her husband in Southern California.
For more information on the author, visit http://naomihirahara.com.