Mark Rogers (5)

Wes Norgaard is an easy going kind of guy, not out to make the big bucks, content to enjoy life's happiness when it comes. But he is drawn into temptation by the opportunity to buy the car wash he manages down in Koreatown. When other sources for the down payment dry up, Wes, knowing full well that it is an insane thing to do, marries a doomed Korean woman whose relatives give him the money he needs.

Of course, this does not work out very well. Wes tries to make peace between the fighting show more clans and otherwise tries to keep his wife or himself from being murdered.

The clever solution he arrives at is so thoroughly modern that neither the Koreans not I could have guessed. Very fun.

I received a review copy of "Koreatown Blues" by Mark Rogers (Brash) directly from the publisher. show less

This is the story of Wes, a white guy, who lives in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. He has a simple life, working at a car wash by day, and singing in a Korean karaoke club at night. Wes gets the chance to purchase the car wash but needs to come up with the cash quickly. He is soon approached my Mrs. Tam, the owner of the karaoke bar, with an interesting offer. She will pay him $25,000 to marry Soo Jin, a local girl.

Soo Jin is a member of the Nang family. The Nang family has been in a show more generations long feud with the Doko family. The Dokos have sworn to wipe out the Nangs, and do so by making sure that no children are born into the family. Soo Jin is the last of the Nang line, and if she doesn't have children, the family will die out. The Dokos have killed her first 5 husbands already. Wes agrees to marry her and be husband number 6. They hope that because he is white, the Dokos will hesitate to kill him.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The writing style was clear and understandable. The story moved along at a fast pace and was interesting the whole way through. As Wes' life gets more complicated, the story gets more enjoyable. Based on the strength of this book, I am ready to read more from this author.

I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less