Kisaeng

Manny Decker #2

by Marc Olden

In Kisaeng, Marc Olden has created one of the most chilling villains in recent memory: Park Song, on the surface an urbane, charming Korean multi-millionaire who is, in reality, the world's foremost counterfeiter of U.S. currency. But his secrets go deeper. At his core he is a perverse killer-deviant, obsessed with the search for the perfect woman. He collects beautiful untouched women to act as his kisaeng (Korean for "recreational creature"), and when his pleasures have been sated he disposes of them quickly, brutally.

NYPD homicide detective Manny Decker is investigating the murder of two undercover cops when the daughter of the woman he loves suddenly disappears. He discovers she had been kidnapped by white-slavers on behalf of Song, who has settled on her as his next kisaeng. The search for the young girl leads Decker from New York to Korea, following a trail of dark eroticism and violence with, he is surprised to find, ties to his own past in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Marc Olden (1933–2003) was the author of forty mystery and suspense novels. Born in Baltimore, he began writing while working in New York as a Broadway publicist. His first book, Angela Davis (1973), was a nonfiction study of the controversial Black Panther. In 1973 he also published Narc, under the name Robert Hawke, beginning a hard-boiled nine-book series about a federal narcotics agent.

A year later, Black Samurai introduced Robert Sand, a martial arts expert who becomes the first non-Japanese student of a samurai master. Based on Olden’s own interest in martial arts, which led him to the advanced ranks of karate and aikido, the novel spawned a successful eight-book series. Olden continued writing for the next three decades, often drawing on his fascination with Japanese culture and history.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Bennet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually refrain from giving single stars since I rather dnf the book and not contribute anything negative. But this one rubbed me the wrong way in the sense that it was offensive to other cultures and two of the villains were gay.

Apart from that I did not like the storytelling. There was some good in it but overall I will not recommend, even if you are looking for a retro multinational thriller.

[The Bookworm Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Marc Olden's work! I had to do a lot of research to try and find out what happened to him as I know he died. There's very little about him and his background that I can find outside of the author info in the books.
But this particular book and his other one ONI I must of read a thousand times!

[Christopher Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Asian underworld cult classic, in the company of other master works like; Shan, Shibumi, and Satori.

I really enjoyed my introduction to Olsen's character Manny Decker in Giri, but Kisaeng is probably an even better novel again. Next level.

[Paul Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun thriller. Not something I would typically read, but it was left at my house and it looked interesting.
A bit too many coincidences to be believable, but not a terrible book either.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was better the first time...lo those many years ago!

[Tanvir Muntasim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old school xenophobic thriller.

[Gregory Olivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is his best work in my opinion. The characters are so interesting and different.

[Ridhwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind Blowing...