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Sergeants Sueño and Bascom #9
The Iron Sickle
When a U.S. Army Claims officer is murdered in grizzly fashion the roustabout duo of George Sueño and Ernie Bascom have to go against orders to track a calculating killer and author Martin Limón proves once again why he is hailed by his peers as one of the greatest military writers of all time.
Early one rainy morning, the head of the 8th United States Army Claims Office in Seoul, South Korea, is brutally murdered by a Korean man in a trench coat with a small iron sickle hidden in his sleeve. The attack is a complete surprise, carefully planned and clinically executed. How did this unidentified Korean civilian get onto the tightly controlled US Army base? And why attack the claims officer—is there an unsettled grudge, a claim of damages that was rejected by the US Army?
Against orders, CID agents George Sueño and Ernie Bascom start to investigate. Somehow, no one they speak to has been interviewed yet. The 8th Army isn't great at solving cases, but they aren't usually this bad, either. George and Ernie begin to suspect that someone doesn’t want the case solved.
From the Hardcover edition.
Early one rainy morning, the head of the 8th United States Army Claims Office in Seoul, South Korea, is brutally murdered by a Korean man in a trench coat with a small iron sickle hidden in his sleeve. The attack is a complete surprise, carefully planned and clinically executed. How did this unidentified Korean civilian get onto the tightly controlled US Army base? And why attack the claims officer—is there an unsettled grudge, a claim of damages that was rejected by the US Army?
Against orders, CID agents George Sueño and Ernie Bascom start to investigate. Somehow, no one they speak to has been interviewed yet. The 8th Army isn't great at solving cases, but they aren't usually this bad, either. George and Ernie begin to suspect that someone doesn’t want the case solved.
From the Hardcover edition.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
184 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Martin Limón
46 books96 followersMartin Limon retired from U.S. military service after 20 years in the Army, including a total of ten years in Korea. He and his wife live in Seattle. He is the author of Jade Lady Burning, which was a New York Times Notable Book, Slicky Boys and Buddha's Money.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 6, 2016
This is the ninth entry in Martin Limon's excellent series featuring U. S. Army CID agents, George Sueno and Ernie Bascom. The series is set in the Korea of the 1970s, and the crimes that the two investigate often involve both U.S. Army personnel and Korean citizens. In consequence, Sueno and Bascom often find themselves locking horns with both the South Korean military and civilian authorities and with their own superior officers.
Such is the case here when a Korean man bluffs his way onto a U.S. base in Seoul and, using a small iron sickle that he has concealed beneath his coat, viciously murders the officer who is in charge of the 8th United States Army Claims Office. The office handles claims for damages done to South Korean citizens and their property by the U.S. Army. These claims run the gamut from the relatively small, say in the case of a farmer's field damaged by Army maneuvers, to the relatively large, say in the case of a Korean who is injured or killed being run over by an Army jeep.
The logical assumption would be that the killer might be someone who was disgruntled by the rejection of a claim against the Army. But both the U.S. and South Korean authorities do not appear at all anxious to dig very deeply into the case for fear that it might damage relations between the two countries. This is often an overriding consideration while things like truth and justice are deemed to be less important. Accordingly, those in command, both in the Army and in South Korea, insist that the attacker must be a mentally deranged person or perhaps a North Korean agent attempting to stir up trouble. In either case, the Power That Be would prefer that the killer be found ASAP and preferably killed while resisting arrest.
As usual, Sueno and Bascom refuse to take the easy way out and are not at all opposed to ignoring orders. They're determined to get to the truth of the matter no matter whose feelings might be hurt or whose interests might be damaged. They pursue a number of avenues that other investigators, both American and Korean, are ignoring, and the urgency of the investigation is heightened when the killer strikes again.
The investigation takes Sueno and Bascom out of Seoul and into the South Korean countryside and, as always, the real appeal of these novels lies in Limon's descriptions of the South Korean people, the countryside, and the relations between the Americans and South Koreans. Limon served for twenty years in the Army and was stationed in South Korea for ten of those years, so he knows the setting very well. The tension mounts rapidly as the story proceeds, and the climax is one of Limon's best yet. This is another excellent addition to a wonderful series.
Such is the case here when a Korean man bluffs his way onto a U.S. base in Seoul and, using a small iron sickle that he has concealed beneath his coat, viciously murders the officer who is in charge of the 8th United States Army Claims Office. The office handles claims for damages done to South Korean citizens and their property by the U.S. Army. These claims run the gamut from the relatively small, say in the case of a farmer's field damaged by Army maneuvers, to the relatively large, say in the case of a Korean who is injured or killed being run over by an Army jeep.
The logical assumption would be that the killer might be someone who was disgruntled by the rejection of a claim against the Army. But both the U.S. and South Korean authorities do not appear at all anxious to dig very deeply into the case for fear that it might damage relations between the two countries. This is often an overriding consideration while things like truth and justice are deemed to be less important. Accordingly, those in command, both in the Army and in South Korea, insist that the attacker must be a mentally deranged person or perhaps a North Korean agent attempting to stir up trouble. In either case, the Power That Be would prefer that the killer be found ASAP and preferably killed while resisting arrest.
As usual, Sueno and Bascom refuse to take the easy way out and are not at all opposed to ignoring orders. They're determined to get to the truth of the matter no matter whose feelings might be hurt or whose interests might be damaged. They pursue a number of avenues that other investigators, both American and Korean, are ignoring, and the urgency of the investigation is heightened when the killer strikes again.
The investigation takes Sueno and Bascom out of Seoul and into the South Korean countryside and, as always, the real appeal of these novels lies in Limon's descriptions of the South Korean people, the countryside, and the relations between the Americans and South Koreans. Limon served for twenty years in the Army and was stationed in South Korea for ten of those years, so he knows the setting very well. The tension mounts rapidly as the story proceeds, and the climax is one of Limon's best yet. This is another excellent addition to a wonderful series.
May 22, 2021
A Korean man kills an American Army officer with an iron sickle. Sueno and Bascom investigate, but none of the legal entities involved want anything like the truth. The MP's, the Korean Police and CID decide that the perpetrator is a North Korean agent. Sueno and Bascom have a different theory, and pursue it, against orders. Sueno gets involved with a North Korean double agent and a WAC psychiatrist along the way.
Pretty decent.
Pretty decent.
September 21, 2019
Martin Limón, the author of the Iron Sickle, served 20 years in the army, 10 of which in Korea. His knowledge of the land, customs, food and the interactions between US soldiers and members of the local Korean police, civilians, as well as the Korean military is evident.
This is my first read of the series, and I was somewhat disappointed. Although well written, I struggled to get into the flow of the story and to connect with the characters. CID agents George Sueño and Ernie Bascom investigate the brutal murder of a soldier on a U. S. Army base. The case is mysterious, since the killer was Korean and used an iron sickle (ordinarily used as a farming implement) and managed to get on and off the base undetected. As the case unfolds, others fall prey to the mysterious killer, but the two American CID agents always seem a step or two behind.
Ultimately, this novel seems to be a statement about inevitable tension and clashes between an occupying or foreign military presence and the local civilians whom they are purportedly protecting. Past atrocities can be found in every instance of such situations, and this story evolves into sort of a cautionary tale more than as a murder mystery. Still a well rendered and interesting story, just not what I expected.
This is my first read of the series, and I was somewhat disappointed. Although well written, I struggled to get into the flow of the story and to connect with the characters. CID agents George Sueño and Ernie Bascom investigate the brutal murder of a soldier on a U. S. Army base. The case is mysterious, since the killer was Korean and used an iron sickle (ordinarily used as a farming implement) and managed to get on and off the base undetected. As the case unfolds, others fall prey to the mysterious killer, but the two American CID agents always seem a step or two behind.
Ultimately, this novel seems to be a statement about inevitable tension and clashes between an occupying or foreign military presence and the local civilians whom they are purportedly protecting. Past atrocities can be found in every instance of such situations, and this story evolves into sort of a cautionary tale more than as a murder mystery. Still a well rendered and interesting story, just not what I expected.
August 27, 2015
This is the ninth in a wonderful series of post Korean War crime sergeants--the tenth is due to be published in October. As with all the other books, I loved it. The two sergeants operate out of the box and do what they can to make things right rather than to follow the rules. As usual, there is more to learn about the Korean culture as well as the impact of American soldiers on the Korean people. If you want to read one of the books, I recommend starting with the first one. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
June 24, 2021
finished this a couple days ago 22 june 2021 good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner first from limon. will look for more.
May 22, 2021
This was a good historically set mystery. I had not heard of this series before, and I enjoyed it. Although I did get a bit tired by the description of women in it, I’m going to hope that was to bring the time period to life.
November 5, 2014
You would have thought Limon had run out of topics for this series but he comes up with a very interesting and thrilling plot line revolving around the Korean War and vengeance for war crimes. The wronged have taken to murdering American soldiers to publicize their plight as the Korean government ignores them and claims for damages are stamped classified and filed away with no action. Bascom and Sueno are stuck doing black market patrol until they are asked for by name by Korean authorities to help, which naturally upsets the 8th Army brass. They are always one step behind the murderer as the body count escalates. There is further antagonism between the duo and the MP's, particularly one racist NCO. At times they are fighting their own comrades in arms to get to the truth. Just another great story as they race across Korea from the city to the rural mountains trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
February 20, 2016
Early one rainy morning the head of the US Eighth Army Claims Office in Seoul. S.Korea
is brutally murdered by a Korean man in a trench coat carrying a sickle hidden in his sleeve.
How did this man get on the base and why attack the claims officer. Possibly an unsettled
grudge or an unsettled claim for damages . Against orders CID agents Sergeants George
Sueno and Ernie Bascom start investigating. The Eighth Army isn't that great at solving cases
but they aren't that bad either. George and Ernie continue their search but they begin to
suspect that not everyone wants this case solved. This is book 9 in the Sueno and Bascom
series and as they say different strokes for different folks. I didn't particularly like this book
but someone else might love it. I didn't care for the story and there wasn't a lot of action.
I pushed the rating a little and gave it a 3.
is brutally murdered by a Korean man in a trench coat carrying a sickle hidden in his sleeve.
How did this man get on the base and why attack the claims officer. Possibly an unsettled
grudge or an unsettled claim for damages . Against orders CID agents Sergeants George
Sueno and Ernie Bascom start investigating. The Eighth Army isn't that great at solving cases
but they aren't that bad either. George and Ernie continue their search but they begin to
suspect that not everyone wants this case solved. This is book 9 in the Sueno and Bascom
series and as they say different strokes for different folks. I didn't particularly like this book
but someone else might love it. I didn't care for the story and there wasn't a lot of action.
I pushed the rating a little and gave it a 3.
September 23, 2014
This is my first Sueno and Bascom book and #9 in the series. It started out a little slow but grew on me quickly good military thriller
October 13, 2015
This one was a good example of why these stories are good reads. I have come to find that Limon does kind of rush the ends - not necessarily with 'surprise' suspects but kind of quick wrap ups.
December 11, 2015
characters engaging and enjoyed learning about Korea
January 11, 2021
Set in and around the 8th US Army's compounds in the 70s in South Korea, Limón's series contains both a picture of the US army at the time and of the South Korean society (and the Northern in the previous book). This is the 9th novel in the series - and after the unusual 8th book, it is back to the normal storytelling and places. Or almost normal anyway.
Sueño is back in Seoul after his mission to North Korea in the previous book and with his lover and child gone into hiding, the dynamic duo of Sueño and Bascom is back to their usual behavior - annoying everyone in power and stumbling into embarrassing secrets.
The novel opens with a gruesome death - a Korean man walks into the compound and kills an officer with an iron sickle. Before long everyone in the army and in the Korean police and army seems to be hunting for the men except for our two sergeants - who are told to stay away from the case even if Sueño is the only American investigator who can speak and understand any Korean. That does not last long of course -- they are already digging into it when the police asks for them by name (Mr. Kill, who we met in a previous book, makes the request). And things start getting weirder and weirder. More Americans die by the sickle and it seems like the 3 organizations who supposedly are looking for him have their own agendas - and truth is not on anyone's agenda. Except Sueño and Bascom of course.
And as the story unfolds, the truth, and the reason why noone wants it out, starts emerging. As usual, its root is deep into the Korean war 20 years earlier but even for the standards of the series, it is a disturbing one.
Sueño gets beaten more often than usual, another doctor falls for him and we get to see another side of South Korea in the 70s - the lands away from the big cities and the American army, the mountains which unlike the valleys are almost bereft of people and the way mental illness is treated in the country (it is not a happy story...)
The novel stand on its own - even if some references will be unclear although there is a lot of nuances that may be missed - by now the author skips the long explanations about the girls who sell themselves and the mamasans who keep them - the basics are there but having read the whole series, a single sentence conjures a complete picture based on what one already knows.
Another strong entry in the series. The whole series is recommended - as long as you can handle the gruesomeness. But the South Korea of the 70s, seen from the eyes of the American soldier (both the author's (Limón was there as well) and his character's), is illuminating.
Sueño is back in Seoul after his mission to North Korea in the previous book and with his lover and child gone into hiding, the dynamic duo of Sueño and Bascom is back to their usual behavior - annoying everyone in power and stumbling into embarrassing secrets.
The novel opens with a gruesome death - a Korean man walks into the compound and kills an officer with an iron sickle. Before long everyone in the army and in the Korean police and army seems to be hunting for the men except for our two sergeants - who are told to stay away from the case even if Sueño is the only American investigator who can speak and understand any Korean. That does not last long of course -- they are already digging into it when the police asks for them by name (Mr. Kill, who we met in a previous book, makes the request). And things start getting weirder and weirder. More Americans die by the sickle and it seems like the 3 organizations who supposedly are looking for him have their own agendas - and truth is not on anyone's agenda. Except Sueño and Bascom of course.
And as the story unfolds, the truth, and the reason why noone wants it out, starts emerging. As usual, its root is deep into the Korean war 20 years earlier but even for the standards of the series, it is a disturbing one.
Sueño gets beaten more often than usual, another doctor falls for him and we get to see another side of South Korea in the 70s - the lands away from the big cities and the American army, the mountains which unlike the valleys are almost bereft of people and the way mental illness is treated in the country (it is not a happy story...)
The novel stand on its own - even if some references will be unclear although there is a lot of nuances that may be missed - by now the author skips the long explanations about the girls who sell themselves and the mamasans who keep them - the basics are there but having read the whole series, a single sentence conjures a complete picture based on what one already knows.
Another strong entry in the series. The whole series is recommended - as long as you can handle the gruesomeness. But the South Korea of the 70s, seen from the eyes of the American soldier (both the author's (Limón was there as well) and his character's), is illuminating.
May 20, 2019
A man, and then more people are killed by someone with an iron sickle. Sueno and Bascom works with Mr. Kill to discover the killer.
---------------------------------------------
I'm steadily going through the Sueno and Bascom series. Unfortunately, there are only 14 books plus a book of short stories. I started in the middle, then started reading them somewhat in order. I really like this series because they are easy to read and follow and easy to get into. It's best to read them in order if you are starting new.
The setting is 1970's South Korea and the protagonists are two 8th Army CID detectives. Bascom is a bit like Michael Connelly's Bosch in that he doesn't care for protocol and is more likely to antagonize the people he comes in contact with rather than acting like a normal person and that includes his superiors. Sueno is somewhat the same but more level headed. Both are good CID detectives who don't have time for BS and try to solve the crimes they are tasked to instead of slacking off. Another selling point for them is that they try to relate to the native Koreans as people rather than 2nd class citizens to abuse like some other Americans. Limon does a great job of making the characters real (including the bit parts, the GI's and the Koreans). That's the character study part that I like.
The other good part is the setting. Limon was actually serving in Korea and gives a really good depiction of it from the GI point of view. It's like going back in time with the US Army. Not all of it is good; there's a lot of corruption, poverty, booze and sex, yea, some of it actually reads like The Virgin Soldiers (Leslie Thomas). He makes the country and the people come to life.
The army police procedural part is only so-so. There isn't a lot of excitement in the cases. The detectives do their due diligence, do their footwork and solve the crimes. There is mystery but somehow Limon just doesn't get a lot of excitement across. The interest I get from reading the books is from the character development; I care what happens to the people in the story more than I do about the crimes.
That's the basic review. I can't add a lot about this book itself, not that it matters much to me. I find all the stories fairly uniform and as I go through the series I feel like I'm binge watching a TV show - I finish one episode and move along to the next. They are all different stories but in the same format. Overall, I really like the series and highly recommend them.
---------------------------------------------
I'm steadily going through the Sueno and Bascom series. Unfortunately, there are only 14 books plus a book of short stories. I started in the middle, then started reading them somewhat in order. I really like this series because they are easy to read and follow and easy to get into. It's best to read them in order if you are starting new.
The setting is 1970's South Korea and the protagonists are two 8th Army CID detectives. Bascom is a bit like Michael Connelly's Bosch in that he doesn't care for protocol and is more likely to antagonize the people he comes in contact with rather than acting like a normal person and that includes his superiors. Sueno is somewhat the same but more level headed. Both are good CID detectives who don't have time for BS and try to solve the crimes they are tasked to instead of slacking off. Another selling point for them is that they try to relate to the native Koreans as people rather than 2nd class citizens to abuse like some other Americans. Limon does a great job of making the characters real (including the bit parts, the GI's and the Koreans). That's the character study part that I like.
The other good part is the setting. Limon was actually serving in Korea and gives a really good depiction of it from the GI point of view. It's like going back in time with the US Army. Not all of it is good; there's a lot of corruption, poverty, booze and sex, yea, some of it actually reads like The Virgin Soldiers (Leslie Thomas). He makes the country and the people come to life.
The army police procedural part is only so-so. There isn't a lot of excitement in the cases. The detectives do their due diligence, do their footwork and solve the crimes. There is mystery but somehow Limon just doesn't get a lot of excitement across. The interest I get from reading the books is from the character development; I care what happens to the people in the story more than I do about the crimes.
That's the basic review. I can't add a lot about this book itself, not that it matters much to me. I find all the stories fairly uniform and as I go through the series I feel like I'm binge watching a TV show - I finish one episode and move along to the next. They are all different stories but in the same format. Overall, I really like the series and highly recommend them.
August 25, 2018
An enjoyable, fast-paced crime story, set in South Korea in the early 1970's. (One sentence reference to Watergate gives this hint). I didn't enjoy it as much as a previous one I read, though. It seemed to me that the detectives were being led rather than detecting. The story involves a man with the titular iron sickle who is murdering GIs to draw attention to an incident from twenty years before, during the Korean War, when atrocities were committed against the local population and swept under the carpet as they were likely to impair international relations. The 1970's crimes seemed somewhat contrived. I felt the perhaps the story had been created to find a way to put the Korean War incident in perspective, but the revelation of the war crime is left to the criminals, rather than the detectives, and comes out all at once, rather than as a result of meticulous pursuit of clues. So, good, but not as good as it could have been.
September 27, 2017
Finally, a return to normalcy! I was not enamored of either "Mr. Kill" or "The Joy Brigade", but part of the pleasure of rediscovering him (I read "Jade Lady Burning" a while back) is that there are number of books in the series & I have been devouring them like popcorn.
I misplaced my copy during a supermarket run & was in a panic until I was able to retrieve it.
In this one, we have George's sidekick & foil, Ernie Bascomb back, as well as SSgt. Riley & the always-interesting Harvey Strange. The plot is fast-paced and believable. The reason behind the title is, as usual, horrific & frightening.
I misplaced my copy during a supermarket run & was in a panic until I was able to retrieve it.
In this one, we have George's sidekick & foil, Ernie Bascomb back, as well as SSgt. Riley & the always-interesting Harvey Strange. The plot is fast-paced and believable. The reason behind the title is, as usual, horrific & frightening.
Read
March 21, 2022A murder mystery set in the Korean War - years after the dreadful war but the war still goes on as no peace or truce was ever declared or signed.
American soldiers are murdered and the link goes back to atrocities that some troops committed ; the wrongs made more terrible by the dictatorship of the then Korean president - a cruel dictatorship that was propped up by America.
Good plot and do keep alert for the well positioned scene changes at the height of a moment of great suspense. The tension created makes it a page turner.
American soldiers are murdered and the link goes back to atrocities that some troops committed ; the wrongs made more terrible by the dictatorship of the then Korean president - a cruel dictatorship that was propped up by America.
Good plot and do keep alert for the well positioned scene changes at the height of a moment of great suspense. The tension created makes it a page turner.
May 26, 2021
I picked this up as a quick read about a murder case in South Korea during the 70's as a fiction premise. Well, oh my I was hooked into a story that really had the setting spot on. It was a good diversion from the standard fare I'd been reading. During the past year I began stretching myself to read books and authors that I hadn't before. Martin Limon has done a great job of spinning a tale with the setting leaving the reader wanting more. Good Work and Good Read.
May 17, 2023
Another great Sueno and Bascom story. The beginnings of the Korean War was a hell beyond imagining, and this story took us right back to it. And since this book takes place before South Korea became a financial and manufacturing powerhouse, while it was still suffering, much of these terrible beginnings were still relevant. Setting up a complex, convoluted plot which Sueno is able to work through.
June 23, 2021
This is a powerful historical fiction set in South Korea 20 years after the Korean War, centered around the presence of the American army and its interaction with the South Koreans. The time frame of the narrative is present tense, with flashbacks to wartime. Ancient Korean history is laced through the story, giving depth and meaning to the 'present' of the narrative. A great read!
July 26, 2021
A good series about military detectives in Korea during the 1970s. A series of murders are traced back to a war crime during the Korean War. The contemporary backdrop is the politics of Korea and the politics of the USA in Korea. I doubt in real army life Bascom and Sueno could get away with being quite so independent/insubordinate. The conclusion is a bit too melodramatic.
October 13, 2017
A nice mystery set in South Korea in the 1970's. The partners Sueno and Bascom are tracking down a mysterious man killing Americans with an iron sickle. Why is he doing this, and where will he strike next? A fast-moving pace and a satisfying ending.
April 3, 2021
You’re very good read
This is a good book and enjoyable to read. It gives us some insight into the relationship between the Republic of Korea and the United states, particularly in the person of the US Eight Army.
This is a good book and enjoyable to read. It gives us some insight into the relationship between the Republic of Korea and the United states, particularly in the person of the US Eight Army.
April 28, 2021
Interesting style
Liked the book. Was not predictable, afraid the military is as it was portrayed. Found myself craving information from previous books. Perhaps a note or two in a pro log. Do not like it when half the book is spent catching you up. thank you to the author
Liked the book. Was not predictable, afraid the military is as it was portrayed. Found myself craving information from previous books. Perhaps a note or two in a pro log. Do not like it when half the book is spent catching you up. thank you to the author
July 25, 2021
Stumbled upon this on the online library (Libby) in the ‘available now’ section. And, although my first read in this series turns out to be the 9th installment, I really enjoyed it and found it very readable as a stand-alone novel. Now that I’m familiar with these two American servicemen in Korea, I will definitely read more.
March 27, 2021
Thoughtful absorbing action
Really good writing, mixes culture with military action. Holds your attention right to the end. Will read more of this author.
Really good writing, mixes culture with military action. Holds your attention right to the end. Will read more of this author.
April 8, 2021
Good
I liked it.bleah blah blah. And could I say more to get in 17 words. Maybe not need three more
I liked it.bleah blah blah. And could I say more to get in 17 words. Maybe not need three more
April 27, 2021
Started out well enough then like a car going down a muddy road it just kept going slower and slower. I finally got bored and just skipped to the end.
May 13, 2021
This was an OK book. Nothing great. I guess it was a modest introduction to Korean culture. The last 50 ages were predictable and somewhat tedious.
May 23, 2021
Not my normal genre. Lots of facets of Korea that feel authentic. Well written descriptions. Strong characters.
July 19, 2021
Well written, complex story. Refreshing change that the Americans are not all white hat wearing heroes- give the story more realism and makes it more interesting
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews