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Jack Liffey #7
Terminal Island
Terminal Island is the latest book from top mystery writer John Shannon. While detective Jack Liffey is convalescing from a collapsed lung from his last case, he is called to his hometown of San Pedro, shipyard to Los Angeles, where an inexplicable string of mysterious accidents have befallen local residents; a child turns up missing, a fishing boat sinks, a life's work is destroyed—and Japanese playing cards with cryptic notes are left at the scenes. At the same time, Jack begins to read snatches from the diary of Joe Ozaki, an enraged Japanese American ex-Green Beret who has vowed to avenge U.S. misdeeds against his father and other Japanese Americans interned during World War II. Eventfully Jack crosses paths with Joe Ozaki, when the Green Beret targets the detective's own father. The showdown between Jack and Ozaki comes to a head on a sealed-off Terminal Island, where escape is difficult and the final outcome anyone's guess.
- GenresMystery
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
John Shannon
80 books17 followersJohn Shannon is a contemporary American author, lately of detective fiction. He began his career with four well-reviewed novels in the 1970s and 1980s, then in 1996 launched the Jack Liffey mystery series. He cites as his literary influences Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene, Robert Stone and Jim Harrison.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 22, 2013
"Terminal Island" is my fifth book by John Shannon. I liked the previous four quite a lot (two four-star ratings and two three-star ones). Alas, I do not like this one. This novel is cooked in a smarmy sauce of utmost Political Correctness. I happen to deeply believe in the idea of equality of all races, but I cannot stand when someone tries to clumsily ram it down my throat. Even the most profound and beautiful ideas get cheapened when they are ineptly promoted. And in this book Mr. Shannon displays ineptness with a capital “I”.
The whole thread that involves Maeve’s (Jack Liffey’s daughter) friendship with Ornetta and with Jack’s father sounds as though it has been taken out of a children's book written to promote diversity. Noble goal, lame approach. The thread of Gloria Ramirez, a native American cop, is also crudely handled.
Furthermore (and this is my private, subjective pet peeve), the whole samurai thing, the honor stuff, the Bushido code are ridiculous. I do not want to waste time on this. As Jack Liffey says himself “it’s part of a world that’s gone”.
On the positive side, what Mr. Shannon delivers in this novel is an uncannily accurate (as usual) portrayal of the L.A. metropolis. This time, it is San Pedro and vicinity, including, of course, Terminal Island.
Also, a great quote about a SWAT team: “the American metaphor: overequipped and underbrained”. And the ending is sort of hilarious, in a rather cruel way.
Two stars.
The whole thread that involves Maeve’s (Jack Liffey’s daughter) friendship with Ornetta and with Jack’s father sounds as though it has been taken out of a children's book written to promote diversity. Noble goal, lame approach. The thread of Gloria Ramirez, a native American cop, is also crudely handled.
Furthermore (and this is my private, subjective pet peeve), the whole samurai thing, the honor stuff, the Bushido code are ridiculous. I do not want to waste time on this. As Jack Liffey says himself “it’s part of a world that’s gone”.
On the positive side, what Mr. Shannon delivers in this novel is an uncannily accurate (as usual) portrayal of the L.A. metropolis. This time, it is San Pedro and vicinity, including, of course, Terminal Island.
Also, a great quote about a SWAT team: “the American metaphor: overequipped and underbrained”. And the ending is sort of hilarious, in a rather cruel way.
Two stars.
February 4, 2011
I love it when I find a "new" author!
Picked up this hardcover book at a library sale on a whim.
Turned out to be far far better than I expected.
Things I learned from this book: Terminal Island is a man-made island on south side of Los Angeles; it is a landfill covering Dead Man's Island and Rattlesnake Island. Terminal refers to shipping. There was a large Japanese fishing population working from the island, prior to World War II; they were all arrested and property confiscated on suspicion of being spies, and that was prior to the infamous internment of Japanese Americans in WWII.
The main antagonist in Terminal Island is a grandson trying to restore the honor of his Japanese ancestors who were interned and abused.
The protagonist is Jack Liffey, a private investigator of missing children.
Very good book.
Picked up this hardcover book at a library sale on a whim.
Turned out to be far far better than I expected.
Things I learned from this book: Terminal Island is a man-made island on south side of Los Angeles; it is a landfill covering Dead Man's Island and Rattlesnake Island. Terminal refers to shipping. There was a large Japanese fishing population working from the island, prior to World War II; they were all arrested and property confiscated on suspicion of being spies, and that was prior to the infamous internment of Japanese Americans in WWII.
The main antagonist in Terminal Island is a grandson trying to restore the honor of his Japanese ancestors who were interned and abused.
The protagonist is Jack Liffey, a private investigator of missing children.
Very good book.
November 28, 2012
Another day another Liffey novel. This has a lot more peedro in it. Cheese burgers on Gaffey and the getto Vons on 12th. Terminal Island history plus Japanese here after Pearl Harbor. Fish harbor and squid fishing. How steep 22nd is and even a mention of Baxter Street in Echo Park. They find Mary Ozaki in the 400 block of 21st street and grandfather Declan lives at Centre and 14th Street. After the swat team leaves Mary's house the trio from Declan house say they heard the noise "2 Bocks away" (page 219) There are some other problems with the geography and driving directions but I enjoyed reading it. Once again there is a mention about gunning the car to drain a four barrel carburetor when shutting it off. (what utter nonsense)
April 13, 2012
As this story takes place in my hometown I found it particularly fun and accurate as to the where and when's that took place here. A fun read and I'll be looking forward forward to more books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews