The Door to Bitterness

The fourth Sergeant George Sueño Investigation

Seoul, 1970s: As North Korea menaces and Vietnam burns, US 8th Army CID agent Sergeant George Sueño and his partner, Ernie Bascom, weave through back alleys and bordellos, trying to tip the scales of justice back in the right direction. This time, they’re not just pursuing criminals—they’re chasing themselves. Homicidal thieves have gotten hold of George’s badge and are using it to trick their victims for just long enough to strike—with his gun. The army wants the equipment accounted for, and the ID and weapon recovered. George and Ernie want to salvage their reputation, such as it is—and to stop the cold-blooded killings being committed in their names.Praise for The Door to Bitterness

“Limón’s crisp, clear storytelling opens a door to another world and leaves one hoping the next installment won’t be so long in arriving.”
—The Baltimore Sun 
  
“As good as Limón’s series debut, Jade Lady Burning.”
—The Plain Dealer 
  
“Plot, pacing, and plausibility are just about perfect . . . Limón has a humane outlook that nourishes the spirit.”
—The Philadelphia Inquirer, Editor’s Choice


Praise for the George Sueño and Ernie Bascom series

“Easily the best military mysteries in print today.”
—Lee Child 
 
“Limón, who was stationed in Korea for the Army, writes with empathy for the Korean people as well for the young GIs dropped into a foreign culture.”
—The Boston Globe 
 
“It is not often that so impressive a debut as Jade Lady Burning appears . . . Compassionately written, searing in its intensity. Without ever trying to be ‘literary,’ this novel achieves the stature of literature.”
—The New York Times Book Review
 
“[Limón] vividly contrasts adventures in the seamy side of Seoul’s nightlife with a sensitive appreciation for Korea’s ancient culture.”
—The Seattle Times
 
“This series is a must not only for procedural fans, but also for anyone who enjoys crime fiction set in distinctive international locales.”
—Booklist, Starred Review
 
“Excellent . . . A vivid view of Asia, from the Demilitarized Zone to the Yellow Sea, and an insightful look at the era.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
 
“[The Ville Rat’s] searing portrait of the sins of our recent past bids fair to transcend the genre.” 
—Kirkus Reviews

Martin Limón retired from military service after twenty years in the US Army, including ten years in Korea. He is the author of ten books in the Sueño and Bascom series, including Jade Lady Burning, The Iron Sickle, The Ville Rat, and Ping-Pong Heart. He lives near Seattle.