Set in Chicago in 1944, Clark and Division is a meticulously researched historical fiction and gripping mystery set against the backdrop of World War II and the incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps. Aki Ito and her parents have been released from Manzanar, an internment camp, where they had been detained since the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. The Itos resettle in Chicago, where Aki’s sister Rose moved months earlier. On the eve of their arrival, Rose is killed by a subway train. The police rule Rose’s death a suicide, but Aki refuses to believe her sister would kill herself and so she delves into Rose’s life in Chicago to learn the truth of her death.
“Searing . . . This is as much a crime novel as it is a family and societal tragedy, filtering one of the cruelest examples of American prejudice through the prism of one young woman determined to assert her independence, whatever the cost.” –Sarah Weinman, The New York Times Book Review
“The treatment of American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II comes to life in this mystery by Hirahara . . . Hirahara does a masterly job of incorporating extensive historical research into an emotionally compelling story. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy high-quality historical fiction with well-drawn characters and an engrossing plot.” –Library Journal, Starred Review
“Crime fiction is at its best when telling a compelling story while also analyzing the shadowy foundations of human nature. Very few writers do that better than Hirahara.” –S.A. Cosby, The Washington Post
“Like a Zen poet, Hirahara creates a quiet surface with a powerful storm beneath.” –William Kent Krueger, New York Times–bestselling author of the Cork O’Connor mysteries