Sam Spade meets Big Trouble in Little China by way of Tokyo. A private investigator hired to find a hooker finds himself tied in with her murder, that of his client, and a conspiracy that goes way beyond anything he could've expected. A fun read, some TV and movie references from the PI who is a has-been teen sitcoms star, interesting characters, and a villain you can't to see get his. Excellent, off-beat read. ( )

Bizarre mix of Japanese mythology -- demon lord, tengu, kappa, etc. and very low-life modern LA -- Chandler meets Shuten Doji. Plus Jack the Ripper...