America has broken Japan’s “Purple” code, and a captured US Navy officer knows the secret. Someone has to make sure the Japanese don’t get it from him, even if he has to kill him.
It’s 1941, and Riza Manceda, a beautiful American intelligence officer, needs someone to impersonate a Japanese officer for a dangerous mission to her homeland of the Philippines. Her search uncovers the ideal man in Daniel Suhiro, a first generation Nisei with perfect credentials for the job…but maybe not so perfect.
The mission is to prevent the Japanese from discovering the Allies have broken their “unbreakable” Purple code. This secret could shorten – or lengthen – the war by years, and is known by an officer captured in Luzon. Riza and Daniel train to either rescue the officer or, if necessary, assassinate him.
The compelling story of their harrowing venture meticulously comes to life as the pair becomes drawn closer to each other and then thrown headlong into incredible peril.
Excerpt
Daniel could see the luminous hands of his watch--almost on the hour. Emilio and Vicente were expert at keeping the boat stable in the worsening sea, the rest of them holding to the gunnels. He’d been signaling out to sea every sixty seconds, as close as he could guess, and again removed the flashlight from where he’d tucked it in his life vest. This time he left the light on longer, waving it right to left.
“I saw something reflected by the light!” Vicente shouted.
“I did too. I think it’s the sub’s periscope!” Emilio said.
They began to paddle hard to the east.
They’d gone a short distance when a blinding light caught and held them for an instant. Then, it was gone, but now they could hear the sound of an engine revving to high speed.
Daniel thought first of their charge. “Major! Over the side!”
“What?”
“He’s right! You have to hide!” Riza shrilled.
They literally picked the man up and dumped him in the sea.
Now, twin spotlights came on, and stayed on, bearing down from high above.
“Don’t resist. They have us!” Emilio called.
Hoping to conceal Scott’s bobbing head in the waves, Daniel stood up, the flashlight still in his hand. He didn’t see the muzzle flash in the glare of the spotlights, but the bullet felt like a sledge hammer, as it knocked him backwards into the boiling sea.
Professional Reviews
Masterful Stuff
Richard Whitten Barnes’ latest work Luzon does exactly that. I opened it the evening I received it and from the opening page I was hooked. I couldn’t escape. At 2 a.m. I took it to bed, finishing it in time for a late breakfast. It is real history with characters still alive enough to hold you spellbound. Was it really them and not me trapped in the Philippines, forced into that fateful march?
A must read even if not an addict for high adventure and heart-fluttering tension, fatal exhaustion seeming the only foreseeable release. Masterful stuff!
Kevin Mitchell, Adventure Reviews
Something for Every Reader
Richard Barnes has written a World War II novel mindful of W.E.B. Griffin. Luzon has something for every reader--history, social issues, romance, suspense, and intrigue. Tightly written, it focuses on the story of a Japanese-American student-turned-soldier and the woman from Luzon who turns to espionage and needs his help. Luzon is a page-turner and enjoyable read.
~EPIC award winning author Cheryl Norman
