Echoes of Infamy - (A Bishop & Gallagher Mystery) by Shaina Steinberg (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In late-1940s Los Angeles, former spies Evelyn Bishop and Nick Gallagher dig into shady real estate dealings, murder, and the appalling aftereffects of WWII-era Japanese American internment in this intrigue-filled historical mystery for readers of Allison Montclair, Jacqueline Winspear, Ashley Weaver, and Susan Elia MacNeal.

Now president of her father's company, Bishop Aeronautics, Evelyn is presiding over a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of her factory when she is approached by Billy Takemura, a Japanese American soldier who announces that she's building on stolen land.

Like Evelyn and Nick, Billy is a war hero. He served in the decorated 442nd Nisei company, while most of his family were forcibly interned at Manzanar. Their thriving family restaurant, and the land it occupied, were taken while they were in the camp.

Determined to right this wrong--and concerned about her father's possible involvement in profiteering--Evelyn enlists Nick in her investigation. What starts as a discovery of widespread fraud quickly graduates to murder. Suspects range from an unscrupulous business partner to a bitter widow to Billy's hotheaded brother. It's up to Evelyn and Nick to expose the truth. However, it's not easy when Evelyn is fending off betrayal in her own company and Nick's brutal childhood returns to haunt him.

Nothing is as it seems as secrets threaten to destroy the life they have worked so hard to build . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Shaina Steinberg

"An intelligent and engrossing post WWII mystery with a couple of whip-smart, gutsy PIs who defy death, the odds, and expectations. Once you start this book, I defy you to put it down." --Dianne Freeman, author of the Agatha and Lefty award winning Countess of Harleigh mysteries on Under the Paper Moon

"WWII has ended but treachery lingers in the most unlikely places in this suspenseful mystery featuring a daredevil pair who thrive on danger, adventure, and each other. A fabulous debut!" --Alyssa Maxwell, author of Murder at the Elms on Under the Paper Moon

"A deeply felt and researched look at the period and the city of Los Angeles." --CrimeReads on An Unquiet Peace

"Screenwriter Steinberg's fizzy debut balances quick-witted romance with colorful bursts of two-fisted action...Steinberg's screenwriting experience serves her well in a plot that often feels plucked from a black-and-white rom-com...There's plenty of bounce and bite in the execution. Readers will be eager to see what Steinberg does next." --Publishers Weekly on Under the Paper Moon

"World War II may be over, but its wounds are far from healed...An exciting character-driven combination of mystery, thriller, and love stories, with plenty of twists in all three." --Kirkus Reviews on Under the Paper Moon

"[A] blend of rom-com and thriller with many more narrative surprises. Fans of David Baldacci's Aloysius Archer series should check this out." --Publishers Weekly on An Unquiet Peace

"A fast-moving novel with danger lurking around every corner and a surprising denouement." --Kirkus Reviews on An Unquiet Peace

"The romance, the trail of betrayal, and the critical flashbacks give a cinematic feel to this postwar thriller." --Booklist on Under the Paper Moon

"Steinberg is a masterful storyteller. . . this story is more detective novel than noir, and offers readers a
lightness and sense of hopefulness even during this most unquiet of times." --Historical Novel Society on An Unquiet Peace

"The story has intrigue, plenty of twists, well-developed characters, and a fabulous mystery.
The attention to historical detail immerses the reader in the era, making the story both
engaging and informative." --CrimeSpree on An Unquiet Peace

About the Author

Shaina Steinberg is the author of the Bishop & Gallagher Mysteries, as well as a film and television writer who's worked on Malcolm in the Middle, Everwood, Cold Case, Bionic Woman and Spartacus. Named to the Young and Hungry List in 2013 and the WriteHer List in 2017, she has developed pitches, pilots and features with companies such as Temple Hill, Endgame Entertainment, Fremantle, eOne, Blondie Girl, Josephson Entertainment and Alcon. Most recently, she optioned a feature film to Balcony 9 with shooting scheduled to begin in 2023. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, CA and can be found online at ShainaSteinberg.com.