American Poke Rafferty is not a martial arts expert, secret operative or private investigator, but rather a Bangkok-based travel writer who keeps winding up in interesting predicaments. Timothy Hallinan's second novel featuring Rafferty — his first was "A Nail Through the Heart" in 2007 — features intrigues involving Chinese, North Koreans and Americans. This new breed of character for a series is a welcome addition to the thriller fiction set in Asia.
Japan has a rich folklore of weird and scary mythological creatures called yokai. This book presents 46 of them, depicted by illustrator Tatsuya Morino, in a formula that's spooky and cute by turns, in a half-serious writing style as a "manual" that offers helpful advice concerning "Attack," and "Avoiding an Encounter." Its "Reality Check" section then explains the very real anxieties that foster beliefs in supernatural beings. Fun for all ages.