The Golden Gate

This mystery/ procedural by Amy Chua is a very twisty plot fueled by dysfunctional family dynamics in a powerful Berkley dynasty, the Bainbridges. Juicy chunks of Bay Area history are scattered along the way, with particular attention to the racial disparities and discrimination across the decades. The story opens with the "accidental" death of 7-year old Iris Bainbridge Stafford. Her younger sister, Isabella goes speechless for months and remains haunted by her sister. Her mother has a total breakdown resulting in periods of institutionalization. Now move to 1944, when a presidential contender is assassinated in a bizarre, almost ritualistic, way in his hotel room at the famous Claremont. Mixed race detective Al Sullivan of the BPD, who passes for white, is assigned the case. His Mexican father was deported when Al was a child and he became a delinquent until being rescued and becoming  a protege of August Vollmer, the father of forensic science. One of the maids at the hotel swears she saw one of the Bainbridge girls (Isabella, cousins Cassie and Nicole) leaving the hotel room at about the time of the murder. Problem is, she can't tell blond-haired white people apart, so hardly a credible witness. 

Library Journal favorably concludes their review, "The historical mystery debut by Yale Law School professor Chua ...is a successful, compelling mash-up of California history, ghost story, family tale, and social commentary." In the same vein, Booklist praises, "This is a riveting mystery featuring a gifted detective and accidental charmer whose inner conflict about his family's blended heritage offers a timeless perspective on prejudice. In her first novel, Chua skillfully creates tension around Sullivan's complex investigation, tempting red herrings, and thoughtful examination of war-time social divisions."  Publishers Weekly opens their review with "The thrilling fiction debut from Yale law professor Chua ... anchors a mind-bending murder mystery in the social turbulence of 1944 Berkeley, Calif." and  concludes "Chua seeds the novel with fascinating nuggets of California history and real-life figures, including Margaret Chung, the first Chinese woman to become a physician in the United States. The result is a richly satisfying historical mystery that draws on its setting for more than mere atmosphere."