Review: "An Historical Mystery That Is Well Worth the Time To Solve"
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2013
If one likes a mystery and historical fiction, this is the book for you. M. H Sargent's "Toward Night's End" is a well written mystery, with likable characters, an historically engaging story line, and well developed setting and local color. "Toward Night's End" is a complex story of murder, sedition and the internment of the more than 250 Japanese-Americans living on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, in 1942. The greed, fear, prejudice of the government ordered internment of the Japanese-Americans is revealed through the characterization, and especially as we follow the Kobata family's trials. However, the book is not really about that; "Toward Night's End" is a murder mystery. It is a complex mystery that keeps you guessing as Sargent gives the reader piece after piece of puzzle without revealing too much until we get to the end. Thus, if you enjoy historical fiction and a good mystery, I strongly recommend this book to you.The story takes place in 1942 during the relocation and internment of the more than 250 Japanese-Americans living on Bainbridge Island.  The American Army lead relocation goes quite smoothly, until the Army discovers that one "Jap" is missing (therefore, he must be a spy). 21-year old Matthew Kobata, a fisherman, did not show up for the ferry. During their search for him, two murdered, Caucasian men are discovered on the island. Seattle detective Elroy Johnstone investigates the murders, and evidence begins to mount against Matthew. Pressure builds as this murderer -  this spy -  must be caught; meanwhile, time is passing - moment by moment - approaching the novels' climactic event "Toward Night's End."The title "Toward Night's End" holds multiple meanings, but I will leave that for each person to interpret.  The plot was developed around the historical Japanese-American internment, which does become a sub-plot of the story. From this situation, fear and prejudice surfaces from both groups, which Sargent develops a moralistic theme for us to consider. The characters are well developed, and we care about them.  Matthew, the protagonist, Johnstone, the Seattle police detective, and the Kobata family were especially well developed, and one could not help but become concerned about them as the story progressed.  A well written book, and I will look for more books by this author.