Identifying the perpetrator should be easy as an American passenger on the train claims that the man seated next to him was mumbling about setting things right. The mumbling man was also an English speaking foreigner. Since the vast majority of foreigners are American military personnel whose movements are carefully monitored, it should be possible for Sueno and Bascom to narrow the suspect list quickly.

The Korean government, as well as the local populace, is incensed that a foreigner should commit such a heinous act. They demand swift action on the part of the US Army. Since Sueno can speak Korean and has had some previous experience in working with the Korean police, he and his partner are assigned to the case. Their contact on the Korean side is an investigator known as Mr. Kill because his Korean name sounds like the English word kill.

Coordinating their efforts is difficult despite Sueno's knowledge of Korean language and customs and another tragedy, this one involving the death of a Korean woman, occurs before much progress can be made. Compounding the difficulty of this at first seemingly simple case is the fact that Sueno and Bascom are simultaneously assigned to play bodyguards to a USO sponsored tour of an all female country and western band. Bascom, quite the ladies’ man, is taken with the band's lead singer which threatens to make matters worse. Only the connection between Sueno and Mr. Kill seems to offer the promise of forward progress in the case.

While the puzzle elements of this mystery are rather thin, this tale distinguishes itself by providing an authoritative look at Korean customs and habits. It is informative to note the similarities and differences among Korean culture and other Asian countries. The author also points out the popular Korean viewpoint toward other Asians. For example the Koreans are still not on good terms with Japan, as indicated by their insistence that the body of water which is called the Sea of Japan by the rest of the world is known in Korea as the Eastern Sea as they don't want to acknowledge that anything as important as a body of water "belongs" to the country that occupied them for thirty five years.

What is especially interesting is the contrast between Sueno and other foreigners in their contacts with the Koreans. Sueno is much more successful because he not only understands their language but also their manners and customs. While Westerners defer to youth, Koreans revere their elders. Whereas Westerners may resort to the use of firearms to settle their differences, Koreans use knives or martial arts.

Because the novel is set in the nineteen seventies, there is much less emphasis on technology. The solution to the mystery becomes much more cerebral. Medical tests and triangulations based on satellite transmission are not yet available so the investigators must rely on careful interview techniques and their own intelligence. These limitations provide a refreshing take on the world of crime.

--Andy Plonka