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Five Decembers cover art

Five Decembers

Written by: James Kestrel
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the 2022 Edgar Award for Best Novel

Nominee for Best Thriller in the 2022 Barry Awards

Hammett Prize 2021 Finalist

December 1941. America teeters on the brink of war, and in Honolulu, Hawaii, police detective Joe McGrady is assigned to investigate a homicide that will change his life forever. The trail of murder he uncovers will lead him across the Pacific, far from home and the woman he loves; and though the U.S. doesn't know it yet, a Japanese fleet is already steaming toward Pearl Harbor. 

This extraordinary novel is so much more than just a gripping crime story—it's a story of survival against all odds, of love and loss and the human cost of war. Spanning the entirety of World War II, Five Decembers is a beautiful, masterful, powerful novel that will live in your memory forever.

Original cover art copyright (c) 2021 by Claudia Carafe, painted for Hard Case Crime
©2022 James Kestrel (P)2022 Podium Audio
Historical International Mystery & Crime 20th Century
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What the critics say

 “War, imprisonment, torture, romance…The novel has an almost operatic symmetry, and Kestrel turns a beautiful phrase.” (The New York Times)
"Read this book for its palpitating story, its perfect emotional and physical detailing and, most of all, for its unforgettable conjuring of a steamy quicksilver world that will be new to almost every reader." (Pico Iyer)

What listeners say about Five Decembers

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Profile Image for RICHARD E

Simply Outstanding !

If you like this sort of historical crime novel, buy it. It is a well written, well narrated book.

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Not my usual genre but it was great!

I thoroughly enjoyed this, not something I’d typically pick but I’m glad I did. The story kept me intrigued, the time period and setting were really interesting to hear about and the narration was great, he kind of reminded me of the unsolved mysteries guy so extra points for that

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