I never knew we had so many new titles by Filipino authors - much less crime fiction titles. Then I read this article by F. Sionil Jose in The Philippine Star and now I'm seriously considering his recommended titles - they sounded very interesting! I know we should never judge a book by its cover but look at it and tell me it's not very provocative
Blue Angel, White Shadow
by Charlson Ong
From Goodreads: Twenty-five year old lounge singer Laurice Saldiaga is found dead in her room at the Blue Angel Cafe and Bar in Binondo, Manila's Chinatown. Inspector Cyrus Ledesma, a Chinese mestizo cop with a dark past is assigned to investigate the matter. The bar owner, Antonio Cobianco, is a known associate of Mayor Lagdameo Go-Lopez. Ledesma walks into a cauldron of intrigues, labyrinths, crumbling edifices, dogfights and suspects that include a jaded whiskey drinking female bar manager, a psychic journalis, a dyslexic piano player, a quick trigger pit bull owner, an aging saxophone player and Cyrus' own uncle, Police Chief Ruben Jacinto.
At War's End
by Rony V. Diaz
A rich man is murdered. Why? Diaz’s novel, published by The Times book division, is the first of a trilogy that throws light on the history of post-World War II Philippines through the lives of flesh-and-blood characters and families.