Paper Son: A Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Novel (Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Mysteries) - Hardcover

has won multiple awards for her fiction, including the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Nero, and Macavity, the Japanese Maltese Falcon, and the Private Eye Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. S. J. was born and raised in the Bronx and now lives in lower Manhattan.

“Outstanding. Lydia and Bill were last seen in 2011's Ghost Hero, but Rozan's intricate plotting and affinity for characterization is seamless, making the reader remember how much we missed spending time with these private detectives. Rozan uses the historical footnote of Chinese grocers as a springboard for a rich, deeply satisfying mystery.”
- Oline Cogdill, Associated Press

“A triumphant return of this sorely missed franchise.”
- Kirkus Reviews

“Stellar. As usual, Rozan is adept at devising a plausible but intricate mystery for her leads. She also presents a nuanced look at the experiences of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. Her superior prose and characterizations will make even newcomers hope for a shorter wait for the next book in the series.”
- Publishers Weekly (starred)

“Rozan’s detective stories have won every prize in the book, so expect mystery lovers to flock to this one.”
- Library Journal

“Once again, S. J. Rozan proves why she is the consummate pro. Not only is Paper Son one hell of a detective book, the story also takes on a hidden gem of Southern culture―Chinese history in the Mississippi Delta. Rozan continues to entertain with this wonderful series by taking us deep into the most unexpected and fascinating worlds. I have no doubt she’s walked these Mississippi backroads.”
- Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of 'The Sinners' and 'Robert B. Parker’s Old Black Magic'

“P. I. Lydia Chin is taken out of her urban comfort zone in New York's Chinatown when her mother informs her that a distant cousin she's never even heard of has been accused of murder and needs help. The catch? Jefferson Tam is a Mississippi Delta native, a place completely alien to Lydia. Fortunately, Bill Smith, her occasional partner, was raised in the south and tags along to act as her translator and cultural guide. The two are soon entangled in complexities of race, family loyalties, and family history. S.J. Rozan writes with verve and humor while avoiding the usual cliches outsiders often succumb to. She even gets the dialect and speech patterns right!”
- Margaret Maron, awardwinning author of the Deborah Knott and Sigrid Harald mystery series

“Rozan’s remote Coahoma County is as atmospheric as her New York City, and the Chinese-American traditions of ‘paper sons’ and their shop-keeping history in the South are craftily revealed in her trademark elegant prose. This new title in an award-winning and critically acclaimed series will be welcomed by fans. And what will they make of the big surprise in the final chapter?”
- Booklist (starred)

“Rozan skillfully weaves this history [of paper sons] into her narrative, adding texture and nuance to what is already a cracking good mystery.”
- BookPage (starred)

“Blood and the blues are cooking down on the Delta in the triumphant return of Lydia Chin and Bill Smith. Rozan’s Paper Son is crawfish pie full of surprises served up by this master of the PI genre.”
- Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of 'What You Break'

“It’s been long since we’ve entered the world of Lydia Chin and Bill Smith, and Paper Son doesn’t disappoint.  But instead of the proverbial mean streets of Manhattan, Lydia and her partner find themselves in the Mississippi Delta, seeking the truth behind the homicide arrest of a distant cousin Lydia never knew she had.  In the course of investigating this possible crime, Lydia Chin uncovers old crimes and family secrets, and the fascinating, little-known tale of Chinese immigrants moving to the Deep South to start a new life. Filled with twists, turns, and sudden surprises, Paper Son is highly recommended.”
- Brendan DuBois, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author