36 Streets

Napper debuts with a gripping near-future cyberthriller involving gangsters, an addictive video game, and a plot to alter the memories of an entire nation. Born in Vietnam and later adopted and raised in Australia, 24-year-old Lin Thi Vu has never felt like she fit in. Now back in Vietnam, her determination and skill earn her the attention of crime boss Bao Nguyen, but even as a gangster in the grimy underworld of the 36 Streets in Chinese-controlled Hanoi, Lin feels like an outsider. Part employer, part mentor, Bao teaches Lin the skills she’ll need to eventually run a gang herself. His latest assignment for her is to take a job as a PI for an English businessman investigating the murder of the programmer behind Fat Victory, an addictive virtual reality game that turns the U.S.-Vietnam war inside out. When her investigation stirs up far more trouble than she bargained for, she and Bao get caught between warring local gangs and an international battle to control a mind-breaking technology. Napper drives the brisk plot forward with plenty of action and intrigue. Cyberpunk fans will find much to enjoy in the noir tone, unique setting, and high stakes. (Jan.)