More than a decade earlier, another scandal at the Claremont Hotel was the talk of the town. This scandal involved the death of a seven year old child from the renowned Bainbridge family, whose wealth and status were at the peak of San Francisco society. While investigating the current case of Wilkinson, Detective Sullivan finds clues at the crime scene that harken back to the Bainbridge incident, linking the cases back to the surviving heiresses of the family.
After Wilkinson’s death, another murder occurs that has Sullivan perplexed as to how these events could be tied together and how they may impact the United States national security in the future. The triangle of evidence grows even more complex when Sullivan discovers an extremely close relationship between Wilkinson and the first lady of China, who has taken up residence in the area just blocks away from the crime scene. Red herrings abound with Sullivan confident that the case is solved and then being thrown a curveball that makes him question everything he has investigated. After Sullivan gets a second break in the case all the pieces start to come together yet again or is this another false lead?
Chua takes multiple storylines and weaves an extraordinary plot together that addresses the uncertainties of the time, the difference in social classes and a series of crimes that shocked the community. I cannot remember another book with such a unique plotline as The Golden Gate. As in most historical fiction, it perfectly captures the history, struggles and realism of the era. I particularly enjoyed the historical context and the internal struggles of Homicide Detective Al Sullivan, who tries to come to terms with his childhood while trying to navigate his future. The Golden Gate also provides a fascinating glimpse at the United States immediately following World War II. This is Chua’s first fiction novel and I am hopeful that The Golden Gate is the first of many by this author!