When Kenichi and Haruto Yamada escape from a Japanese internment camp during WWII, an FBI agent is sent to investigate. What unfolds is a story of a family grudge, an unlikely friendship, and a daredevil barnstorming act. I loved the structure of the story that digs into the history of two families and moves forward as the historical present-day investigation works back to meet up with a satisfying resolution to the mystery.

This book follows dare devils Louis and Harry who've decided to join a flying group going around to towns doing air shows. While there the two fall in love with the same girl. As the story progresses we also learn about the history between the two families who have been rivaling for years even though Harry's family isn't totally sure why. When two burned bodies show up the assumption is that it was Harry and his father but the question is who helped them?

This book also spans during the Japanese camps in California during World War II. Conditions weren't great by a long shot and it was a captivating story that span years. It brought you right in with Harry and Louis and wondering how the story would end. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would read it again!

Eagle & Crane by Suzanne Rindell is set during WWII in California. One of the main characters is of Japanese descent. This is the story I expect to read. That story, however, is only one of many in this book and as a result, for me, gets a little lost. For me, this book is about too many stories; it dilutes the impact of any individual one. In fact, by the end, this book seems more a collection of bits and pieces rather than a cohesive whole.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2019/03/eagle-crane.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Eagle and Crane is a mix of history, romance and mystery set in the World War Two era. A must read for fans of historical fiction!

*RECEIVED FROM NETGALLEY

I did not see that ending at all one bit. I did not like Louis in the end only because he wanted everything to go his way and did not see what else was happening around him. I did feel sorry for him in the end to learn what had really happened though I will give him that. I thought that the writing style (it went from back and forth between the past and the present and even in some backstory on certain things). I hiiiiiiighly recommend this book for anyone who has not read it yet.

A somewhat incohesive tale. It's not exactly my cup of tea. I couldn't get my self to like this as much as I wanted to.

I had never read a title by Suzanne Rindell, but I chose this book from Net Galley since I love WWII stories. The novel centers on three main characters: Louis, one of the many children of a poor farmer who carries a grudge against the Japanese family next door; Harry, the son of the Japanese farmers; and Ava, a young girl who is part of an itinerant circus group. When their paths cross, the boys sign on to be part of an air circus, doing stunts in the sky. However, as WWII reaches the US, Harry’s family is sent to an internment camp and forever changed, while Louis must struggle with his family’s long-held feud, and Ava must decide where her love lies.

I really enjoyed this story and particularly liked the characters. It’s always fun to read about California, where I grew up, and in one scene they visit the Napa Valley (yeah!). I would love to see this novel made into a movie. I bet it would have beautiful cinematography!

This may be my first Suzanne Rindell novel, but it won’t be my last. Thank you for my review e-copy!

This book never felt like a cohesive story to me, there was just a collection of bits. Part of the book follows the 1943 investigation by FBI Agent William Bonner into the crash of the biplane in which the internment camp escapees, Haruto (Harry) Yamada and his father Kenichi, were presumed to have burned to death. Bonner suspects that the crash was not an accident and that Louis was involved. There is also the 1940 story of how Harry and Louis Thorn came to join Earl Shaw's Flying Circus, and their love triangle with Earl's stepdaughter Ava Brooks. There are long chapters of backstory covering how Ava's mother came to marry Earl, detailing the histories of the Thorn and Yamada families and describing the Japanese internment camps. There is also a peculiar interlude between Bonner and his racist landlady. In addition, Bonner has a big secret that adds nothing to the story.

In a book with so many pieces, I'd have thought that I would find at least some of them interesting, but I did not. I made it half way through this book and then skipped ahead to find out how the mystery turned out. Although I'm not a fan of love triangles there are parts of this book that I might have liked (particularly the story of internment camps), if so much of it hadn't felt like padding. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I had to DNF this book. It did not keep my attention at all. I’m sad because I have read The Typist and enjoyed it immensely.

This was a book that I wasn’t really that excited to read when it initially came up for review. In my mind all I kept thinking was….ugh another WWII book. Don’t get me wrong, WWII is one of my favorite periods to read about, but lately I’ve read a lot of WWII books and I just wasn’t in the mood for another when it was time to review this one.

But this one set itself apart with the Japanese interment camps angle. Everyone is so focused on the holocaust that they forget that Japanese interment camps were yet another unfortunate by product of a very ugly war.

My brother in law’s grandparents spent time in Japanese interment camps during the war so I have heard about these camps through my brother in law’s stories. That was why I agreed to review this book—I was intrigued by the possibly of something different when it came to WWII stories.

Two young daredevil flyers confront ugly truths and family secrets during the U.S. internment of Japanese citizens during World War II, from the author of The Other Typist and Three-Martini Lunch.

Louis Thorn and Haruto “Harry” Yamada — Eagle and Crane — are the star attractions of Earl Shaw’s Flying Circus, a daredevil (and not exactly legal) flying act that traverses Depression-era California. The young men have a complicated relationship, thanks to the Thorn family’s belief that the Yamadas — Japanese immigrants — stole land that should have stayed in the Thorn family.

When Louis and Harry become aerial stuntmen, performing death-defying tricks high above audiences, they’re both drawn to Shaw’s smart and appealing stepdaughter, Ava Brooks. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and one of Shaw’s planes mysteriously crashes and two charred bodies are discovered in it, authorities conclude that the victims were Harry and his father, Kenichi, who had escaped from a Japanese internment camp they had been sent to by the federal government. To the local sheriff, the situation is open and shut. But to the lone FBI agent assigned to the case, the details don’t add up.

Thus begins an investigation into what really happened to cause the plane crash, who was in the plane when it fell from the sky, and why no one involved seems willing to tell the truth. By turns an absorbing mystery and a fascinating exploration of race, family and loyalty, Eagle and Crane is that rare novel that tells a gripping story as it explores a terrible era of American history (summary from Goodreads).

This book was a dark horse for me. I wasn’t excited about it, but yet by the end I was engrossed in the story. This is a new to me author but one that quickly proved her abilities in this book. When I first read the description of this book, I thought that it would be more focused on the investigation/mystery and not have any romance in it. The cover suggests a possible romance, but the summary really gave minimal hints that a romance would be a big part of the story. So, I was surprised that there was a rather well written love triangle and love story mixed throughout the story. I’m always a sucker for love triangles—especially when they are done right—which was the case with this book. I loved the development of the romance and watching the characters navigate it.

There were a lot of exciting things happening in this book—romance, adventure, mystery, history. I personally loved the adventure feel of this one and how well the romance highlighted different angles of the story. I would hesitate to label this book just a romance because there are so many different elements that go into making this a great read.

The only downside for me was that some of the dialogue seemed a little contrite or basic, and lacked some luster. Some parts of the book were a little on the slow side but the majority moved fairly well. If you focus on the story itself, I think readers will enjoy the overall narrative. While there are a few stylistic things that bugged me, the overall story was well done and engaging. As I said, this book came in like a dark horse and I ended up liking it way more than I was expecting!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Eagle & Crane by Suzanne Rindell

Kindle Edition, e-book, 448 pages
Published July 3rd 2018 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
ASIN B077LX65QN
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historical fiction, romance, WWII, War romance

Memorable lines/quotes:

Suzanne Rindell is a master at Historical Fiction storytelling, and her new novel Eagle and Crane is no exception. With heart, soul and a truly magical prose, Rindell narrates the story of two young men, Harry Yamada and Louis Thorn, the latter putting aside his family's prejudice towards Japanese-Americans, who join a traveling circus with their dangerous aerial stunts before the beginning of WWII.
In the course of perfecting their daredevil and repairing a childhood friendship that was severed due to grudges held against the Yamadas by the Thorns, Harry and Louis both feel a growing attraction towards the circus owner's attractive and outspoken daughter Ava. This attraction and the beginning of the war will cause new cracks to form in Louis and Harry's relationship, forcing them to question with exactly who their loyalties lie.
Rindell's Eagle and Crane should be read as a cautionary tale, a literary warning sign of the devastating outcome when we allow fear, envy and prejudice to flood our hearts and close our minds.

An outstanding story that takes you to the 1940s and all the shenanigans going on during that time. There are highs (stunts on airplane wings), and lows (Internment camps for US citizens who were of Japanese dissent), and much more in between. The characters were so well developed, you truly understand their plight. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Being an avid reader, I read just about anything, but historical fiction and mystery have always been my top two favorite genres to read. Thus, when I stumbled upon Suzanne Rindell, I was thrilled to discover "Historical Mystery." This is her third novel and I absolutely loved it! She takes something from history that hasn't been written about - barnstorming in the 40's - and creates an engrossing story that captures the time and people perfectly. Let me try to explain. It starts with a mystery. Two bi-planes crash resulting in two deaths in front of investigators who are looking for the victims. The rest of the plot takes you back through the years leading up to the crash and reveals secrets behind those involved. You learn about the history of the bi-plane, the circus-like profession of flying stuntmen, and also the effects of the Japanese internment camps on Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I know it sounds like a lot of randomness but I promise you that Rindell is a master storyteller. I think part of the appeal is her character development. She has a way of creating a strong connection with the reader in the beginning. Much like in her previous work, I loved the characters. I would rate this up there with Kate Quinn's The Alice Network or Kristen Hannah's The Great Alone.

This is an epic adventure within a murder mystery, and even has a little bit of romance. I was shocked how much I enjoyed it. Who would've guessed a book about a flying circus would affect me the way it did. Kudos to Rindell for another big win! Highly recommended!

I read a lot of "thrillers" and really needed a break. Eagle & Crane was the perfect palate cleanser! It tells the story of two young boys from neighboring, long-feuding farms in Northern California (Louis Thorn and Harry Yamada). One day in the 30's, the two go to see an aerial show (a "flying circus") and subsequently sign on as performers. As the novel begins, Louis is being questioned by the local police and FBI about Harry and his father, who have escaped from a Japanese internment camp. As they are talking the bi-plane owned by Louis and Harry appears in the sky above the farm and promptly nosedives into a fatal, fiery crash. The story is told in alternating timelines from the 30's until present day 1943.

The writing was crisp; the characters well developed; and the story was intriguing. I loved the historical nature of the novel, and was especially interested in the details about Japanese internment during WWII, a shameful time in our country's history. I loved both Louis and Harry, as well as their mutual love, Ava, and Harry's father Kenichi. Eagle & Crane works as a mystery, historical fiction, and a love story. I highly recommend it!

A very interesting look into a specific time period; during the Great Depression and World War II. Added to my interest is the fact the book is largely placed in the area I have lived the last 20 plus years.

This was my third book by Suzanne Rindell. And, this one did not disappoint at all. Actually, I have loved all three of her books. (I'm still waiting to see "The Typist" on film - it was picked up years ago!!)

This one dealt with barnstorming and airplane rides. These people were crazy enough to climb onto the wings of these airplanes and do all sorts of tricks while up in the sky. Totally crazy!!!

The book also dealt with the Japanese camps that were all over the U.S. during World War II. I had heard of this, but hadn't really heard the full extent as to what was going on with this phenomenon. When one of the characters in this book unfortunately gets involved in this, you learn a lot about it. However, it wasn't the brunt of the book and it touched on it, but not a whole lot.

For me, the book was a fun loving, high flying, excellent read that I just tore through. Excellent characters and an excellent story!

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Louis and Harry are friends but yet enemies. To say their relationship is complicated is an understatement. Harry and Louis attend a flying circus. Harry decides he wants to WALK THE WING of the plane. Well! Louis is not to be outdone. They both do it and do it splendidly! They decide to join this flying circus and be stuntmen. This is just the beginning of their tale.

Harry is Japanese at a time in our country’s history when it is not too popular to be Japanese. His family is ridiculed and eventually placed in an internment camp due to Executive Order 9066. He and his father escape and this puts the FBI on their trail. Then they are both killed in a plane crash…so what happened?

This is just one of the great storylines in this read. The camps, the flying circus, the mystery of the plane crash kept me glued to this book. I read it in two days!

The author did a fabulous job with the historical research. And there is a lot of history in this read and it ties the whole story together. How the flying circus survived, how awful the camps were, how terrible it was to be Japanese are just a few fascinating facts floating throughout this tale.

The story is a little long and has a large amount of description. But, it is unique in many ways. With the flying circus, WWII, Japanese Camps and the mystery, I was hooked.

I love this author and this book was a fantastic read. I'll read anything she writes after The Other Typist, which had me bewitched but also bewildered. Eagle and Crane fortunately skips the bewilderment and goes straight to endearment and heartbreak.

Two boys, one a Japanese American, the other white, grow up on the same section of farmland in pre - World War II California. Their common age and venue make friends out of them despite their families' histories. Eventually they join a flying circus together and spend some time away from home learning to be stunt men and pilots. Their friendship hits some bumps but nothing like when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and the war and internment camps are in their backyard. Oh, and there is also a young woman involved.

To avoid spoilers I'll simply say that the ending has some nice twists, one you might see coming or not, which is always a good thing. The characters and the story, adventures and history galore, will stay with me for a long time to come.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

My Review of "Eagle & Crane" by Suzanne Rindell

Kudos to Suzanne Rindell Author of "Eagle & Crane" for writing such an inspiring, intense, captivating, intense, emotional and intriguing novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction. The timeline for this novel is around the Great Depression and the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, and World War Two. The location of the story is in California.

The author describes her characters as complicated, complex, and torn by both events and family expectations. Louis Thorne and " Harry Yamada" were friends for a short time when they were little boys. Harry loved magic, and Louis loved comic book heroes.  The Thorne family believed that the "Yamada" family had stolen their land, and from that become a great hatred.

Louis meets a young girl, Ava, who is selling tickets for a flying show. Louis comes back with money and reunites with Harry. Somehow the two young men become aerial stuntman doing life-threatening and dangerous acts. The two work together as a team. Despite set backs and major problems, the two become known as "Eagle" and "Crane", nick names assigned to them with a racial intonation.

When the tragedy  of the  Pearl Harbor bombing occurs, the United State government puts all of the Japanese people in internment camps.  Many are Japanese Americans, both citizens and American born. This is a terrible time that is not always revealed  in history books. The homes, land, possessions were supposed to be temporarily taken away from these people. There was inadequate medical care, cramped quarters, and poor living conditions. I appreciate the research and the resources the author used to provide the information. It is both thought-provoking and very emotionally charged. . Do we learn from history?

Somehow, both Harry and his father escape the camps, but there is an airplane found with two charred bodies. The local government finds it an open and close case. One FBI agent with a personal agenda suspects foul play, and starts to investigate.  Will the deep secrets between the two families be revealed?  I highly recommend this amazing novel to readers that appreciate Historical Fiction.

Too slow-paced, especially at the beginning - there was nothing that made me want to continue reading. Even the mystery of the airplane crash wasn't compelling, and it just felt like a chore to read.