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Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St Martin's Press for the early listen/read.
This review will be for both audio and ebook
Loved this book and this author! First book I have read by this author. Will definitely read more by her.
What a great mystery and the investigation that was involved in solving two mysteries. One from the current time (1944) in the book and one from 10 years earlier (1933-34).
Highly recommend.
The narrators did a wonderful job telling the story. Was easy to differentiate between the characters.

3.5 stars

The San Francisco area is a turbulent place in 1944. World War II is raging; Japanese-Americans are interned in detention camps; labor strikes cause clashes between workers and police; Mexicans, Asians, and Blacks are the target of severe discrimination; hatred of communists is widespread; fear of Japanese spies is rampant; food is rationed; and more. In this atmosphere, the murder of presidential candidate Walter Wilkinson in the high-end Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California causes quite a stir.

Wealthy business mogul Wilkinson is found shot in his hotel room, with his pants pulled down and his mouth stuffed with a Chinese jade seal, chocolates, flowers, and other miscellanea. Berkeley homicide detective Al Sullivan leads the murder investigation, and is pressured to solve the case quickly by District Attorney Dugan, who aspires to be governor.

Detective Sullivan and his team interview everyone in the Claremont Hotel, and a Mexican cleaning lady named Juanita says she saw a blonde girl with the candidate around midnight, shortly before a shot was heard. Juanita is certain the blonde is one of the Bainbridge girls, who sometimes visit the hotel with their grandmother, but the maid can't say which Bainbridge girl it is.

The affluent Bainbridge family is part of Berkeley high society, and the Bainbridge girls are Isabella and her twin cousins, Cassie and Nicole - all of whom are twenty years old. In an effort to discover which blonde was with Wilkinson, District Attorney Dugan pressures the girls' grandmother, grande dame Genevieve Bainbridge, to identify the culprit. Dugan goes so far as to threaten to hang all three granddaughters if Genevieve doesn't turn in the perpetrator.

Genevieve insists her granddaughters are innocent, and provides a lengthy written deposition about the history of the Bainbridge family. Excerpts from Genevieve's testimony alternate with Detective Sullivan's narration of events.

The Bainbridges experienced a tragedy in 1930, when Genevieve's granddaughters, Isabella and her sister Iris, were playing hide-and-seek in the Claremont Hotel. Iris was killed when she fell down a laundry chute, and Isabella, who was six at the time, didn't speak for months. The Claremont Hotel is now said to be haunted by Iris's ghost, who is supposedly heard crying.

As Detective Sullivan's inquiries go forward, one Bainbridge girl after another comes to the attention of the authorities. Nicole, a college student and avowed communist, is suspected of killing Wilkinson because he was a capitalist who exploited workers; Cassie, a sport hunter who has Japanese friends, is thought to have killed Wilkinson for his anti-Japanese rhetoric; and Isabella, a fashionista and coquette, shamelessly flirts with Detective Sullivan to divert suspicion from her family.

The Wilkinson murder inquiry gets even more complicated when a Chinese call girl, who was also seen with the candidate, is found dead with a hatchet in her throat. This is thought to be a Chinese Tong killing, and Detective Sullivan interviews people in the Chinese community, including China's first lady, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, who's living in Berkeley at the moment.

The murder investigation goes forward with many zig and zags until the killer(s) of Wilkinson and the Chinese prostitute are revealed.

One of the most interesting characters in the book is Detective Al Sullivan, who was born Alejo Gutiérrez, the son of a half-Jewish Mexican father and a White mother. In 1931, when Alejo was seventeen, his father and two half-brothers were deported to Mexico during the Mexican Repatriation. Alejo went on to serve in the Army and attend college, then changed his name to Al Sullivan (his mother's maiden name) when he joined the Berkeley police department. Al feels guilty about sending Japanese-Americans to detention camps; is helping raise his eleven-year-old niece Miriam; and is easily swayed by beautiful Isabella's womanly wiles.

In addition to the murder mystery, author Amy Chua infuses the story with historical snippets. These include descriptions of the building and dedication of the Golden Gate Bridge; information about the California gold rush; references to the Lincoln Highway, which extended from New York City to San Francisco; descriptions of California's Kaiser Shipyards, where the United States rebuilt its naval fleet after the bombing of Pearl Harbor; mentions of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which forbid immigration of Chinese laborers to America; references to building the magnificent 115-room Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which was designed by female architect Julia Morgan; and more.

Chua, a law professor at Yale University, clearly did extensive research for the book.

The plot, which gets a bit complicated, requires careful attention, but this is a fine historical mystery in a picturesque setting.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Robb Moreira, Suzanne Toren, and Tim Campbell, who do an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Amy Chua, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

On the one hand, I loved this book, on the other, I think it should have been two books. There just seemed to be too much going on for one story. That being said, I enjoyed it and the different parts of the book. It was crime drama, mystery, family drama and historical fiction all wrapped in one. I enjoyed the different aspects and the history throughout the book. It made it easy to understand life during that time. It was very clear that Chua focused on research in order to write her story. If you enjoy historical fiction, give it a try, if you are bored by history, this is not the one for you.

Berkeley, California 1944 - a presidential candidate is assassinated in a hotel room. The investigation brings up the death of a 7-year-old-girl from 10 years earlier. As the surviving sister and cousins are pulled into the investigation, it is hard not to be swayed by their power and wealth. Will they ever find out what really happened?

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

Pub Day: September 19, 2023

3.5

Combine a murder of a Presidential candidate in a supposedly haunted hotel that involves a wealthy and influential family and the First Lady of China in San Francisco in the 1940's and you get quite a story! Detective Al Sullivan is at the swanky Claremont Hotel when he finds out there has been a murder there. He asks for a room to be the headquarters for his investigation and is given the only room available - the one that is considered haunted. He also finds out that his suspects could be from the wealthy Bainbridge Family that are somewhat off limits unless he has definitive evidence against them. But who could it be? The matriarch and grandmother, her daughter who is mentally unstable, or one of her granddaughters? Tie in another possibility of the Chinese First Lady, who is also a bit off limits, and the Detective is left with a lot of challenges and work.

It felt a bit long for me as the author tied in a lot of history, including some on the building of the Golden Gate Bridge and that Japanese internment camps, but overall it was compelling reading that kept me guessing.

Great narration!

My thanks to Net Galley, Minotaur Books and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audio book.

First things first—I haven’t listened to an audio book in a very long time. I almost exclusively read on my Kindle. So, I have to admit to getting off to a rocky start with this book. My mind doesn’t seem to compute “reading” when it’s listening. But I’m happy (and a little proud) to say that I overcame my deficiencies and ended on a high note.

This was a twisty, secret-laden, who-dunnit ride through Berkeley, Ca., in 1944. The main players ranged from Homicide Detective Al Sullivan to a variety of Bainbridges, one of the wealthiest families in San Francisco, to Madame Chaing Kai-Shek, China's First Lady. From ages eight to eighty, they were complicated, unpredictable characters who managed to shine beyond stereotypes.

From the exclusive, mystery-shrouded Claremont Hotel to blue-collar neighborhoods, crime-infested pockets, and Chinatown (of course—this is San Francisco after all), the city played a fascinating character as well. Chua drew a luscious picture of that place and era. She dealt with racism, politics, ethnic groups, outrageous wealth, mental illness, generational differences, and family relationships with aplomb.

It was interesting to hear the exchange between the author and the narrator at the end, too. I learned a lot about both skill sets. The narrator did a great job, but I think I'm a read-the-words-on-the-pages kinda reader.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Although the description of the audiobook was intriguing, I wasn't really sure what to expect. Amy Chua, after all, is an accomplished nonfiction author, her book about Tiger Mothers perhaps being the most widely known. Most authors fail to succeed in both fiction and nonfiction. I needn't have fretted. The Golden Gate succeeds on all levels. Set in California's Bay Area in the 1940's, it tells an intriguing story, a murder mystery, in which one of the three wealthy Banbridge girls, is targeted as the murderer of a probable presidential candidate. But, which one? Their backstory is told through the voice of their grandmother, who, along with the main character, Detective Al Sullivan, introduces other possible suspects, including Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Based on her extensive research and formidable writing skills, Chua keeps her readers on the edge of their seats, while at the same time drawing characters with depth and life. Sullivan's relationship with his 11-year old niece whose mother, his sister, has seemingly abandoned her serves well to make him an empathetic character. Chua succeeds in the three most important elements of a mystery novel: character, plot, and setting. Fans of noir, murder mysteries, novels set on WWII's homefront, or just a ripping good story will enjoy The Golden Gate and await Chua's next novel eagerly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this audiobook.
The audio was narrated by three people: Robb Moreira; Suzanne Toren; Tim Campbell. For the most part I thought it was well done.
This book is about the Asian community living in the Bay Area during WWII and their relationship with a very wealthy white established family, the Staffords. There was a devastating death of a child many years before this story takes place that has affected the whole family. The book opens with another murder of a white man running for President. It happens in the Claremont Hotel on the Oakland/Berkeley border.. Homicide Detective Al Sullivan, a mixed race former Army officer who is still reckoning with his own history, is in charge of the investigation.

For those of us living in the Bay Area but arriving 25 years after WWII, this is fascinating slice of history. There is an interview with the author at the end of the book. She talks about why it was so important to her to write this historical novel. As a mystery, it was excellent. There were many red herrings. The color of a person's skin became was very important as to who was believed and who wasn't. Nothing has changed there.

I enjoyed the book and enjoyed the audio version.

Gosh this was just so good!! Chua's academic roots definitely showed in the historical research she weaved into the story, making this mystery seem incredibly real. Combine that with the talented Robb Moreira's narration along with Suzanne Toren & Tim Campbell this audiobook was an absolute treat! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Hmm I wanted to like this more than I did… I struggled to finish this and the twists were kind of all over the place for me.

Thanks NetGalley for access to the audiobook in return for an honest review.

I really like character driven novels and it is a rare treat to find a mystery/crime novel that balances a complex plot and interesting characters. The Golden Gate pulls it off wonderfully. As each character's true identity is peeled back little by little, the slow burn of the plot draws you in...resulting in a very satisfying conclusion, But the thing that truly sets this novel apart from others in this genr is the interesting and informative study of the Bay Area. The historical/social aspect of the novel is the icing on the cake.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Chua has perfectly captured California in the 1940s. She write beautifully flawed and unreliable characters. Racial tensions, murder, and a mystery all play a part in this book - I loved it!

This is my first exposure to this author and it did not disappoint! Chua’s debut novel is a well-rounded police procedural/ murder mystery cast in Berkley California during WWII. This is a shockingly dark, provocative and disturbing look at Berkley society during this time. It highlights many social issues of the time – adultery, bigotry, child labour, societal division, monetary and racial divisions.

Her characters are well-developed though not necessarily likeable. None of them are whom they appear to be. If you are looking for a thriller with a complex but believable plot surrounded by lots of action, this book is for you. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was very erratic to me. It is one of the books where I am constantly wondering what the purpose of the book is? It is trying to be 10 different genres all at once- and not necessarily cohesive genres.

It started off strong. The first few chapters had me hooked. But then it just fell apart. Part historical, part police procedural, heavy on the politics. Plus add in multiple time lines that jump around and the fact that the chapters were insanely numbered (Al's story was separated by date and time, and each new day started over at chapter 1 again.) All of that together turned into a mess. Admittedly, I have mild OCD, so maybe that factors in.

Also, I question some of the historical accuracies- like tracing phone records. It was the 1940s- they were still on party lines. I get that Al was supposed to be on the cutting edge of police forensics, but some of it was questionable. I don't care enough to research the accuracies, but some details were definitely suspect.

The audiobook is narrated mostly by Robb Moreira, who narrates for Al. Al's POV is probably 80-85% of the book. Suzanne Toren and Tim Campbell narrate the grandmother's disposition, which is sprinkled throughout. All do a fine job- no complaints about the narration. I will also say that this book works as an audiobook- some books do not do well in audio form, but the fact that I was listening as opposed to reading did not impact anything.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good, well written book, but I think there were too many details crammed in the story that lost me a bit. I wish there was one focus and not jumping between Mrs Bainbridge s testimony, the death of the child, Wainwright s murder, and the Chinese and Japanese plot points. Too much but not a bad book.

Copied from Goodreads: I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this was the author’s first foray into fiction. The writing and characterization were strong and realistic. The culprit and reason behind the murder were somewhat predictable but still enjoyable.

I felt that the supernatural element was out of place. It’s minimal and seems “tacked on.” There was plenty going on without that addition.

“The Golden Gate” will be released in the US on September 19, 2023, and is definitely worth reading if you enjoy historical fiction/mystery.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Years ago a child Iris Stafford, was killed at the Claremont Hotel. Now ten years later, another tragedy seems to have occurred as a presidential candidate Walter Wilkinson, is found dead in his room and could be a target of many political groups. The world was at war and as Ms Chua points out feelings against Japanese people were running at a fevered pitch, so much so that many Japanese felt the need to change their names to Chinese ones.

Detective Al Sullivan is put on the case and soon learns that there is a strong connection to the uber wealthy, well connected Bainbridge family, that was aligned with Iris Strafford.

Now the investigation seems to lead back to the remaining Bainbridges, Isabella (sister to the Iris), and Cassie and Nicole (cousins to Isabella.) Also among the family is the grandmother, a powerfully connected one at that! Determined to get his man (or woman) even the presence of Grandma, a very savvy mobile District Attorney, and even Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (first lady to the Chinese leader), will not deter Al Sullivan.

This was an intense story showing well the various signs of the times, the wealth that seems to always wind up on top, and the atmosphere of a glittering famous hotel, to set the mood of this saga. Definitely recommended to those who enjoy that Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall type drama. The only thing missing was the mood music in the background!

Thank you to Amy Chu, Macmillan Audio, narrated by Robb Moreir, Suzanne Toren, and Tim Campbell and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this tale.

Fun fact: I stayed in the Claremont a few months ago for a work event, and even before that, used to run past the hotel in high school, so I have a long and deep attachment to the building as well as the area.

As a book, The Golden Gate splits its time between trying to solve the murder perpetrated at the beginning and being an exploration into how the bay area grew into what it was in 1944 (which of course, shaped what it has grown into now) and all of the racial and economic clashes and oppression that occurred. For the most part, it balances these two aspects well, and they're genuinely interesting, especially to someone always absorbing as much local history as I can dig up. But at other times, the historical contexts feel like sidebars - tangents or footnotes that do more to explain the local context rather than feel natural to the characters. The depositions by Genevieve Bainbridge also feel out of place at times. They are absolutely necessary to the story as a reader and giving context to the mystery and the characters, but not necessarily as part of a murder trial. They're very much a character backstory monologue, which, again, is needed for the story, but feel odd as a deposition.

It's very much a noir detective story in the sense that it's more about the characters and their relationships to each other and society than a thriller or racing to uncover the truth, which I enjoyed a lot, but it does mean that the mystery itself takes a lot of very odd twists and turns at times to shuffle motives and alibis.

One other thing to note is the period-relative racism and language and assumptions made by all the characters in some direction or another. As a light to shine on the casual acceptance of it, it does a great job, but it is jarring at times.

I loved the narrator, who did a perfect job of embodying Al and his trying to navigate all of the visible and invisible politics in trying to do what he thinks is right. I also appreciated the bonus interview at the end with the author.

A interesting look at San Francisco in the 1930s and 40s. This mystery brought so much more to the table than I thought. It shined a light on forensic technology, race and class relations. Each character had a great mix of flaws that made them realistic and drew me in as if I were in the 40s with them. There was a lot to unpack and you may have to read it more than once to truly catch every tidbit of info that Amy Chua has packed in there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audio book in exchange for an honest review. This is narrated by Robb Moreira, Suzanne Toren, and Tim Campbell, all of whom do an excellent job.

This historical fiction is a murder mystery set in San Francisco, interspersed with multiple points of view, deposition transcripts, and alternates between the dual timelines of 1930 and 1944. There are 2 primary focuses in the story: one on the settlement of California and the cultural and class prejudices that were predominant during this period; and the murder of a presidential candidate in a luxury hotel. While I felt the author did an excellent job capturing the authenticity of the eras, the story incorporated too many themes of politics, communism, unions, inequality and social status. It read as though 2 books had merged with the murder investigation and the cultural/class issues not well blended.

I really struggled to listen to this one and rate it at 3 stars.

Taking place in the 1940s, the story has all the hallmarks of the hard boiled detective mysteries that were so popular during that time. This is an enjoyable read for someone who is looking for some thing, other than a domestic thriller, or one of the many serial killer thrillers being published today.