by Naomi Hirahara

In his third mystery, the cantankerous elderly Japanese-American gardener Mas Arai seeks to prove a friend innocent of murder. After Randy Yamashiro wins a half-million dollars on a Spam-themed slot machine in Las Vegas, he holds a Torrance, California, luncheon in his friend George "G.I." Hasuike's honor, believing that G.I., who witnessed the win, brought him good luck. But Randy's luck runs out quickly; after a fight with G.I. at the luncheon, he turns up dead. Mas Arai, a close friend of G.I. and a reluctant guest at the luncheon, investigates the murder at the behest of G.I.'s fianc'e, Juanita