On one level, this suspenseful and beautifully-written novel can be read as a well-constructed mystery story. On another level, it presents a poetic evocation of character and prejudice in a small island community in the 1950's. In her testimony, Etta Heine, the dead man's mother, clearly expresses her hatred and distrust of all "Japs," including Kabuo, who had been her son's childhood friend.
The author also recreates the wartime hysteria that led to Japanese-Americans being sent to concentration camps. In fact, in pre-war Washington state, Japanese people who were not American citizens were not even permitted to own property.
Ironically, the most vocal bigot in this story (Etta Heine) is not only of German descent, but was actually born in Germany. Yet, there appears to be no prejudice against Germans on San Pedro Island as a result of the War; certainly, people of German ancestry were never sent to the American concentration camps. Why do people who have lived together in a community for years suddenly turn against one another?