Masao Masuto books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Masao Masuto series?"

"There are eight books in the Masao Masuto series, published between 1967 and 2000."

Q: "What is the first book in the Masao Masuto series?"

"The first book in the Masao Masuto series is The Case of the Angry Actress / Samantha, published in 1967."

Q: "What makes Masao Masuto unique as a detective character?"

"Masao Masuto is a Japanese-American Zen Buddhist working as a detective in the Beverly Hills Police Department. His philosophical outlook and cultural background set him apart from typical hard-boiled detectives, and his cases often involve the wealthy residents and entertainment industry figures of Beverly Hills."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Case of the Angry Actress / Samantha	1967	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
2	The Case of the One-Penny Orange	1977	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
3	The Case of the Russian Diplomat	1978	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
4	The Case of the Poisoned Eclairs	1979	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
5	The Case of the Sliding Pool	1981	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
6	The Case of the Kidnapped Angel	1982	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
7	The Case of the Murdered Mackenzie	1984	E.V. Cunningham	Buy
8	Masuto Investigates	2000	E.V. Cunningham	Buy

The Masao Masuto series is the longest-running work under the E.V. Cunningham name, spanning eight books from 1967 to 2000. Detective Masao Masuto is a Zen Buddhist and Japanese-American member of the Beverly Hills Police Department, and his cases involve the crimes and scandals of the wealthy enclave.

Each book follows a classic mystery structure, with titles like The Case of the One-Penny Orange, The Case of the Poisoned Eclairs, and The Case of the Sliding Pool. Masuto’s calm, meditative approach to detective work gives the series a distinctive flavor compared to other hardboiled mystery fiction of the era.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Masao Masuto series?

There are eight books in the Masao Masuto series, published between 1967 and 2000.

What is the first book in the Masao Masuto series?

The first book in the Masao Masuto series is The Case of the Angry Actress / Samantha, published in 1967.

What makes Masao Masuto unique as a detective character?

Masao Masuto is a Japanese-American Zen Buddhist working as a detective in the Beverly Hills Police Department. His philosophical outlook and cultural background set him apart from typical hard-boiled detectives, and his cases often involve the wealthy residents and entertainment industry figures of Beverly Hills.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order