Naomi Hirahara

Mayumi Hirahara

Naomi Hirahara is an Edgar Award winning author of multiple traditional mystery series and noir short stories. Her Mas Arai mysteries feature a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor who solves crimes. Her first historical mystery, "Clark and Division," which won a Mary Higgins Clark Award, follows a Japanese American family’s move to Chicago in 1944. She has also written a middle grade novel "1001 Cranes." Her latest Japantown Mystery, "Crown City," is set in 1903 Pasadena, California.

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Awards: Edgar Award, Macavity Award, T. Jefferson Parker Mystery Award, Mary Higgins Clark Award, Bill Gottfried Memorial Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel

Communities: Asian American

Dead in Chicago

You don’t have to be from the Windy City to love these mysteries set in Chicago. In this session, authors Tracy Clark, Naomi Hirahara and Lori Rader-Day will discuss the reason they staged their stories on the edge of Lake Michigan.

Koffler Room 204 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Tracy Clark, Naomi Hirahara, Lori Rader-Day
Moderator: Delia Pitts
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Judith Wood, Long Realty, Taffy Raphael and Jim Gavelek

Deadly Crimes in Different Times

Naomi Hirahara, Mariah Fredericks and Sujata Massey have come to the festival with novels that spin historic fiction into edge-of-your-seat mysteries. Whodunit? And when?

The Commons Room 105 (Seats 217, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Mariah Fredericks, Naomi Hirahara, Sujata Massey
Moderator: Ellen Byron
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of City of Tucson, Visit Tucson, Hilary Hamlin

Workshop: Writing a Memorable Mystery

Since mystery writing is often formulaic in structure, how can we beat AI and present a more unique experience for our readers? Edgar Award-winning author Naomi Hirahara will present some out-of-the-box tips about writing and marketing a memorable mystery.

Integrated Learning Center Room 125AB (Seats 40, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers

Panelist: Naomi Hirahara
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Words, Women, and Wine Book Club

Books:

Crown City

Mystery / Thrillers
Soho Press Inc
February 2026
ISBN 9781641296083
336 pages
Buy now

Evergreen

Mystery / Thrillers
Soho Press
July 2024
ISBN 9781641295970
Buy now