James Church

For the Medal of Honor recipient, see James Robb Church. For the inventor of the snow sampler, see James E. Church.

James Church is the pseudonym of an American author of six detective novels featuring a North Korean policeman, "Inspector O".

Church is identified on the back cover of his novels as "a former Western intelligence officer with decades of experience in Asia".[1] He grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the United States, and was over sixty years old in 2009.[2] His name and identity are known in the community of North Korea watchers.[3]

His "Inspector O" novels have been well-received, being noted by Asia specialists for offering "an unusually nuanced and detailed portrait" of North Korean society.[4] A Korea Society panel praised the first book in the series for its realism and its ability to convey "the suffocating atmosphere of a totalitarian state".[5] The Independent[6] and the Washington Post compared the protagonist to Arkady Renko, the Soviet chief inspector in Martin Cruz Smith's Gorky Park, for providing "a vivid window into a mysterious country".[4]

  1. ^ Bosch, Torie (September 6, 2011). "Why Don't More North Koreans Defect? James Church's Inspector O detective series offers surprising insights". Slate. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  2. ^ Demick, Barbara (May 2, 2009). "A novel look at North Korea". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  3. ^ "In North Korea, a hard-boiled (and fictional) cop keeps watch". The Korea Herald. AP. August 29, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Kessler, Glenn l (December 27, 2006). "The Book on North Korea: Thriller Provides Rare Glimpse of Closed Nation". Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  5. ^ "A Corpse in the Koryo: A North Korean Murder Mystery". Korea Society. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  6. ^ Cornwell, Rupert (February 17, 2007). "State of suspense: Unlocking the enigma of North Korea". The Independent. Retrieved September 7, 2010.