Michael Cinne Louin has written more than a dozen novels in the style of the ironic detective, whose main characters are either private detective Albert Samson or police lieutenant Leroy Powder.
He gained international fame and became the recipient of several awards, including Japan’s “Maltese Falcon” prize for the best detective novel published in Japan, and the German Marlowe award. A former teacher and sports columnist, Michael Cinne Louin also wrote several radio and theater plays.
The novel “Know How to Ask a Question” strongly resembles in tone and plot devices Ross Macdonald’s novels—first-person narration, an ironic look at the surroundings, and even at the clients. Sixteen-year-old Eloise Christell hires private detective Albert Samson to find her biological father.