The Slaughters of the Race — S.K. Epperson

While doing a stint for bank fraud the unlucky Joe Riggins meets kindly Chung Zhang whom he learns murdered nine women in a bizarre trafficking scheme for old money back in China. In prison the elderly man is his mentor, but Zhang befriended Joe for a reason, he realizes after women start dying again upon Joe's release. As he begins to suspect the plan for his downfall is bigger than anyone can imagine, involving perhaps his own government, unexpected help comes in the form of cool, inhibited and very British restaurant owner Hester Haley and the unlikeliest ally of all, a cop who believes him.