Super Short Summary

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro follows Christopher Banks, a detective in 1930s England, who returns to Shanghai to solve the mystery of his parents' disappearance from his childhood. Blending elements of detective fiction, the historical novel paints a vivid picture of social systems in China and the UK during the early 20th century as Banks confronts childhood memories and political intrigue. The novel includes themes such as war, disappearance of loved ones, substance abuse, and familial separation.