E-BOOK

One night in 1983, three young men walked into the Wah Mee Club, the oldest gambling club in Seattle's Chinatown International District, to carry out a bold heist. When they walked away, they left behind 13 dead, one eyewitness, and an indelible mark on Pacific Northwest history. To date, the event remains the worst mass murder in the history of Washington State. Through historic photographs, newspaper reports, court documents, original reporting, and interviews with many people close to the case, Matthews -- an award-winning journalist -- has thoroughly researched and vividly recounted this story in his true-crime / regional history e-book Wah Mee.

To read the first chapter free, click here.

To purchase the complete e-book (Amazon Kindle edition), click here.

To purchase the complete e-book (Lulu PDF edition), click here.

Chicago crime novelist Marcus Sakey discusses the Wah Mee Club with Todd Matthews in Seattle's Hing Hay Park during an episode of Travel Channel's 'Hidden City' television program.
(Photo Courtesy Travel Channel / Hidden City)

Click the image to view highlights from the Seattle episode of Travel Channel's 'Hidden City' television program.

Praise for "Wah Mee":

"Todd Matthews' online book takes a journey into a Seattle that most people didn't see behind the headlines of the 1983 gambling club murders. The stories of these events in Chinatown touch the realities of life in the neighborhoods whose family members were killed. Matthews' years of digging have produced an understanding of history and ways of life that unfolds in a portrait of what happened at the Wah Mee Club and of the Seattle of that era." -- Seattle Community Network

"I just got done reading your story on the Wah Mee Massacre. I was locked into it with fascination from start to finish. Questions I had about it would be answered the further along I read. It was interesting, informative and done with dignity. I was also very interested in the early history you provided. Thank you for a very informative read." -- Glen W. via e-mail

A neon sign once directed people down an alley toward the Wah Mee Club.
(Photo By Elmer Ogawa / Courtesy UW Libraries Special Collections)

"A friend recently sent me a link to your feature on the murders at the Wah Mee gambling club. Your in-depth attention to detail and heartfelt account of the events that transpired were, simply put . . . amazing. I vaguely remember the murders as I was not quite 10 when they happened. My dad being a history buff had mentioned it a few times over the years, but only until your article did I get the full story. I just wanted to drop a line to say how much I enjoyed your accounts. Doing some Internet research I was able to find some images of the club, one that was taken shortly after the murders. The picture you painted with words was verified by the actual images." -- B. Jones via e-mail

"I read your story about the Wah Mee Massacre and found it very fascinating and well done. Your story compelled me to make a pilgrimage to the former Wah Mee. It was so strange to see it in its present state. Even more strange to peer through the clear glass brick and see the broken tea cups." -- Adam L. via e-mail

LEFT: Inside the Wah Mee Club during its heyday. RIGHT: Inside the Wah Mee Club shortly after the murders.
(LEFT: Photo By Elmer Ogawa / Courtesy UW Libraries Special Collections; RIGHT: Photo Courtesy Seattle Police Department)

"I just finished reading your book. I've been intrigued by the Wah Mee Massacre ever since I first heard about it. I've been down that alley and stared at the entrance before. I'm very impressed by your book. You really did your research." -- J. Martinez via e-mail

"By chance, I came across your story and just finished reading. I grew up in Seattle's Chinese community in the 1950s and 1960s. I had left Seattle by the time of the massacre so I did not know much about it. [Your book] was a great history lesson, and the familiarity of people and places mentioned made it a fascinating read. Many thanks." -- Chris S. via e-mail

Nearly 30 years after the murders, the Wah Mee Club remains padlocked.
(Photo By Todd Matthews)

"I just finished reading your e-book on the Wah Mee Club. I found it to be excellent and extremely well done! I thoroughly enjoyed the e-book. I remember walking past the Wah Mee once in a while between 2000 and 2003 and always wondered what the place was and whatever happened to it. Now I know." -- Christopher L.

"The week before the 25th anniversary of the Wah Mee Massacre, I was looking for some coverage of the significance of the event. I did a Web search and began reading your articles with great interest. The Wah Mee Club was less than a 15-minute walk from from my little apartment and a friend just getting off work came by and told me about all the commotion in Chinatown that night. He didn't know what the fuss was about but I remember looking toward Chinatown and seeing the lights of the emergency vehicles in the distance. The next morning, when the story came out, it triggered a fascination in me that I still have today. I just wanted to write and let you know how much I appreciate all the work and care you put into writing those articles over the years. It's the best information I've ever found since the murders happened and I'm glad you told such an extensive account of the events leading up to and following Wah Mee. You are the historian of record in my book and I look forward to any future articles about Wah Mee. I admire your perseverance in covering the story like no one else." -- Dan S. via e-mail