Description

‘An absolute corker of a read — so brilliantly shrouded in mystery that it was impossible to put it down’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me

A perfectly plotted, cosy detective story from Seicho Matsumoto, Japan’s master of mystery

‘It was a puzzle with no solution. But he did not lose heart.’

In a rocky cove in the bay of Hakata, the bodies of a young and beautiful couple are discovered. Stood in the coast’s wind and cold, the police see nothing to investigate: the flush of the couple’s cheeks speaks clearly of cyanide, of a lovers’ suicide. But in the eyes of two men, Torigai Jutaro, a senior detective, and Kiichi Mihara, a young gun from Tokyo, something is not quite right. Together, they begin to pick at the knot of a unique and calculated crime…

Now widely available in English for the first time, Tokyo Express is celebrated around the world as Seicho Matsumoto’s masterpiece – and as one of the most fiendish puzzles ever written.

Publisher Review

Tense, enigmatic, thrillingly weird - a glorious find -- Kevin Barry, author of Night Boat to Tangier A fiendishly complex case. A deep understanding of human nature drives this intricately plotted masterpiece of Japanese crime writing. A timely and welcome opportunity for a new generation to discover Seicho Matsumoto -- Brian McGilloway, author of The Empty Room An absolute corker of a read -- so brilliantly shrouded in mystery that it was impossible to put it down -- Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me The Simenon of Japan. . . a legendary writer * Le Monde * The greatest Japanese writer of detective stories of the past century. . . Matsumoto infused the genre with social conscience. Highly recommended * La Repubblica * Matsumoto is a necessity, reading him is like having a bowl of rice you never get tired of -- Masato Ara