Out

Natsuo Kirino author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:2nd Sep '04

Should be back in stock very soon

Out cover

In a Tokyo suburb, four women working at a lunch factory face overwhelming debts and personal struggles. When one commits murder, they must navigate dangerous threats from both the police and the underworld. "Out" explores the depths of desperation and morality.

"Out" is a gripping psychological thriller set in the Tokyo suburbs, where four women labor through the exhausting graveyard shift at a boxed-lunch factory. Each of them is weighed down by chores, heavy debts, and a sense of isolation from their families. Despite their challenging circumstances, they harbor secret dreams of escaping their monotonous lives. The story takes a dark turn when one of the women, a young mother, reaches her breaking point and kills her unfaithful and gambling husband. Confessing her crime to her colleague Masako, she finds an unexpected ally.

Masako, driven by her own motives, agrees to help her friend cover up the crime. Together with their coworkers, they embark on a harrowing task of dismembering and disposing of the body. However, their actions attract the attention of the police, who begin to investigate the mysterious disappearance. As the women navigate the fallout of their desperate decision, they find themselves entangled with far more dangerous foes. A loan shark connected to the yakuza becomes aware of their secret and presents a perilous business proposition, while a nightclub owner, wronged by their actions, seeks revenge as he believes they are responsible for his downfall.

"Out" delves into the darkest corners of human nature, exploring how the quest for freedom can lead ordinary individuals to commit unimaginable acts. This fast-paced narrative not only captivates readers with its suspense but also serves as a poignant reminder of the lengths to which people will go when pushed to their limits.

Daring and disturbing, OUT is prepared to push the limits of this world - not only in violence and sex but also in human outlook… Remarkable * Los Angeles Times *
OUT is a potent cocktail of urban blight, perverse feminism and vigilante justice * New York Times Book Review *
A shockingly intense read * Daily Telegraph *
Brings the mystery thriller to new levels of intensity and realism - OUT has great plot twists, vigour and an ending that would make Hannibal Lecter smile * Library Journal *
In this top-drawer page-turner, Kirino offers a clever snapshot of her own culture...slyly amusing and compulsive * Metro *

ISBN: 9780099472285

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 31mm

Weight: 362g

528 pages