Tokyo Express
A masterful crime novel with a complex mystery
Seicho Matsumoto author Jesse Kirkwood translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:30th Mar '23
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£12.99(9780241439074)
A couple's apparent suicide in Hakata leads two detectives to uncover a meticulously planned crime in Tokyo Express, Matsumoto's acclaimed masterpiece.
In the picturesque bay of Hakata, a shocking discovery unfolds as the bodies of a young couple are found in a rocky cove. Initial observations lead the police to believe it is a tragic lovers' suicide, evident from the rosy hue of their cheeks, a telltale sign of cyanide poisoning. However, seasoned detective Torigai Jutaro and ambitious newcomer Kiichi Mihara sense an underlying mystery that demands further investigation. Their instincts push them to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding this apparent tragedy.
As Torigai and Mihara begin to untangle the threads of this complex case, they uncover a web of deception that hints at a meticulously orchestrated crime. Each clue they discover draws them further into a labyrinth of intrigue, revealing that nothing is as it seems. The narrative unfolds with a tension reminiscent of classic detective stories, captivating readers with its elegant prose and intricate plotting.
Now available in English for the first time, Tokyo Express stands as Seicho Matsumoto's crowning achievement, celebrated for its masterful storytelling and its status as one of the most challenging puzzles in crime fiction. This novel not only entertains but also invites readers to engage with its cleverly crafted twists and turns, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.
Tokyo Express is an irresistible Hitchcockian gem: a fiendishly-plotted crime novel told in crisp, elegant prose -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
Japan's Agatha Christie. A gloriously complex case of a supposed double suicide that, at just 160 pages, you can whizz through in a day. -- Laura Hackett * The Sunday Times *
This classic of postwar Japanese crime fiction was banned in its day for its 'decadent western ideas'. Now, the fascinatingly detailed investigations of Inspector Torigai echo those of Simenon's Maigret in a pared-down narrative shot through with political critique * Financial Times *
A labyrinth of convincing alibis and false leads... Matsumoto's classic status is richly deserved * Daily Mail *
Hitchcockian… Seicho Matsumoto has been described as Japan’s Agatha Christie for a reason. A murder-mystery whodunnit which carries the weight and power of high literature -- Saskia Kemslet * Standard, Best Reads for Summer 2024 *
The appearance in English of Japanese crime classics such as Seicho Matsumoto's Tokyo Express is long overdue * The Sunday Times, Best Crime Books of 2023 *
The debut novel of bestselling writer Seicho Matsumoto, first published in Japan in 1958 and never out of print, is an ingeniously plotted railway mystery * Guardian *
Seicho Matsumoto's brief and perennially popular Tokyo Express is a masterpiece of concision and tight plotting. . . exceptionally well paced and palpably tense, both features admirably preserved by Jesse Kirkwood in this fresh translation -- Bryan Karetnyk * TLS *
Wonderfully short… this excellent work begins with a lovers’ suicide on a Kyushu beach, but detective suspicions point to a crime linked to governmental scandal… a first-rate classic by a master of the Japanese detective novel. A very satisfying read -- Jeremy Black * Critic *
Tense, enigmatic, thrillingly weird - a glorious find -- Kevin Barry, author of Night Boat to Tangier
ISBN: 9780241439081
Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 10mm
Weight: 123g
160 pages