Series
Genres
Description
Fiction. Mystery. In the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo an unusual statue of a Japanese mythic beast-a kirin-stands guard over the district from the classic Nihonbashi bridge. In the evening, a man who appears to be very drunk staggers onto the bridge and collapses right under the statue of the winged beast. The patrolman who sees this scene unfold, goes to rouse the man, only to discover that the man was not passed out, he was dead; that he was not drunk, he was stabbed in the chest. However, where he died was not where the crime was committed-the key to solving the crime is to find out where he was attacked and why he made such a super human effort to carry himself to the Nihonbashi Bridge. That same night, a young man named Yashima is injured in a car accident while attempting to flee from the police. Found on him is the wallet of the murdered man. Tokyo Police Detective Kyoichiro Kaga is assigned to the team investigating the murder-and must bring his skills to bear to uncover what actually happened that night on the Nihonbashi bridge. What, if any, connection is there between the murdered man and Yashima, the young man caught with his wallet? Kaga's investigation takes him down dark roads and into the unknown past to uncover what really happened and why.… (more)
Publication
Minotaur Books (2022), 368 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
Takeaki Aoyagi looked like he was sleeping on the Nihonbashi Bridge. When a police officer approached, he realized Aoyagi had a knife sticking out of his chest, a fatal wound. As police searched the neighborhood for witnesses, they came upon Fuyuki Yashima who, when they attempted to question him,
This police procedural, the third in the Kaga series but stands alone. It has a less than compelling plot but still holds interest. Fans of smart detectives (Kaga) with less observant, more laid-back sidekicks Maysumiya (ala Holmes and Watson), will enjoy this book. I wouldn't run to get the next book in the series but I probably wouldn't turn down the opportunity either.
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ran and was hit by truck. Yashima had Aoyagi’s wallet and briefcase. An open and shut case? Detectives Kaga and Maysumiya are part of the investigating team. Ace detective Kaga is not convinced Yashima killed Aoyagi. The connection between the two men was thin. Yashima, a temporary worker, reported to Aoyagi at the metal plant where they worked. Yashima, involved in a workplace accident, was fired. Did he want his old job back and Aoyagi refused? Yashima’s girlfriend said he would never hurt anyone. Could something have provoked him? Could there be another motive for murder that the detectives missed? Kaga doggedly searches for the truth...which comes out of left field.This police procedural, the third in the Kaga series but stands alone. It has a less than compelling plot but still holds interest. Fans of smart detectives (Kaga) with less observant, more laid-back sidekicks Maysumiya (ala Holmes and Watson), will enjoy this book. I wouldn't run to get the next book in the series but I probably wouldn't turn down the opportunity either.
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LibraryThing member eyes.2c
“Blood dotted the sidewalk!”
A case of a seemingly cut and dried murder turns out to be way more than first thought. Kyoichiro Kaga—detective, Nihonbashi Precinct, and his cousin Shuhei Matsumiya—detective, Homicide Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Police are part of a task force to investigate
It seems an ex-contract employee might be involved. Nothing adds up for Kaga however. The murder takes place on Nihonbashi Bridge.
Kaga’s investigation leads the reader through a set of circumstances that come together to make final sense of what’s happened.
Along the way we learn of cultural practices like the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Shrines pilgrimage, the making of oragami paper cranes to be burnt offerings, health and safety coverups in factories.
A solid detective story one part a flash of intuition and three parts thorough investigative work.
I’m very excited to add Higashino to my growing list of Asian mystery authors I admire.
A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
A case of a seemingly cut and dried murder turns out to be way more than first thought. Kyoichiro Kaga—detective, Nihonbashi Precinct, and his cousin Shuhei Matsumiya—detective, Homicide Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Police are part of a task force to investigate
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the murder of Takeai Aoyagi, a CEO of a small parts business.It seems an ex-contract employee might be involved. Nothing adds up for Kaga however. The murder takes place on Nihonbashi Bridge.
Kaga’s investigation leads the reader through a set of circumstances that come together to make final sense of what’s happened.
Along the way we learn of cultural practices like the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Shrines pilgrimage, the making of oragami paper cranes to be burnt offerings, health and safety coverups in factories.
A solid detective story one part a flash of intuition and three parts thorough investigative work.
I’m very excited to add Higashino to my growing list of Asian mystery authors I admire.
A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
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LibraryThing member tottman
A murder in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo, where a stabbing victim walks to the middle of the famous Nihonbashi bridge to sit under the statue of a mythic beast, the kirin, and dies. Not far away, a young man in a park flees police and runs out into traffic where he is struck and seriously
Detective Kaga is assigned to the team investigating the murder. The team latches onto a theory that would close the case quickly, but there are a number of niggling issues that don't add up. No one feels those doubts more than Kaga. He painstakingly follows clues and digs into the lives of both victim and suspect. Why were both men in that area? And what secrets are still to be uncovered in this thorny mystery?
Kaga is like a Japanese version of Inspector Columbo. Plodding, thorough, and possessing a razor-sharp intellect that takes in all the information and is constantly assembling puzzle pieces in his mind. Higashino has constructed a brilliant detective novel and populated it with fascinating and engaging characters. Kaga and the other police working the case have different skill sets and motives, but all share a desire to find the truth, even if it may not be convenient. The families of both Yashima and the victim lend pathos to the story.
You can't do better than Keigo Higashino for tightly wound puzzles but what really sets him apart is the emotional heft added to the story by his deeply sympathetic characters.
Already well-known in Japan, Higashino deserves to be widely read in the west. Any fan of detective fiction owes it to themselves to read his work. Highly recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
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injured. The young man, Yashima, is carrying the murdered man's wallet. This is the beginning of Keigo Higashino's great new mystery, A Death in Tokyo.Detective Kaga is assigned to the team investigating the murder. The team latches onto a theory that would close the case quickly, but there are a number of niggling issues that don't add up. No one feels those doubts more than Kaga. He painstakingly follows clues and digs into the lives of both victim and suspect. Why were both men in that area? And what secrets are still to be uncovered in this thorny mystery?
Kaga is like a Japanese version of Inspector Columbo. Plodding, thorough, and possessing a razor-sharp intellect that takes in all the information and is constantly assembling puzzle pieces in his mind. Higashino has constructed a brilliant detective novel and populated it with fascinating and engaging characters. Kaga and the other police working the case have different skill sets and motives, but all share a desire to find the truth, even if it may not be convenient. The families of both Yashima and the victim lend pathos to the story.
You can't do better than Keigo Higashino for tightly wound puzzles but what really sets him apart is the emotional heft added to the story by his deeply sympathetic characters.
Already well-known in Japan, Higashino deserves to be widely read in the west. Any fan of detective fiction owes it to themselves to read his work. Highly recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
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LibraryThing member RajivC
I could not put this book down once I had started reading it. I had other things planned for the day and put them off because I was caught up in the book.
The murder seemed a simple one, with a clear murder suspect. But nothing is as simple as we believe it to be, and Keigo Higashino takes us on a
Buy this book, and read it.
The murder seemed a simple one, with a clear murder suspect. But nothing is as simple as we believe it to be, and Keigo Higashino takes us on a
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ride we don't want to get off. I love his Inspector Kaga books - they are murder mysteries with a healthy dose of humanity. Buy this book, and read it.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
law-enforcement, procedural, Japan, murder, murder-investigation, thriller, suspense, due-diligence, cultural-differences, cultural-exploration, cultural-heritage, relationship-issues, relationships, religious-practices, family, family-drama, family-dynamics, teenager, false-conclusions,
What is best here--the investigation, the insight into Japanese life and customs, insight into religious practices? Maybe all of the above plus just how alike people (esp law enforcement) are regardless of all else.
The procedural is exceptional and detailed. The red herrings are more than unusual and the twists are beyond diabolical. Walk the streets of Tokyo with Kaga (Nihonbashi Precinct) and his cousin Matsumiya (Homicide Division) Tokyo Metropolitan Police detectives as the steadily and doggedly pursue the truth and the RIGHT murderer.
I requested and received an ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! And many thanks to translator Giles Murray (Japanese to English).
Even so, I went ahead and paid for the audio so that I could hear the Japanese words correctly. Just like the last one! I feel that voice actor P.J. Ochlan is marvelous, gives surety with pronunciations, and is right about using a "cop voice" rather than a Japanese accent.
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unputdownable*****What is best here--the investigation, the insight into Japanese life and customs, insight into religious practices? Maybe all of the above plus just how alike people (esp law enforcement) are regardless of all else.
The procedural is exceptional and detailed. The red herrings are more than unusual and the twists are beyond diabolical. Walk the streets of Tokyo with Kaga (Nihonbashi Precinct) and his cousin Matsumiya (Homicide Division) Tokyo Metropolitan Police detectives as the steadily and doggedly pursue the truth and the RIGHT murderer.
I requested and received an ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! And many thanks to translator Giles Murray (Japanese to English).
Even so, I went ahead and paid for the audio so that I could hear the Japanese words correctly. Just like the last one! I feel that voice actor P.J. Ochlan is marvelous, gives surety with pronunciations, and is right about using a "cop voice" rather than a Japanese accent.
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
A businessman is stabbed and dies on the Nihonbashi Bridge in Tokyo, and another man is found with his belongings a little bit later. Open and shut case, right? Detective Kyoichiro Kaga isn’t so sure…
Another really good book in this series! I think that Kaga is an awesome character, and I love
Another really good book in this series! I think that Kaga is an awesome character, and I love
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the way he goes about solving a case! He finds the little things, that seemingly aren't relevant, and puts it all together like a jigsaw puzzle. Be it shrines, cocoa, or even the type of paper used to make origami cranes, nothing gets by Kaga! I sure hope more of his books are coming my way! Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
When a man dies below the statues on a famous Tokyo bridge, two detectives from different divisions are part of the task force convened to solve the case. Kaga and Matsumiya are cousins, but Matsumiya admires his cousin's skill at solving complex crimes and happily plays sidekick to his taciturn
This is a police procedural where the two detectives are able to act independently and to continue to investigate long after the case is considered closed. This isn't a thriller, it's a methodical examination of a life, with a detective who carefully untangles each thread, no matter how unrelated to the crime it seems. This is a fascinating look at life in Japan and a quiet sort of crime novel. I enjoy this author's novels and it's good to see that more of them are being translated.
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colleague. When a perpetrator is quickly found, it looks like the case will be wrapped up, but a few questions remain and as Kaga looks into the victim's life, he finds clues that show a connection between the victim and his murderer. But still a few questions remain. This is a police procedural where the two detectives are able to act independently and to continue to investigate long after the case is considered closed. This isn't a thriller, it's a methodical examination of a life, with a detective who carefully untangles each thread, no matter how unrelated to the crime it seems. This is a fascinating look at life in Japan and a quiet sort of crime novel. I enjoy this author's novels and it's good to see that more of them are being translated.
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LibraryThing member ramrak
FANTASTIC terrific story.
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
This is another excellent police procedural by a favorite Japanese crime novelist. featuring detectives Kyoichiro Kaga and his cousin Shuhei Matsumiya. In the case to be solved, a man has dropped dead just after passing the police station, half-way across a bridge in a part of Tokyo in which he has
The book has great pacing, and the clues keep arising, constantly turning the investigation (and our thoughts) in new directions. However, none of these felt like red herrings or unnecessary padding, and all led to an ultimately satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.
3 stars
Others I have read by ;the same author, also recommended:
The Devotion of Suspect X; Salvation of a Saint; and Journey Under the Midnight Sun. I will be seeking out more.
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not reason to be. Who is the man? Why was he there? Is the correct man arrested?The book has great pacing, and the clues keep arising, constantly turning the investigation (and our thoughts) in new directions. However, none of these felt like red herrings or unnecessary padding, and all led to an ultimately satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.
3 stars
Others I have read by ;the same author, also recommended:
The Devotion of Suspect X; Salvation of a Saint; and Journey Under the Midnight Sun. I will be seeking out more.
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LibraryThing member macha
very good Japanese mystery with two police detectives, set in contemporary Tokyo, in which Japanese ways of thinking help reveal the shape of the crime. my first encounter with this writer, this is the third in his Kyoichiro Kaga series translated into English, but i will be looking for more, and
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he has written many other mysteries too. Show Less
LibraryThing member clrichm
Well-written, for the most part, though the craft of the ending was a bit of a let-down for me in that it turned into extended sections of expository explanation instead of having the information presented as part of the narrative. I liked the detectives, even if Kaga’s role was a bit of deus ex
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detective at times (we get that he’s brilliant, but his powers of observation were a bit too easy to take for granted). The son was very Angry Teen from Central Casting, but since he actually did have a good reason to be, I’ll forgive it. Mostly, I liked detective Matsumiya, with all his mixed feelings concerning his cousin Kaga. Perhaps it was that we were viewing through his eyes instead of Kaga’s, but I found him much more sympathetic. Show Less
LibraryThing member kakadoo202
Some parts a bit repetitive. Ending far fetched
LibraryThing member niaomiya
I really enjoy Keigo Higashino's mysteries. They are old-school whodunits with ingenious twists and likeable investigators that are reminiscent of Agatha Christie's detectives (Poirot, Marple, etc.) with their keen insight and deductive skills.
In "A Death in Tokyo," a man staggers onto Nihonbashi
This is a solid mystery -- not as riveting as Higashino's Detective Galileo series, in my opinion -- but still very entertaining, nonetheless.
In "A Death in Tokyo," a man staggers onto Nihonbashi
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Bridge and dies, a knife sticking out of his chest. The same night, a young man is involved in a traffic accident while feeling from police, and the dead man's wallet is in his possession. What is the connection between these two men, and what happened? In the ensuing investigation, police detective Kyoichiro Kaga is partnered with his cousin Shuhei Matsumiya. What they uncover takes them back in time, revealing old resentments and leading to a heartbreakingly tragic revelation.This is a solid mystery -- not as riveting as Higashino's Detective Galileo series, in my opinion -- but still very entertaining, nonetheless.
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Awards
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — Hall of Fame — December 2022)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
368 p.; 8.6 inches
ISBN
1250767504 / 9781250767509