Described as a "fine, distinctive thriller", it's a subtle story of a Japanese detective, lots of nice subplots.

Left at bus stop 11 outside Windsor International Motel. Enjoy!

I haven't caught a wild release for some time now, so am more than a bit chuffed by this one, as is KEMS who is likely to read it after I do.

I received a Release Alert for the book this morning, and the bus stop was on my way in to town for lunch with KEMS so I left home earlier than usual and got off my bus at Stop 11. I was somewhat surprised to see the book was still there after a couple of hours and being carefully ignored by all three people at the bus stop at the time. So I caught it, and then caught the next bus into town to complete my trip.

Thanks BrisKaren, it looks like a good read.

BTW The author died on 14 February last year, which will put a damper on celebrating Valentine's Day in the future for his friends and family.

It's take me a year to get around to reading this thriller, but it was worth the wait. I cannot recall reading any crime/thriller novels set in Japan (except for Ian Fleming's "You Only Live Twice") but from the little I know of Japan the settings, motivations and descriptions in the novel seem correct. And boy does the author make it interesting!

In summary, a disgraced police officer, whose life has collapsed around him after his investigation into a high ranking government official was shut down, is sent by his boss to ryokan (guest house/inn) in the country, only to be snowed in with an assortment of characters. As we meet the others at the ryokan, including a banker and a member of the banking regulatory board, both of whom have connections to the unsolved disappearance/murder of a woman who was the wife of one and the lover of the other, we learn they may have also a relationship with the government official that Aoki, our hero, was investigating. Then there is the mysterious Go player who seems to know a bit too much about everyone, the owner of the ryokan and her twin sister who is a geisha, and are both the daughters of the woman who was the centre of the earlier murder investigation. The snowstorm that prevents them from leaving has also cut off the electricity and the telephone, so when the bloody murders start the killer must be one of these people, or one of the staff, or is it true that there are many hidden rooms where a yakuza killer could be hidden?

An excellent thriller that I highly recommend, and I'm also keeping my eyes open for other books by Marshall Browne.

BTW I also think I've learned a bit about the game Go which I've only ever heard about previously too.

Set aside to pass on to KEMS when I next see her.

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Passed on to KEMS. Like me KEMS likes mysteries & thrillers, particularly those which give you an insight into another culture/country/way of life, so I'm sure she will enjoy it.

Also counts towards the 2016 Celebrate Australia Day Release Challenge.

Received this book from Davros-10. It appears to be very interesting.

I enjoyed this book, I think the book would make a great movie as the plot involves incredible scenery, architecture, cultural rituals and lots of action! I am going to send it to a winner of the Australia Day Sweepstakes (it is written by an Australian author).

Am sending this book to the winner of the Australia Literature Sweepstakes. I hope the recipient enjoys it as much as I did. The Australian author has written a sensitive and action packed crime novel set in Japan with Japanese characters.

Wow - a book that had been wild released! That makes it even more exciting. That's for send this to me, and all the added extras of bookmarks (love the green frogs), and book releasing supplies.