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Novel set in Tokyo and Hokkaido

16th December 2016

Tokyo Nights by Jim Douglas, novel set in Tokyo and Hokkaido.

This book was written by co-authors Jim Hickey and Douglas Forrester. Sadly Douglas died in September 2016 shortly before the publication of this, his first novel.

novel set in tokyo and hokkaido

Right from the start the reader is drawn into the mêlee that is Tokyo, bright, vibrant and in many ways alien. Colin McCann is on a mission and he is soon taken down the narrow backstreets to an izakaya, essentially a small hostelry serving alcohol and food, where few tourists venture (but would probably be very pleased to discover a place this authentic).

He joins an english language school, which is a common occupation for Westerners, as the Japanese are keen to learn English.

McCann is actually a PI, who is casting his eye over the the death of Natasha Philips. She was in some kind of relationship with Charlie Davis, a bit of rough disliked on sight by her father, himself an irascible man. Hitching up with Davis in Tokyo is one thing, but there are forces at work who want to undermine the investigation. Outbreaks of violence and bouts of drinking all make for a wired story, set amidst the neon lights of Shinjuku, Roppongi and more. Davis is a slippery man, and just when he is needed most, he disappears. The trail leads to Hokkaido, an island far north of Tokyo.

The storyline is edgy, peppered with violence and drugs, where Japan is a huge and intrinsic character. The authors are clearly familiar with the culture, and throughout they drip-feed elements of typical Japan into the narrative. Kirin beer, Pocari Sweat (great name for a soft drink) and a quick drop-in to pick up a Hokkaido guide at the bookstore: Books Kinokuniya In The World. This is an excellent novel to transport the reader to Japan, a violent and dark Japan, but nevertheless very recognisable in many ways, especially for someone who is getting to know the country on their first trip. For old hands there will be little that is new and revelatory.

And what of the cover? It is a stunning cover, redolent of the oftentimes brash setting within the book. Stark colours on a black background are truly eye catching. But I would have absolutely no idea what the title is if I didn’t know, so design gets a thumbs up, practical marketing surely a real thumbs down…what were the cover designers thinking?

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