Tokyo Juku by Michael Pronko

Another intricate and enveloping thriller from Michael Pronko, Tokyo Juku continues to increase the depth and cultural commentary of his Detective Hiroshi series.

When a talented but tough tutor is stabbed to death in his classroom a week before exams, Hiroshi and his eclectic team of investigators are handed the high-pressure case. It doesn’t take long to discover that Terui-Sensei, the well-paid and high-performing victim, had a playboy past and certain illicit obsessions that complicate an already tricky homicide. Mana, the sleepwalking juku student who discovered the body, is haunted by her own guilt, trauma, and the anxiety of being publicly linked to the shocking murder. With the media swarming, a paperwork-pushing Chief breathing down his neck, dozens of potential suspects and motives, and the imminent birth of his first child, the tireless detective at the heart of this series has plenty on his plate.

Pronko’s thrilling plot is accompanied by keen social analysis, delving into the hyper-competitive world of Japanese academics, along with the psychological effects it can have on young students desperate to excel. As ever, Tokyo’s shadowy corners and diverse denizens are vividly brought to life by the careful prose, which is both viscerally compelling and informative about Japanese life, creating an immersive experience that characterizes this series.

There are some scattered typos that seem to be evidence of editorial tweaking without a final proofread, which is somewhat surprising in such a tightly penned novel, but overall, this is a captivating and accessible whodunit fueled by an inventive cast of sleuths and Pronko’s infectious passion for Japan.