Author(s): Akimitsu Takagi

Novel | Crime and Thriller | Japan | Translated fiction

A classic Japanese murder mystery set in post-war Tokyo and steeped in the illicit subculture of Yakuza tattoos.
Kinue Nomura survived World War II only to be murdered in Tokyo, her severed limbs discovered in a room locked from the inside. Gone is the part of her that bore one of the most beautiful full-body tattoos ever rendered. Kenzo Matsushita, a young doctor who was first to discover the crime scene, feels compelled to assist his detective brother, who is in charge of the case. But Kenzo has a secret: he was Kinue's lover, and soon his involvement in the investigation becomes as twisted and complex as the writhing snakes that once adorned Kinue's torso.
'Like voyeurs, we follow Takagi down the charred streets of bombed-out Tokyo to scenes of fastidiously executed decadence' - The New York Times

Review: 'Intricate, fantastic and utterly absorbing. More please . . . Calculated to outdo John Dickson Carr in both ghoulishness and ingenuity' - Kirkus Reviews

'A delightful, different book, not only because of its unusual setting and premise, but because Takagi is a powerful plotter and constructor of fascinating, complex characters' - The A.V. Club

'Like voyeurs, we follow Takagi down the charred streets of bombed-out Tokyo to scenes of fastidiously executed decadence' - The New York Times

'It took 50 years for this novel to reach our shores but it feels thoroughly modern.' - Parade Magazine

'Clever, kinky, highly entertaining . . . I want more.' - Washington Post Book World

Author Biography: Akimitsu Takagi was born in Japan in 1920 and worked as an aeronautical engineer until he decided to become a mystery writer on the recommendation of a fortune teller. He went on to become of the country's most popular crime authors and, winning the prestigious Mystery Writers Club Award. The Tattoo Murder was Takagi's debut. It was first published in 1948 but has never been published in the UK until now.