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About The Book

“Best P.I. Novel” —Shamus Award FINALIST

In the second thriller of this new series from “a fresh voice in crime fiction” (Kirkus Reviews), antiques dealer-turned-P.I. Jim Brodie matches wits with an elusive group of killers chasing a long-lost treasure that has a dangerous history.


“A stellar novel of action, adventure, and intrigue. Jim Brodie is a true twenty-first century hero…On page after page of Tokyo Kill, skeletons bang on every closet door longing to be set free—and Barry Lancet delivers.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lincoln Myth

“Lancet’s familiarity with Japanese history and culture, combined with his storytelling skills, make this a first-rate mystery…a clear indicator that the author considers Jim Brodie a series-worthy character. He’d be right, too.”
Booklist

“Boasting surefire characters including the taciturn, thick-chested chief detective Noda and notorious crime figure called TNT who owes Brodie favors…[Lancet’s] series remains highly distinctive.”
—Kirkus Reviews

When an elderly World War II veteran shows up unannounced at Brodie Security begging for protection, the staff thinks he’s just a paranoid old man. He offers up a story connected to the war and to Chinese Triads operating in present-day Tokyo, insisting that he and his few surviving army buddies are in danger.

Fresh off his involvement in solving San Francisco’s Japantown murders, antiques dealer Jim Brodie had returned to Tokyo for some R&R, and to hunt down a rare ink painting by the legendary Japanese Zen master Sengai for one of his clients—not to take on another case with his late father’s P.I. firm. But out of respect for the old soldier, Brodie agrees to provide a security detail, thinking it’ll be an easy job and end when the man comes to his senses.

Instead, an unexpected, brutal murder rocks Brodie and his crew, sending them deep into the realm of the Triads, Chinese spies, kendo warriors, and an elusive group of killers whose treachery spans centuries—and who will stop at nothing to complete their mission.

About The Author

Photograph by Ben Simmons

Barry Lancet is a Barry Award­–winning author and finalist for the Shamus Award. He has lived in Japan for more than twenty-five years. His former position as an editor at one of the nation’s largest publishers gave him access to the inner circles in traditional and business fields most outsiders are never granted, and an insider’s view that informs his writing. He is the author of the Jim Brodie series: The Spy Across the TablePacific BurnTokyo Kill; and Japantown, which received four citations for Best First Novel and has been optioned by J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot Productions, in association with Warner Brothers. Visit Lancet at BarryLancet.com or on Twitter @BarryLancet.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (September 9, 2014)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781451691740

Raves and Reviews

“A stellar novel of action, adventure, and intrigue. Jim Brodie is a true 21st century hero, part of the new, gritty mythos, warts and all, but capable of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. On page after page of Tokyo Kill, skeletons bang on every closet door longing to be set free—and Barry Lancet delivers.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lincoln Myth

“[A] sophisticated international thriller . . . Having lived and worked in Japan for more than 25 years, Lancet brings an impressive breadth of knowledge to the historical aspects of the mystery and a sharp sense of immediacy to its action.”
The New York Times Book Review

"Lancet imbues 'Tokyo Kill' with a vivid sense of Japan, from sections of Tokyo that only a native would know about to meticulous research into the country's history and legends... Lancet hit the ground running last year with his superb debut, 'Japantown,' and continues that winning streak with 'Tokyo Kill.'"
New York Times/AP

"Boasting surefire characters including the taciturn, thick-chested chief detective Noda and notorious crime figure called TNT who owes Brodie favors...[Lancet's] series remains highly distinctive."
— Kirkus Reviews

"An impressive novel of spirited adventure and edgy intrigue. It's obvious Lancet has firsthand knowledge of Japan and has done extensive research regarding the historical elements. This, along with realistic characterization and notable plot development, makes Tokyo Kill a dynamic read.”
Fresh Fiction

“Barry Lancet, an American expat who has lived in Japan for more than two decades, [weaves] in history, art, cuisine and martial arts seamlessly. Readers who enjoy fast-paced tales of intrigue are in for a treat.”
Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“The author's familiarity with Japanese history and culture, combined with his storytelling skills, make this a first-rate mystery . . . a clear indicator that Lancet considers Jim Brodie a series-worthy character. He'd be right, too.”
Booklist

"An excellent mystery that ... offers some nuanced understandings of the China-Japan relationship."
Forbes.com

"Brodie is immediately noteworthy as one of the more interesting characters in the thriller universe...a book worth reading and a series worth starting."
Book Reporter

“Lancet successfully places a PI in an international thriller plot in his highly entertaining debut . . . Readers will want to see more of the talented Jim Brodie, with his expertise in Japanese culture, history, and martial arts.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A solid mystery with a memorable protagonist, the book captures our interest from the first page.”
Booklist

"Not only Barry Lancet provide plenty of thrills as the story is told, but there's fascinating detail about so many subjects related to Japanese history and art... The book delivers on every level, both as a thriller and as a look inside an Asian culture with which many Westerners may not be familiar."
ReviewingTheEvidence.com

“This excellent mystery has many layers and the reader (and Brodie) is kept guessing throughout. The ending was quite a surprise.”
Deadly Pleasures

Great action. . .What more could the reader ask for?
—pulplair.blogspot.com

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More books from this author: Barry Lancet

More books in this series: A Jim Brodie Thriller