The Master Key
Published on 9. November 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-78227-363-9 (ISBN)
Description
A building full of secrets. A key that will unleash them all
The K Apartments for Ladies in Tokyo conceals a sinister past behind each door; a woman who has buried a child; a scavenger driven mad by ill-health; a wife mysteriously guarding her late husband's manuscripts; a talented violinist tortured by her own guilt. The master key, which opens the door to all 150 rooms, links their tangled stories. But now it has been stolen, and dirty tricks are afoot.
For a deadly secret lies buried beneath the building. And when it is revealed, there will be murder.
The K Apartments for Ladies in Tokyo conceals a sinister past behind each door; a woman who has buried a child; a scavenger driven mad by ill-health; a wife mysteriously guarding her late husband's manuscripts; a talented violinist tortured by her own guilt. The master key, which opens the door to all 150 rooms, links their tangled stories. But now it has been stolen, and dirty tricks are afoot.
For a deadly secret lies buried beneath the building. And when it is revealed, there will be murder.
Reviews / Votes
Fans of P.D. James, Robert Barnard and other literate writers in the genre will welcome this prize-winning author's first work... Superbly crafted and riveting from start to finish * Kirkus Reviews * Extraordinarily atmospheric Japanese thriller ... Miss Togawa writes with economy, subtlety and an astonishing feel for time, mood, and the eccentricities of loneliness. An eerie gem -- Marcel Berlins * The Times * A bizarre yarn of guilty secrets among the sad, mad and surprisingly bad occupants of Tokyo's K Apartments for ladies only * Sunday Times Crime Club * A clever story... If you like creepy this will definitely be right up your street * Crime Review * As fascinating a weird yarn of mystery as you'll find... One word sums it up - superb! * LA Times * A twisted locked-room fable, made creepily seductive by masterful portrayals of the residents' eccentricities and hints of malevolent supernatural forces * Booklist * An outstanding puzzle mystery... The gradual, logical, but still surprising unfolding of the Russian nesting doll of a plot is a delight * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * Starts out on a high note of tension and stays that way up until the very end * Crime Segments * A clever, creepy story * Mail on Sunday * The PD James of Japan * Times Literary Supplement * If you seek a wickedly original, clever crime novel, a brilliant exploration of the weaknesses of the human mind, I strongly recommend you lose yourself in Togawa's acutely portrayed sketch * Thriller Books Journal * Slickly-readable... jaw-dropping moments... Sharply crafted plotting... Is Masako Togawa Japan's answer to P.D. James? James should be so lucky * South China Morning Post *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pushkin Press
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78227-363-9 (9781782273639)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2017
Pushkin Vertigo
€8.39
Available for download
Persons
Masako Togawa (1931-2016) was one of Japan's foremost writers of crime fiction. Born in Tokyo, she worked as a cabaret performer before beginning to write crime fiction backstage, during her breaks. Her debut thriller The Master Key (also available from Pushkin Vertigo) won Japan's prestigious Edgowa Rampo Prize, and Togawa went on to become a hugely successful author, while continuing to lead a colourful parallel life as a singer, actress, feminist, nightclub owner and gay icon.