Onizuka Kumako is a fierce woman: tall, beautiful, and not afraid to speak her mind. In Tokyo bars, she seduces customers and commits petty crime, using her connections to the local yakuza to get by. When she meets Shirakawa Fukutaro, a rich widower desperate for companionship and unaware of her shady past, the two hit it off and are soon married. But their newlywed bliss is suddenly cut short: one rainy July evening, their car veers off course, plunges into the harbour and Fukutaro is pulled beneath the waves. Suspected of murder and labelled a femme fatale, Kumako is hounded by the press, but stays firm, repeatedly proclaiming her own innocence. As pressure from dogged journalists mounts, the tide of public opinion is rising against her. But when a scrupulous defence lawyer takes on her case, doubt begins to creep in . . . In this intricate, psychological noir, masterfully translated into English for the first time, Seicho Matsumoto draws out the hidden demons that guide our convictions, our biases and our deepest desires.
Seicho Matsumoto
Seicho Matsumoto (1909-1992) was a Japanese mystery writer known for his psychological depth and intricate plots. His most notable works include "Points and Lines" and "Inspector Imanishi Investigates". Matsumoto's writing style often delves into the complexities of human nature and societal issues, making his stories both engaging and thought-provoking. He is credited with revolutionizing the Japanese detective genre by introducing a more realistic and socially conscious approach. "Points and Lines" is considered his masterpiece, portraying the investigation of a murder on a train as a metaphor for the fractured post-war Japanese society. Matsumoto's contributions to literature have left a lasting impact on the mystery genre in Japan and beyond.
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