A Quiet Place
A Quiet Place by Seichō Matsumoto, published by Bitter Lemon Press in 2016, is a translation that spans 235 pages. This novel follows Tsuneo Asai, a government bureaucrat who is confronted with the unexpected death of his wife, Eiko, during a business trip to Kobe. While her heart condition made her passing somewhat anticipated, the circumstances surrounding her death raise unsettling questions for Tsuneo, particularly regarding her secretive life and the hidden aspects of her character.
As Tsuneo delves into Eiko’s past, he uncovers a world that contrasts sharply with the shy and withdrawn woman he thought he knew. His investigation leads him to a villa known for being a rendezvous point for secret lovers, prompting him to confront the complexities of his wife’s double life. This narrative intricately explores themes of mystery and suspense, reflecting Matsumoto’s skill in dissecting societal norms within Japan. Readers will find a psychological thriller that challenges perceptions and reveals the intricacies of human relationships.
Official synopsis Publisher
“A master crime writer . . . Seicho Matsumoto’s thrillers dissect Japanese society.”–The New York Times Book Review
“A stellar psychological thriller with a surprising and immensely satisfying resolution that flows naturally from the book’s complex characterizations. Readers will agree that Matsumoto (1909-1992) deserves his reputation as Japan’s Georges Simenon.-Publishers Weekly
While on a business trip to Kobe, Tsuneo Asai receives the news that his wife Eiko has died of a heart attack. Eiko had a heart condition so the news of her death wasn’t totally unexpected. But the circumstances of her demise left Tsuneo, a softly-spoken government bureaucrat, perplexed. How did it come about that his wife–who was shy and withdrawn, and only left their house twice a week to go to haiku meetings–ended up dead in a small shop in a shady Tokyo neighborhood?
When Tsuneo goes to apologize to the boutique owner for the trouble caused by his wife’s death he discovers the villa Tachibana near by, a house known to be a meeting place for secret lovers. As he digs deeper into his wife’s recent past, he must eventually conclude that she led a double life…
Seicho Matsumoto was Japan’s most successful thriller writer. His first detective novel, Points and Lines, sold over a million copies in Japan. Vessel of Sand, published in English as Inspector Imanishi Investigates in 1989, sold over four million copies and became a movie box-office hit.
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