Lady Joker: Volume 2: The Million Copy Bestselling 'Masterpiece of Japanese Crime Fiction'

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TL;DR: Cool book, lots of detail, complex characters. Slow at times, but in the end a captivating crime drama that educates as much as it entertains. A novel that portrays with devastating immensity how those on the dark fringes of society can be consumed by the darkness of their own hearts.” You’re awful late tonight,” the network reporter at the end of the line said, throwing a skeptical look at Kubo. The second half of Takamura’s compelling crime epic—following Lady Joker, Volume 1 (2021)—plumbs the connections between corporate malfeasance and social immorality. My thanks to John Murray Press U.K. Baskerville for an eARC and to John Murray Press U.K. Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘Lady Joker Volume 2’ by Kaoru Takamura. The audiobook is narrated by Brian Nishii.

Lady Joker: Volume 1: The Million Copy Bestselling Lady Joker: Volume 1: The Million Copy Bestselling

Finally, a note on translation. I’ve heard it said that translators’ names should be on the cover, and that honor is well deserved here. Iida and Powell prove that English holds a world of words that showcase beauty, depth and highly specific meanings—far from the banal, undifferentiated language we native speakers oft accuse it of being. The English language edition of Lady Joker shows that translation is a high art form worthy of our deep respect and appreciation—especially given the need to bring Takamura’s industry-specific terminology and precision to life. Admirers of intricate crime fiction, which both engages the intellect and offers insights into the hidden parts of a society, will hope for further translations of this gifted author’s work.” I’m not saying that at all. Hinode is fully cooperating with the police investigation now, and supposing that a cash demand were to be made, apprehending the crime group would be our highest priority. I do not condone any act that would interfere with such efforts.” Lady Joker’ was originally published as ‘Redi jōkā’ in Japan in 1997 and was translated from the Japanese by Marie Iida and Allison Markin Powell. Both volumes open with a handy Dramatis Personae.Like Ellroy’s American Tabloid and Carr’s The Alienist, the book uses crime as a prism to examine dynamic periods of social history . . . Takamura’s blistering indictment of capitalism, corporate corruption and the alienation felt by characters on both sides of the law from institutions they once believed would protect them resonates surprisingly with American culture.” Twelve minutes left until the time specified by the perpetrators. At this time of night, it would take less than ten minutes to drive straight through Koto district. Where was the station wagon headed? Kubo’s hired car had just turned into a sidestreet off Meguro-Dori Avenue, but before making his way toward the official residence, Kubo at least wanted to figure out the station wagon’s destination, so he remained inside the car, awaiting word. As far as the police force is concerned, to print such things in a newspaper would amount to a malicious obstruction of our investigation. Besides, no matter how you were to write about it, there would be no way to avoid its having a negative impact on Hinode’s business activities. Freedom of the press only reaches so far.”

Lady Joker, Volume 2 by Kaoru Takamura: 9781641293952

Lady Joker’s on the move. They’ve demanded six hundred million in cash’ ‘Lady—what?’ … The assistant inspector repeated the English words. ‘Lady as in first lady. Then joker as in the trump card. Lady Joker. That’s what the crime group is calling themselves.’” Takamura joins American writers James Ellroy, author ofAmerican Tabloid, and Don Winslow, author of several novels about the drug trade, to illuminate a society in which power and money matter far more than morality. All three write mysteries that also function as morality plays . . . Bravura.” I heard that a letter demanding six hundred million was delivered to the Kyoto factory yesterday morning.” Hinging on a kidnapping plot, Takamura’s prismatic heist novel offers a broad indictment of capitalist society.”My car got into a fender bender,” Kubo replied with forced sulkiness as he stood in the alley darkness. He had to keep his head down to hide the excitement that was no doubt evident on his face. Takamura’s challenging, genre-confounding epic offers a sweeping view of contemporary Japan in all its complexity.