The Fine Art of Invisible Detection: The thrilling BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick

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Umiko Wada is a secretary to a private detective, based in Tokyo and has a fairly uninteresting life, that is, until her boss takes on a new case.

Strangely, a woman in Tokyo whose father may have been killed by Nishizaki has also been in contact with Martin Caldwell. Twelve years a widow, after losing her husband to the Sarin attack in the Tokyo subway, it’s a very satisfying way to pass her time, even if her mother feels she should be looking for marriage. As Wada uncovers a dizzying web of connections between then and now, it becomes clear that someone has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep the past buried. This book felt very much like a contract filler from Mr Goddard who ran out of ideas with this book.They find themselves going to Iceland to find Caldwell and look into the sinister Quartizon Corporation, and a strange auction that is to take place there, but will they survive? Nick knows little of Nolan, other than Geoff never wanted to know anything about him, so he tries to find out more from his mother's partner, April. By the time Martin fails to turn up to either appointment, both Umiko and Nick are intrigued enough to try to track him down.

There’s something very refreshing about this character, whose efficient and philosophical way of controlling her emotions and dealing with threats feels just like the characters in authentic Japanese crime novels.She is to meet a man in London who has information their client requires, if she can pass herself off as the client it will be an nice easy job for her except we know things never go to plan.

You’d think that would be exciting but most of the cases taken on by her boss, Kodaka-san, involve fairly minor issues. He is the master of the plot twist, a compelling and engrossing storyteller and one of the best known advocates for the traditional virtues of pace, plot and narrative drive.Always been a Goddard fan but this was simply a great read and would love more of the same…bring on more Wada.

It's hard to accept that both his mother and April had lied to him regarding his biological father all his life. The Fine Art of Invisible Detection is the latest standalone thriller from the talented Robert Goddard, set between Japan, England and Iceland. They’ll be discussing two books; a big hitter book from the last year as well as a newly published book.However all this changes one day when a client comes in to the office, their case needs someone to go to London, someone who wont ring alarm bells and that someone is Wada. Filled with twists and turns, break-neck pace, wonderful characters that are well fleshed out- flawed, human, and real, everyday people who are thrust into impossible situations- labyrinthine, complex plotting and excellent prose, as usual. The case turns out to be more complex and much more dangerous than Wada and Kodaka could ever have imagined when they took it on.