"A powerful debut mystery"
The Japanese police find the dismembered torso of a
female in Tokyo Bay. They believe the victim is Lily
Bridges, a Yorkshire, England woman who tended bar in the
city. The prime suspect is a compatriot, Lucy Fly, who
works as a translator. The third person involved in a
triangle with the two women is photographer Teiji, but he
has vanished. The police question Lucy who speaks about herself as if
she was referring to someone else. Lucy sort of hints at
doing the crime, but has not actually confessed. Instead
the vulnerable Englishwoman never quite explains why she
left her country or what she is doing in Japan, nor can she
provide depth to an alleged deep love affair with her
missing Japanese lover, or fully elucidate her relationship
with the culprit here and in England. The police (and the
readers) wonder if she really killed Lily or is she just a
crazy person unable to cope with life? THE EARTHQUAKE BIRD is a powerful debut tale that is
part psychological drama and part police procedural.
Because of elements from both sub-genres strongly used in
the story line, readers do not know which way the plot will
spin until the novel reaches its disturbing but clever
climax. Susanna Jones has written an incredible shocker of
a tale that will leave the audience demanding more books
like this triumphant chiller from a new talent whose
abilities will send tremors throughout the genre. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted August 21, 2001
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