Young, pretty Junko Aoki has an extraordinary ability she can start fires through sheer force of will. When she begins using her gift of pyrokinesis to take the law into her own hands and punish violent criminals, her executions attract the attention of two very different groups: the Guardians, a secretive vigilante organization that tries to recruit her, and the arson squad of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Soon the police are on Junkos trail, most notably Detective Chikako Ishizu, a rationalist who must come to terms with the existence of paranormal forces. As Junkos crusade against evil escalates and she finds it harder to control her power, we are taken on a breathtaking and brutal journal through the urban landscape of Tokyo. . .a journey that challenges us, along with Chikako, to think about whats right and whats wrong in the name of justice.
Publishers Weekly
"This provocative paranormal police procedural. . . .keeps the reader turning pages right up to the breathtaking climax."
Booklist
"As it unfolds in a brisk, straightforward style reminiscent of a graphic novel or episodic video game, [Crossfire] throws off lots of fun sparks and even finds time for some pyrokinesis and a tragic romance."
Bookpage
"…will be a big hit with fans of Stephen King and John Connolly alike."
The Los Angeles Times On Shadow Family:
"[MIYUKI MIYABE] is a master of small gestures, the precise geometry of meaning as it moves between people. . .a subtle observer of a country on the cusp. Her American readers can only hope for more chances to see through her eyes."
The New York Times Book Review
"… the theatrically constructed plot is soon swirling with the naked emotions of unattached, deeply unhappy people eager to express their yearnings for an idealized family life no longer possible in the fractured social structure of modern-day Japan…."
The Washington Post Book World
"…a smartly observant police procedural… both a suspenseful murder mystery and an astute running commentary on the parallel cyberworld inside which millions of people now spend so much of their time."
Chicago Tribune
"The [Ruth] Rendell comparison is particularly apt: Shadow Family starts like one of her Inspector Wexford police stories and then slides gradually into the kind of dark psychological mystery she often writes. . .Miyabe blends her two styles with impressive ease as the answers and villains are revealed."
Publishers Weekly
"Miyabe expertly manipulates mood and pace as the action builds to a house-of-mirrors-like interview that slowly reveals the killers surprising identity. . . . [a] satisfying read."
Kirkus Reviews
"A clever puzzle whose commentary on the fragility and reinvention of families gives it a special edge."
Booklist
"Offers a fascinating look at the dark side of the Internet."
Pages On All She Was Worth:
"Shadow Family has all the breathless immediacy of a courtroom drama."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Beautifully fashioned. . .enormously compelling. . .combining expert pacing and psychological nuance to ultimately haunting effect."
The Washington Post Book World
"An artful blending of puzzle-solving and social commentary."
Book Description
A breathtaking journey through Tokyo's urban landscape, where the supernatural meets the rational as twovery different women each questions how far she'll go to seek justice
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- Release Date 07/13/2007
- Author Miyuki Miyabe
- Language English
- Company Kodansha USA; 1st edition
- Weight 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions 8.3 x 1.2 x 5.6 inches
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