Michael Pronko's Blog, page 8
September 22, 2018
Reader Views
The
Moving Blade
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press (2018) ISBN 9781942410157
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (08/18)
“The Moving Blade” is an intriguing murder mystery and the second book in the Detective Hiroshi series by Michael Pronko.
Jamie Mattson planned a reunion with her father Bernard Mattson in Japan, where he was an American diplomat. Plans go awry after he is murdered, and she finds herself taking care of his funeral arrangements and handling his estate instead of the reunion. Her father’s home was also broken into and another murder has occurred which appears to be related. Jamie soon discovers that she is also a target. Her predators are obviously seeking her father’s research, a missing manuscript and a key note speech that is expected to have a huge impact on Japanese decisions regarding American military bases on their land.
Detective Hiroshi Shimizu takes on this case and soon discovers how deeply the murders are entrenched in politics. He has to carefully route his search for information around high level people in Japan and the people at the US military base who aren’t being too helpful. Trying to help Jamie, a very independent woman, stay alive adds to his challenges.
I really enjoyed reading “The Moving Blade.” Set in Japan, the added elements of Japanese culture, traditions and politics really make this story unique. Descriptive details of the martial arts in Japan included both the techniques used and descriptions of the weaponry.
The characters are very realistic and have depth. Michael Pronko does an excellent job of taking us inside the protagonists’ minds so that we can understand them better, even if we don’t always agree with their choices. Pronko brought this story to life so much that I found myself hoping that none of the negative aspects could possibly be true.
Having passed through Japan on my way to Okinawa, I had a brief chance to see this country. Reading “The Moving Blade” brought Japan back to life for me and also made me think about things that I hadn’t considered before, such as how our American military presence is viewed over there. The novel also gave me a reminder of how much of an impact their nuclear disaster has greatly affected lives on the Pacific Rim.
I highly recommend “The Moving Blade” by Michael Pronko for people who enjoy intrigue and suspense.
THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS 5 Stars
5th September 2018
TITLE: The Moving Blade
AUTHOR: Michael Pronko
Star Rating: 5
REVIEW
Firstly, I must say, I do enjoy a good murder/mystery novel, so I settled down with The Moving Blade (excellent title by the way) with high expectations of secretive characters, killings, and clever detective work. And, I’m happy to report, it was a most enjoyable novel.
The central premise is well-thought out and the characters are interesting and well-defined, the ex-sumo wrestler Sakaguchi being my favourite. In fact, the characters spring off the page. It is a plot-driven story, but the characters are the jam which holds everything together. The author knows his characters through and through and this shows in the consistent and very individual way they act. There is also plenty of pace, particularly towards the end, and the author has littered his story with an array of twists and turns.
I also thought the speech between the characters was very well written. In the first book, The Last Train, the speech did feel a little forced, almost unnatural but, in book two, this is not a problem. The story is a perfectly balanced mix of ‘speech’ and ‘a well-paced plot’.
But, for me, it was the Tokyo setting which I enjoyed the most. Having never been to Japan, I very much enjoyed getting to know this land a little better, even if it was in the context of a string of murders.
Well, I finished the novel three nights later and I did very much enjoy it. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested and the characters (good and not so good) were interesting and well-developed. The ending was also excellent and, closing my computer, I knew I would be happy to open another of this author’s books.
I always like to end with a ‘what struck me the most’ comment. Well, ‘what struck me the most’ about this novel was the knowledge of the author in terms of Japan and Japanese culture. He knows the setting for this novel very, VERY well and this shows in the depth of the world he created. It can be a bit of a scary world but, still, it was fun getting lost in it. Enjoy!
SPR Review
Couching a noir detective storyline in an Eastern setting, The Moving Blade by Michael Pronko is the second installment of the Detective Hiroshi series, and delivers another thrilling ride for this clever curmudgeon.
When a top diplomat is murdered, his daughter, Jamie, takes it upon herself to dig into the dangerous underworld of Tokyo. After partnering up with Detective Hiroshi Shimizu, they both put themselves between the crosshairs of a sinister killer who will stop at nothing to achieve his dastardly aims. The plot is fast-paced and thrilling, but the author also takes time to paint a visceral portrait of Tokyo, making every scene more believable, as though a reader could step into a page and be swallowed up by the action.
Similar to the first book in the series, Detective Hiroshi carries much of the plot, and as a detective story, this novel knocks it out of the park. Where Pronko shines the brightest is in his character interactions, with powerful, believable dialogue that moves the plot forward without seeming heavy-handed. Every scene has a purpose, even if it isn’t immediately apparent, revealing the author’s obvious mastery of storytelling. This book succeeds as both an homage to Tokyo and a savagely entertaining mystery that will grip readers and keep them guessing until the violent, octane-fueled finish.
New Release
Preorders at special price!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GCYRY61
In the second novel in the Detective Hiroshi series, Hiroshi pursues the killer of an American diplomat who has left a missing manuscript, a lost speech and an estranged daughter. In searching Tokyo’s back alley bars, government offices, anti-nuke protests and an American military base, Hiroshi finds out why the past is still so deadly.
Reserve your copy today!
Reader’s Favorite 5 Stars
5 Stars
Reviewed By Maria Beltran for Readers’ Favorite
The Moving Blade by Michael Pronko is a murder mystery novel set in historically rich Japan. Bernard Mattson, a top American diplomat, is murdered in Tokyo, and his beautiful half American-half Japanese daughter, Jamie, has to pick up the pieces. Somewhat estranged from her dad, New York based Jamie Mattson comes back to Tokyo and what she finds are threats, a missing manuscript and a missing controversial speech due to be delivered soon. As the heir to her father’s lifetime work on Japanese-American negotiations, Jamie wants to get to the bottom of things. Assigned to the Mattson murder case is Detective Hiroshi Shimizu who has to untangle the complex web that involves the sensitive Pacific Rim geopolitics, and it is a matter of life and death.
Award winning novelist Michael Pronko certainly does not disappoint his readers with The Moving Blade. The story unravels with a burglary at the house of murdered American diplomat Bernard Mattson, which ends up in the burglar’s death from a traditional Japanese tanto sword. When the Tokyo police try to solve the murder case, things get very complicated and it ultimately brings them to the gate of an American base. The Moving Blade is not an ordinary murder mystery novel as it involves controversial US-Japanese relations and author Michael Pronko is obviously an expert on the subject. This, combined with his intimate knowledge of the Japanese way of life, makes his novel doubly interesting. And as we follow Jamie Mattson in her quest to perpetuate her father’s legacy, we also get to learn a thing or two about the very interesting Japanese culture. I highly recommend this book!
5 Stars
Reviewed By K.J. Simmill for Readers’ Favorite
Jamie hadn’t seen her father, Bernard Mattson, for years. They had drifted apart, but things had been about to change. They had planned to reunite, but then his murder put a stop to the plan. But murder is not the only thing she finds in his wake. A robbery on the day of his funeral suggests there may be more to the murder of the renowned diplomat than meets the eye. Jamie is eager to discover the truth about what befell her father. On the case is Detective Hiroshi Shimizu, along with his motley crew of ex-Sumo wrestlers, rugby players, and private investigators. With nothing but a wiped computer, stolen statues, and erotic prints, it seems an impossible task. But the body count is rising and answers are demanded. Can they uncover the truth before more people fall to the blade?
Culturally rich and seductively compelling, The Moving Blade is a must-read for lovers of murder mystery novels and crime fiction fans. Great attention to detail in both setting, lifestyle, and characters has been applied to create an atmospheric, tense, and engaging read which is further enhanced by Michael Pronko’s skilled narrative. Plots, protests, questions, and secrets fill the pages and drive the reader forward through the engaging and well constructed plot. The characters are rich, deep, and vibrant, each with their own very distinctive rules, personality, relationships, and objectives. I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this, and it gets something I save only for those special books I really connect with: my heartfelt recommendation! Whether you’re looking for a suspenseful and engaging read, or just something to pass the time, you should give The Moving Blade a try.
5 stars
Reviewed by Stefan Vucak for Readers’ Favorite
In The Moving Blade, Bernard Mattson, architect of many defense treaties between Japan and America, is murdered, but it is made to appear like a botched robbery. A man is found in an alley, killed by a single sword strike. Homicide detective Hiroshi Shimizu suspects a connection, but the tangled trail leads him in directions that may not help him enjoy a long life. Jamie Mattson flies to Tokyo to attend her father’s funeral, unaware of the complex intrigue about to ensnare her. According to their research, Jamie’s father had written a book exposing the murky side of Japanese/American politics, embarrassing for too many people if published. A mysterious killer leaves a trail of bodies, men who had an interest in publishing the book. Afraid for Jamie’s safety, Hiroshi urges her to return to New York, but she refuses to leave until her father’s murderer is exposed and the book published. The effort almost costs her life, but as the mystery slowly unwinds, the players reveal themselves.
Michael Pronko takes readers into the fascinating world of Japanese culture and philosophy, so different from the Western mindset, which resulted in an eminently readable story in The Moving Blade. Jamie Mattson, born in Japan, living most of her life in New York, gradually recaptures her past and appreciation for a way of life seemingly lost to her. Hiroshi Shimizu is at first glance a typical Japanese: loyal, honest, an able player of cultural nuances and the indirect approach. He is at first an unusual partner for Jamie. But having lived in America for several years, he becomes a bridge between his and her world as they work to resolve an expanding web that Japanese and American interests have woven for decades.
The Moving Blade has enough plot twists to satisfy avid whodunit readers, and those keen to glimpse a culture that is in many respects alien to Westerners. I was impressed with Michael Pronko’s professionalism, the depth of his research, and the fluency of his writing.
Midwest Book Review
Diane Donovan, Editor 
The Moving Blade
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press
978-1-942410-16-4 $5.99 Kindle
The Moving Blade tells of a top diplomat’s murder, his puzzling legacy of connections and research, and a determined daughter’s return to Japan from America to ferret out the truth, aided by Tokyo detective Hiroshi Shimizu and ex-sumo wrestler Sakaguchi.
A powerful note is the fact that The Moving Blade is well steeped in Japanese history and culture: an unexpectedly delightful backdrop to an investigative ‘whodunnit’ mystery that actually teaches readers much about this culture and its people.
The fact that this is the second thriller in the detective Hiroshi series shouldn’t stymie newcomers, who will find the story requires no prior familiarity with either Japanese culture or Hiroshi’s efforts in order to prove immediately understandable and involving.
But the diplomat’s murder isn’t the only case on Hiroshi’s plate: when two more bodies surface, he faces a personal challenge to step outside his investigative approaches lest his usual methods prove futile in this extraordinary case.
The blend of personal dilemma over professional process is another facet that elevates The Moving Blade to something more than a light murder mystery. From the start, Michael Pronko weaves in cultural observations that enlighten readers about Japanese interactions.
One good example is the confrontation between Jamie, the diplomat’s daughter, and Hiroshi’s bureau chief, who initially wants to brush off any deep commitment to solving the crime because the diplomat was a foreigner and Jamie is a woman. (Hiroshi advises Jamie how to loudly make her case to convince the chief to take it [and her] more seriously in a way that Japanese women don’t do.)
Another is the Japanese style of censorship called ‘shelving the truth’: something that comes into play as events unwind and forces attempt to quash dead diplomat Mattson’s work so that it cannot be published. In Japan, power is wielded in a “…slow, steady, wear-you-down way.” Readers come to recognize the strengths and applications of this power as the story unfolds.
From a vivid, uneven battle between a tanto sword and Hiroshi’s pipe to back alley battles and long-running feuds, half-Japanese daughter Jamie and Hiroshi find themselves on the fast track of involvement with military, political, and social forces alike.
“Maybes can lead to certainties”—but will the revelations come in time?
The action-packed plot, backed by solid research, makes for a story that is not just a dramatic whodunit piece, but a slice of life piece inspecting Japanese heart and minds. Readers who like their detective stories more than lightly flavored with cultural insight and history will relish The Moving Blade‘s ability to move in both worlds, adding the insights and flare that keep the story fast-paced and informative all in one.
Mystery and detective readers, and any with an affinity for Japanese culture, are in for a real treat, here.
Donovan’s Literary Services
Publisher’s Daily Reviews
A respected American diplomat is stabbed to death and a private investigator is carved up like an overlarge sashimi in the opening pages of this masterful mystery set in modern-day Japan.
It then falls to Tokyo P.D. detective Hiroshi Shimizu to try and find the one responsible for both these violent acts and to see if there might be a link.
This is a first-rate murder mystery, played out against the exotic urban backdrop of Japan’s largest city, and expertly written by an acclaimed author who is clearly at home there. Indeed, the book is as much an intimate guide to Japanese customs and timeworn cultural ways as it is a thrilling whodunit.
But there’s more at stake here than just finding two ruthless killers — if in fact the murders were done by two separate people. Bernard Mattson, a top expert on Pacific Rim policy matters, was the unfortunate stabbing victim. He was scheduled to give a seachange speech at an international conference in a few days that reportedly would have had a dramatic effect on relations between Japan and the U.S. And that speech has disappeared.
So all eyes fall on Mattson’s gorgeous young daughter, who arrives just after the murder, expecting a long-anticipated reunion with her famous father. Instead, she joins Hiroshi in a methodical quest to find both the murderers and the missing manuscript.
She finds she has a target on her back, however, as the most likely holder of the unknown papers. And just like that, she requires police protection, 24/7 — though she chafes at the measure. Even after burglars brutally tie her up during a failed search of her father’s house and leave her to slowly suffocate, she stubbornly refuses to return to New York.
The plotline then moves along apace, expertly intertwining new investigative revelations with cinematic chase scenes on foot through first one crowded Tokyo neighborhood, then another, then an airport, then — actually, we lost count. But unlike many cliched characters in modern day mysteries, honorable detective Hiroshi-san shows an endearing penchant for making all-too-human mental lapses that repeatedly throw others into dire physical jeopardy.
Still other cast members are similarly satisfying. A detective colleague of Hiroshi’s, a former sumo wrestler named Sakaguchi, frequently steals scenes by using his sheer bulk to even the odds in confrontations with the bad guys. And even the minor characters come vividly to life through the author’s lyrical descriptive abilities:
“To the side, a third man leaned on the counter, one leg propped on a stack of old encyclopedias. He was thin as a sumo judge’s gunbai fan, with stringy grey hair down both sides of his sunken face. The taut pucker of smoker’s wrinkles held his last comment unfinished as they turned silently towards Sakaguchi.”
Seriously, does good writing get any better than that? Such turns of phrase are standard fare throughout the novel, which is the second in a series. We look eagerly forward to the next installment.
But to wrap this one up, the author mixes a dynamite detective story with a compelling argument cum expose on the prolonged existence of American military bases on Japanese soil and around the world. But this call for change is delivered very subtly through the author’s main and secondary characters, and enumerated with a quiet authority that is never preachy. This carefully researched aspect of the book presents a model for other writers who try — and fail — to deliver a moral message inside a work of fiction.
Five-plus stars to The Moving Blade. We say to readers, come for a satisfying story — but stay for an immersive experience in Japanese ways and a better-than-Frommer’s guide to Tokyo. You’ll be glad you did.
Don Sloan
Hollywood Book Reviews Excellent Merit
Title: The Moving Blade
Subtitle: A Tokyo Mystery
Author: Michael Pronko
Publisher: Raked Gravel Press
ISBN: 978-1942410164
Pages: 319
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Reviewed by: Joe Kilgore
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
This is author Pronko’s second novel in his Detective Hiroshi series. The book is packed with intrigue, suspense, and mystery—all the things that make a thriller thrilling—but it’s also filled with detail, rich characterizations, and vivid scene descriptions—all the things that make a good book good.
In this offering, Hiroshi is pulled into an investigation with international implications. A famous American ex-pat has been killed. The day of his funeral, his house is burglarized and ransacked. His daughter, who has returned from the United States for the funeral and disposition of her father’s affairs, soon draws Hiroshi’s attention as he’s investigating another murder that might be related. But he’s not the only one with an
interest in the beautiful young American and especially her father’s estate, which includes priceless Japanese books and artifacts plus his writings—the latest of which being a manuscript he had been working on and a speech he was about to give to a Tokyo conference of diplomats from around the world. The political implications of the book and speech are potentially explosive. So much so that a high-placed Japanese government official is doing everything she can to get control of both.
As the conference nears, so too do more attempts to find the writings or convince the daughter to relinquish them. Mayhem begins to mount as muggings escalate to murder and no one seems safe for very long. Hiroshi is beset with concerns as his growing feelings for the young American blossom even as he’s contemplating the perplexities of the case, a potential career move to Interpol, and the re-emergence of a love from his youth.
All of the above may seem overly complicated. If so, that’s my fault, not the writer’s. Pronko is a skilled craftsman at harmoniously blending plot, subplots, sidebars, and backstories. He creates vibrant characters that actually react and behave more like real people than stock players. He also fills his pages with descriptions of Tokyo’s gleaming boulevards, tawdry back alleys, quite gardens, and public buildings that make all the environs as interesting as the participants in this multilevel tale.
Continually intellectually involving, The Moving Blade doesn’t spare the action either. Suspenseful encounters often hover on the periphery of violence. while others break out into savagely frightening life and death struggles that hang on the razor thin edges of Samurai swords. This is a crime thriller that will stimulate your head, your heart, and your adrenal glands simultaneously. And really, isn’t that the best kind?
Foreword Clarion Reviews 5 out of 5
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press (Aug 30, 2018)
Softcover $15.99 (320pp)
978-1-942410-16-4
Foreword Clarion Reviews
Clarion Rating: 5 out of 5
Fun and thrilling throughout, The Moving Blade is an excellent potboiler.
Michael Pronko’s action-packed mystery novel The Moving Blade is an excellent addition to the popular and critically acclaimed Detective Hiroshi series, full of East Asian and international politics and plenty of sociological commentary. For Western audiences, this book provides both entertainment and an immersion in the culture of one of the world’s largest and most important cities.
When American diplomat Bernard Mattson is found brutally murdered, the Tokyo police discover that Mattson is just one corpse among many. Mattson’s daughter, Jamie, is also targeted by a gang of ruthless killers. She and Detective Hiroshi Shimizu learn that Mattson’s extensive research files are the cause; if released to the public or given over to another government, they could forever alter the course of American-Japanese and American-East Asian relations.
This book moves at a fast pace. Wonderful writing snaps with crisp dialogue and sometimes grotesque descriptions of gory violence. Those with weaker stomachs may need to skip a few pages here and there.
One of the big appeals of this detective story is that it proffers excellent insights into the minds of the everyday citizens of Japan, insightfully tackling thorny issues like recent nuclear disasters, contention between Japan and its neighbors over mostly uninhabited islands, and the presence of thousands of American troops.
Characters are all believable; some are even likable. Jamie Mattson is a determined, brave, headstrong young woman who is both a survivor and a good amateur investigator. Running against detective novel tropes, Detective Hiroshi is neither an eccentric amateur nor an overly cynical and amoral working stiff; rather, he’s a simple man who likes coffee and pursues justice against great odds. The story’s villains, including professional criminal Hideyasu Sato, are vicious and bloodthirsty antagonists, yet they remain utterly human.
At times the novel pays too much attention to the ins and outs of Japanese martial arts and weapons, especially commonly referenced blades like the tanto sword or the katana. Although the novel begins by quoting samurai-era classics like A Book of Five Rings, there are moments when related talk seems superfluous. The heavy incorporation of italicized Japanese words is grating, especially as such terms are often not adequately defined.
The plot is engaging from the first page, and although it is not really a question of finding out who is guilty, the book’s central mystery never fails to demand attention. The novel’s conclusion is rewarding and worthwhile.
Fun and thrilling throughout, The Moving Blade is an excellent potboiler—an exciting modern mystery that focuses on the chiaroscuro of international diplomacy and organized crime.
Reviewed by Benjamin Welton
September 20, 2018
Booklife Prize Judges Assessment
Title: The Moving Blade
Author: Michael Pronko
Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Thriller
Audience: Adult
Word Count:94,182
Assessment:
Plot: Pronko has written a fast-paced, highly entertaining tale steeped in elements of Japanese culture to follow his first book in the Detective Hiroshi series. The book is just the right length for readers to enjoy in a few suspense-filled sittings, and the storyline is creative and wraps up nicely.
Prose: Pronko’s prose flows well and his knowledgeable and respectful use of Japanese and other Asian phrases and cultural references are perfectly inserted into the story at appropriate times. Pronko’s dialogue is cleverly crafted and never feels stilted.
Originality: The Moving Blade is fresh and original. The contemporary issues that the Japanese face with American military bases may prove to be a novel topic for many mystery/thriller readers.
Character Development: The characters are drafted realistically and feel authentic. Pronko clearly strives to present characters from various cultures, such as Detective Hiroshi and sumo wrestler Sakaguchi, accurately and fairly.
Blurb: A stellar novel with a unique storyline and setting.
Score:
Plot/Idea: 9
Originality: 9
Prose: 10
Character/Execution: 9
Overall: 9.25
Report Submitted: September 8, 2018
The BookLife Prize
