The Wishing Shelf 5/5
THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS
16 September 2020
TITLE: Tokyo Traffic
AUTHOR: Michael Pronko
Star Rating: 5
So, on Wednesday night, I plumped up my pillow, switched on my laptop and settled down to Tokyo Traffic. And, I must say, two days later, I enjoyed it very, very much. On a basic level, it is a compelling thriller set in Tokyo. On a deeper level, it is an expose on the sinister world of human trafficking and porn.
Almost everybody I know enjoys a good thriller. Lorry drivers, doctors with a hundred PhDs, nuns – to be honest, I don’t know any nuns, but I bet they do. The thing is, a thriller is so far removed from everyday life, we – as in ‘everybody’ – find them gripping. We want to know what it’s like to hunt a killer. To be the killer even! A thriller allows us to do that without getting shot at – or going to prison. Perfect!
Well, Tokyo Traffic by Michael Pronko allows me to be Detective Hiroshi Shimizu as he hunts down killers in the backstreets of Tokyo. I get to be there as he – or I – uncover a human trafficking ring and try to find a girl who holds the key to everything. And, I must say, it was a thrilling ride.
As with most novels of this nature, setting, and the ability of the author to describe that setting, is vital to the success of the story. Thankfully, the author works particularly well with this. He understands how important it is not to just simply describe Tokyo but, rather, have the characters interact with it in a natural and unobtrusive way. It’s all very dark; all very gritty, and ALL totally gripping.
I’m an English teacher so I very much enjoy books with correct grammar and spelling. I’m happy to report I didn ’t spot any problems in this respect. In fact, the author’s writing skills are excellent with a good balance of dialogue, character development and plot twists.
Tokyo Traffic is the third in the Tokyo-based Detective Hiroshi set. Would I recommend reading them in order – The Last Train then The Moving Blade and then this? Yes, probably. It’s always fun to follow characters as they develop through a set of books.
All in all, this is a classic thriller in terms of the gritty atmosphere, the dark characters and the brave and slightly broken hero. I would happily recommend it to anybody who enjoys a twisting plot and wants a glimpse into Japan’s criminal underworld.
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
