Kimono for a Corpse

Tetsuo Otani #9

by James Melville

When a businessman is killed by a falling chandelier, and a foreigner is found strangled at a fashion show, the old-fashioned but imperturbable Japanese detective, Superintendent Otani must unravel the mystery

Genres: Mystery, Japan, Crime

196 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Roy Peter Martin is an English author who has written under the pseudonyms James Melville and Hampton Charles.

James Melville was born in London in 1931 and educated in North London. He read philosophy at Birkbeck College before being conscripted into the RAF, then took up school-teaching and adult education. Most of his subsequent career has been spent overseas in cultural diplomacy and educational development, and it was in this capacity that he came to know, love, and write about Japan and the Japanese. His Superintendent Otani crime novels combines superb story-telling with a fascinating insight into modern Japanese life. He has also written an historical novel set in Japan, The Imperial Way.

Reviews

[Denise Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Superintendent Otani mystery has interesting characters (Otani and wife as well as Inspector Jiro Kimura) and setting in Kobe, Japan. The details of the setting are vivid and informative but the modern day, almost obligatory, casual acceptance of and glamorization of homosexuality and promiscuity is unfortunate and not for those who prefer a more wholesome read.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery was a fascinating read from beginning to end, pretty much like every Otani mystery. I found that it's best to start at the beginning of the series because they build upon one another. I really enjoy the characters and find them interesting, charming and some very humorous as well.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was hard for me to follow - partly because I know next to nothing about fashion and deals with department stores. There were too many similar names, and I had a difficult time recalling who was who.

There were some character changes, too. Kimura seemed to be actually falling in love. Hanae was not her usual composed serene self. Hara and Junko are taking more story time, while Ninja is fading into the background (where he's probably most comfortable).

But, the ending was well done, and I hadn't figured out who dunnit.