C.J. Hellman

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Born
Brighton, The United Kingdom
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Influences
Hillary Mantel, Tana French, John Le Carre, Patrick O'Brien ...more

Member Since
January 2026


I can't say that writing was what I always wanted to do, but it was always a big part of my life. Art, too, and that was what I set my sights on when I left school. perhaps it wasn't enough, or perhaps there were too many things I wanted to do because within a couple of years of graduating from university with a degree in Fine Art, I was living several thousand miles away, in Japan.

I have long had an interest in foreign cultures (mostly historical ones, it's true, and some entirely fictional), and my interest in the eastern Asia was stimulated by TV series like Kung Fu and The Water Margin, but I had never imagined I would spend such a large part of my life in this part of the world.

I was not what you might call an experienced traveler in t
...more

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C.J. Hellman I have always been interested in history, and the 1930's stood out as a time which was distant enough to have some perspective, but close enough to st…moreI have always been interested in history, and the 1930's stood out as a time which was distant enough to have some perspective, but close enough to still have a connection to the present day. I was, perhaps, also inspired by some of the people I met when i first came to Japan, and the stories they told of the time.(less)
Average rating: 4.33 · 3 ratings · 2 reviews · 2 distinct works
The Tiger's Gate (Oshima To...

4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings3 editions
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Fallen Blossom (Oshima Toky...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating2 editions
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C.J.’s Recent Updates

C.J. Hellman rated a book it was amazing
The Trespasser by Tana French
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Another winner from Tana French - as usual she gets inside her lead character's head and we are given a front row seat as she works her way through the unfolding layers of evidence. French's use of long conversations and interaction between the main ...more
" Hello everyone, I’m very happy to have Fallen Blossom listed as Book of the Month for September, and I’m looking forward to the chance to discuss it w ...more "
C.J. Hellman made a comment in the group A Good ThrillerC. J. Hellman: Fallen Blossom (Q&A) topic
" Hi Pam,

September or October would be good for me.

I'm sure I will enjoy talking to members, too.
...more "
" Hi Tim,

Thanks. It looks like I'm in the right place.

Chris
...more "
88212 1116447
" Thanks. I haven't read Grotesque, but I did read Out by the same author. Its descriptions of suburban Japan were a little depressing if you actually l ...more "
C.J. Hellman shared a quote
The Tiger's Gate by C.J. Hellman
“He ran his hand through his hair and gazed into a dark corner of the room. He wasn’t thinking, he was waiting. Somewhere there was an answer – he wasn’t sure if he wanted to find it.”
C.J. Hellman
C.J. Hellman is currently reading
The Trespasser by Tana French
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C.J. Hellman answered C.J. Hellman's question: C.J. Hellman
I have always been interested in history, and the 1930's stood out as a time which was distant enough to have some perspective, but close enough to still have a connection to the present day. I was, perhaps, also inspired by some of the people I met See Full Answer
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“He ran his hand through his hair and gazed into a dark corner of the room. He wasn’t thinking, he was waiting. Somewhere there was an answer – he wasn’t sure if he wanted to find it.”
C.J. Hellman, The Tiger's Gate

“He ran his hand through his hair and gazed into a dark corner of the room. He wasn’t thinking, he was waiting. Somewhere there was an answer – he wasn’t sure if he wanted to find it.”
C.J. Hellman, The Tiger's Gate

88212 A Good Thriller — 22386 members — last activity 54 minutes ago
We share a passion for action-packed, gripping, exciting, tense thrillers and mysteries, a genre rich with talented authors. We invite you to share yo ...more
1116447 Hardboiled American Crime and Worldwide Noir Fiction — 199 members — last activity Apr 26, 2026 07:03PM
Started somewhat as a reaction to the British cozy mystery of the Agatha Christie style (think Murder She Wrote), there came a demand for something mo ...more
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Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
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message 2: by C.J.

C.J. Hellman Hi Pam, thanks for reminding me. I have just added a comment to the thread.


message 1: by PamG

PamG Hi Chris. Can you check message 8 in your Author Spotlight thread in the group A Good Thriller? There's one small thing we need you to do in the September BOTM Thread. Thanks.


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