Tokyo Girl. (A Frank Ryan Mystery). (Rapid Reads). Brian Harvey. Victoria, BC: Raven Books/Orca, 2016. 138 pp., pbk., pdf & epub, $9.95 (pbk.). ISBN 978-1-4598-1076-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-4598-1077-8 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4598-1078-5 (epub). Grades 11 and up / Ages 16 and up. Review by Christina Pike. *** /4 Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

excerpt:

When I finished, the man cleared his throat and set off on another long Back-and-forth with Akiko. He sounded slightly less murderous now.

"He had a job for you," Akiko said.

"I already have a job. I was trying to do it when your-this person showed up."

"I won't translate that," Akiko said.

"What kind of job?"

"One of the bars he owns. In Kichijoji."

"I live in Kichijoji."

"That's why he found you a place there. He has a vacant for a late-night jazz pianist."

"How many bars does he own?"

"No idea."

"But the one in my neighbourhood just happens to need a new piano player? Come on."

"Take it," Akiko said.

He did look like to sort of person who could make things happen quickly. And I wanted to do it. Playing a single sappy tune on a good piano had been like a jolt of twelve-year old whiskey after a long dry spell.

"I'll think about it," I said. Akiko looked at me the way you'd look at a not-too-bright so -year-old.

"I'll tell him you're very grateful, and ask when you can start."

I still had to know one thing. "What happened to the other piano player?"

Akiko laughed and said something to the man. He grunted. They conferred. She turned back to me.

"A problem with one of his fingers." Then the Ray-Bans were back on and the crocodile briefcase back in his hand. I decided to change the subject.

Tokyo Girl is Brian Harvey's second novel in the “Frank Ryan” series, with the first being Beethoven’s Tenth. Ryan is in Japan teaching piano lessons. During his time there, he meets some unusual characters that fall on the wrong side of the law. Given Ryan’s inquisitive nature, he first sees Tokyo Girl on a train and is desperate to know more about her. Quickly, he becomes caught in her web.

      In Tokyo Girl, Harvey continues to develop the Frank Ryan character for his readers. He also introduces a dark underground side of Japan which includes murder, crime bosses and the sex trade business.

      A novel not for the faint of heart. Quick paced and full of tension.

Recommended.

Christina Pike is the principal of St. Paul's Junior High in St. John's, NL.

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