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Tokyo Kill

Book 2 in the Jim Brodie thriller series

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"A stellar novel of action, adventure, and intrigue. Jim Brodie is a true 21st century hero, part of the new, gritty mythos, warts and all, but capable of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. On page after page of Tokyo Kill, skeletons bang on every closet door longing to be set free—and Barry Lancet delivers."
   —Steve Berry,
New York Times bestselling author

A LONG-LOST TREASURE.
A WARTIME MASSACRE.
A MODERN-DAY KILLING.

When an elderly World War Two veteran shows up unannounced at Brodie Security begging for protection, the staff thinks he's just a paranoid old man. He offers up a story connected to World War II and to Chinese Triads operating in present-day Tokyo, insisting that he and his few surviving army buddies are in danger.

Fresh off his involvement in solving San Francisco's Japantown murders, antiques dealer Jim Brodie had returned to Tokyo for some R&R, and to hunt down a rare ink painting by the legendary Japanese Zen master Sengai for one of his clients—not to take on another case with his late father's P.I. firm. But out of respect for the old soldier, Brodie agrees to provide a security detail, thinking it'll be an easy job and end when the man comes to his senses.

Instead, an unexpected, brutal murder rocks Brodie and his crew, sending them deep into the realm of the Triads, Chinese spies, Japanese kendo warriors, and an elusive group of killers whose treachery spans centuries—and who will stop at nothing to complete their mission.


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Reviews & Praise

"Art, social issues, culture and, yes, war—all the things that make or break a society—converge in Barry Lancet's exciting second novel about antiques dealer Jim Brodie... Lancet hit the ground running last year with his superb debut, Japantown, and continues that winning streak with Tokyo Kill."
   —New York Times/AP (Oline Cogdill)

"A book worth reading and a series worth starting. And never fear: a third Brodie thriller is on the way." (read full review)
   —BookReporter (Joe Hartlaub)

"This excellent mystery has many layers and the reader (and Brodie) is kept guessing throughout. The ending was quite a surprise."
   —Deadly Pleasures magazine (George Easter)

"Barry Lancet, an American expat who has lived in Japan for more than two decades, [weaves] in history, art, cuisine and martial arts seamlessly. Readers who enjoy fast-paced tales of intrigue are in for a treat."
   —Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Colleen Kelly)

NEW! "A fine thriller, beautifully constructed."
   —Winnipeg Free Press

NEW! "Barry Lancet's thriller Tokyo Kill is a worthy sequel to his first novel, Japantown.... The author, who has lived in Japan for 25 years, tells the fast-moving story in chapters that are so short it's easy to read 'just one more' and then read several more before you know it. Catch up with the Brodie series."
   —Honolulu Star-Advertiser (John Berger)

"This sequel to Japantown is another fast paced thriller with good action and mystery, and a nice twist at the end... The story is not stuck in Japan, but moves to Miami and a South American country for the final confrontation... Great action, good plot, and interesting characters. What more could the reader ask for? Highly recommended."
   —Pulp Den (Tom Johnson)

"A first-rate mystery, at least as good as Japantown. That novel could have worked just fine as a one-off, but this second book is a clear indicator that Lancet considers Jim Brodie a series-worthy character. He'd be right, too." (read full review)
   —Booklist (David Pitt)

"Boasting surefire characters including the taciturn, thick-chested chief detective Noda and notorious crime figure called TNT who owes Brodie favors,...[Lancet's] series remains highly distinctive."
   —Kirkus Reviews

"The wonderful thing about this novel from Barry Lancet is that not only does the author provide plenty of thrills as the story is told, but there's fascinating detail about so many subjects related to Japanese history and art... The book delivers on every level, both as a thriller and as a look inside an Asian culture with which many Westerners may not be familiar." (read full review)
   —Yvonne Klein's "Reviewing the Evidence" (Christine Zibas)

"Tokyo Kill is above all an excellent mystery that stands on its own for great storytelling. However, Lancet, who has lived in Japan for more than twenty-five years, also offers some nuanced understandings of the China-Japan relationship that have relevance for today's tension-filled situation."
   —Forbes / The Council on Foreign Relations (Elizabeth Economy)

"Nobody else can do what author Barry Lancet does in his Japan-themed thriller series. Lancet is an American who has lived in Japan for over twenty-five years. He has a deep understanding of Japanese culture and history, and a strong sensibility for those aspects of Japan that seem most foreign to Americans. Tokyo Kill would be a very good thriller based solely on the plot and writing. Include the fascinating cultural context which permeates the story and you've got a must-read thriller masterpiece." (read full review)
   —Book Buzz (Amy Rogers of ScienceThrillers.com)

"A superb book ... I could not put the book down and fought sleep rather than wait till the next day to find out how the book ended. Yes, Jim Brodie survives the most astonishing odds, but who cares—the story sparkled, raced and I still managed to get a history and an art lesson, outstanding!" (read full review)
   —BestSelling Crime Thrillers

"The inescapable factor of the story comes from just how deeply interesting the rich Japanese setting, the political intrigue of the crime plot, and all the other titillating features of this rich thriller novel, which will undoubtedly have readers flipping pages at a rapid pace till there is nothing left. I personally await another entry in this fantastic series with bated breath!!"
(read full review)
   —A Bibliophile's Reverie

"My newest find is Barry Lancet.... He takes what is likely a touchy subject, World War II and the part that both Japan and China played in it and makes it the center of the story. Add in the tales of an emperor's lost treasure, love, romance, treachery, and family ties and Lancet gives us a complex. layered, complicated story that never lets up.... The story may be action driven but there are also tender moments with Jim's daughter, a potential girl friend, and even his employees. He has a strong sense of justice, loyalty, and compassion.... Take a chance on Lancet, you won't regret it."
   —Bea's Book Nook

"The wonderful thing about this novel from Barry Lancet is that not only does the author provide plenty of thrills as the story is told, but there's fascinating detail about so many subjects related to Japanese history and art....The book delivers on every level, both as a thriller and as a look inside an Asian culture with which many Westerners may not be familiar."
   —"Reviewing the Evidence" (Christine Zibas)

"Barry Lancet's Tokyo Kill grabs a reader from the first page and never lets go."
   —Record Searchlight, Redding, CA (Chloe Winston)

"The author has lived and worked in Japan for more than a quarter century, and the flavor and information about the country permeates with authenticity throughout the novel. His description of various types of martial arts practiced in Japan is a further exhibit of his expertise. Powerfully written, Tokyo Kill is a very enjoyable read, and this reader is looking forward to additions to the series."
   —"I Love A Mystery" (Theodore Feit)

"Tokyo Kill is a mesmerizing and meticulously constructed tale that whisks the reader away to some of the most shadowy and fascinating corners of Tokyo—and then down the rabbit hole. Masterfully crafted. Even better than Japantown. Barry Lancet does honor to the Japanese tradition of single-minded devotion to one's art." (read full review)
   —Sumo Joe Says

"Tokyo Kill, the second exciting Jim Brodie crime thriller by Barry Lancet, is an impressive novel of spirited adventure and edgy intrigue. It's obvious Lancet has firsthand knowledge of Japan and has done extensive research regarding the historical elements. This, along with realistic characterization and notable plot development, makes Tokyo Kill a dynamic read."
(read full review)
   —Fresh Fiction (Tanzey Cutter)

"A stellar novel of action, adventure, and intrigue. Jim Brodie is a true 21st century hero, part of the new, gritty mythos, warts and all, but capable of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. On page after page of Tokyo Kill, skeletons bang on every closet door longing to be set free—and Barry Lancet delivers."
   —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author


Simon & Schuster, hardcover, September 2014, ISBN: 9781451691726