Honeymoon to Nowhere

Etsuko has fallen in love with the shy young university lecturer who clumsily courts her. But her family objects to his past: his father was a war criminal; his deceased younger brother, a murderer. When Etsuko lies to force the marriage through, she thinks their troubles are over, but on their wedding night, the groom leaves in response to an urgent phone call. In the morning, he is still missing.Praise for Honeymoon to Nowehere

“Forces readers to examine uncomfortable issues about themselves: What would I have done in her place? Could I have resisted that temptation? . . . A remarkable achievement.”
—The Washington Post Book World

“Takagi's masterful psychological portraits here recall those of Patricia Highsmith or William Irish in their depiction of individuals enveloped by intrigue that threatens to destroy them . . . State Prosecutor Saburo Kirishima must use all his subtlety to untangle the strands of jealousy and greed that have made Etsuko a bride and a widow on the same night.”
—Publishers Weekly


Praise for Akimitsu Takagi

"A delightful, different book, not only because of its unusual setting and premise, but because Takagi is a powerful plotter and constructor of fascinating, complex characters. Introducing American audiences to great foreign mysteries (as well as unusual domestic voices) has become a Soho Press trademark, and almost everything in its catalog is top-notch. The Tattoo Murder Case is a high-water mark even by those high standards."
—The A.V. Club

“Clever, kinky, highly entertaining . . . I want more.”
—The Washington Post Book World

“Elegant.”
 —The Seattle TimesAkimitsu Takagi (1920–1995) studied engineering at Kyoto University and later worked for the Nakajima Aircraft Company. Over the course of his writing career, he published fifteen popular mysteries and won the Japan Mystery Writers Club Award.