Seicho Matsumoto’s Suspicion is a riveting psychological noir that delves into the complexities of innocence, guilt, and the destructive power of public opinion. The story follows Onizuka Kumako, a fierce and enigmatic woman with a shadowy past, whose seemingly perfect marriage to wealthy widower Shirakawa Fukutaro takes a tragic turn when he is killed in a mysterious car accident. As Kumako is thrust into the spotlight, she becomes the target of media scrutiny, with the press quick to label her a femme fatale responsible for her husband's death. Matsumoto masterfully builds the tension between Kumako's outward confidence and the growing suspicion surrounding her, creating a narrative that keeps readers guessing at every turn.

What makes Suspicion so compelling is Matsumoto’s ability to create a complex, morally ambiguous protagonist in Kumako. Her past with petty crime and her connections to the yakuza make her a character whose motivations are not immediately clear. The novel paints her as both a victim of circumstance and a woman with a strength that refuses to be easily crushed. As the investigation progresses and public opinion turns against her, Kumako’s steadfastness in proclaiming her innocence becomes central to the novel's psychological tension. Matsumoto expertly examines the influence of media on our perceptions of truth, weaving in themes of societal bias and the pressures faced by individuals under the spotlight.

The plot unfolds with intricate detail, as a meticulous defense lawyer begins to unravel the truth behind Fukutaro’s death. As the case progresses, doubt creeps in, and readers are taken on a twisting journey of conflicting perspectives, where nothing is as it seems. The tension builds steadily, with the ambiguity of Kumako’s innocence heightening the psychological stakes. Matsumoto's writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the nuanced dynamics of a media-fueled trial, while also exploring deeper themes of desire, reputation, and the human capacity for self-deception. Suspicion is a captivating noir thriller, offering an unforgettable exploration of the darker corners of human nature and the price of our convictions.

Award-winning crime writer Seichō Matsumoto’s ingenious novella dates from 1982. Matsumoto builds on a notorious, real-life crime from 1974 known as the “Beppu insurance murder” in which a husband was accused of killing his wife and stepchildren for an insurance payout. In Matsumoto’s version of events the likely criminal is a woman Kumako Onizuka. Onizuka is now awaiting trial for the possible murder of wealthy husband Shirakawa. But Onizuka’s already been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. Her case and, above all, her character ruthlessly dissected by ambitious reporter Moichi Akitani. His fiercely condemnatory articles have positioned Onizuka as a heartless femme fatale - not unlike Velma in Farewell My Lovely - who must have married aging Shirakawa for money. Akitani’s relentless smear campaign’s been so successful it’s become lore. Even finding a lawyer willing to defend Onizuka’s been a challenge. But there’s a snag, Onizuka’s known for violent acts of retribution backed up by her old Yakuza acquaintances. So, Akitani’s very existence may depend on a guilty verdict.

Matsumoto’s arresting piece incorporates lengthy conversations between Akitani and Onizuka’s lawyer, snippets from Akitani’s articles and forensically-detailed reconstructions of the alleged crime. But as Akitani becomes increasingly fearful that Onizuka might actually go free, Matsumoto changes tack steering us into feverish, noir territory – there are echoes of Poe in his depiction of the tortured, unravelling Akitani. Onizuka herself never makes an appearance, Matsumoto’s far more interested in how others see or construct her. Making her a woman enables an exploration of how gender figures in crime reporting and in the justice system. Some of the comments about Onizuka made me think of Amanda Knox during her murder trial or the harsh framing of Madeleine McCann’s mother in the weeks and months following her daughter’s disappearance. Even Onizuka’s vehement denials and claims of innocence are dismissed as theatrical and/or hysterical. Onizuka’s dubious past provides even more ammunition. It’s obvious too that Onizuka’s failure to conform to mainstream standards of femininity marks her out as suspect. She’s considered unusually tall; frequently referred to as ‘buxom’ as if to suggest she’s somehow designed to excite men’s desire for personal gain. It seems that anything and everything is a strike against her - even her name contains the character for demon. Tightly structured, Matsumoto’s story is a fascinating examination of culpability, discrimination and bias and, in its final sleight-of-hand scenes, nail-bitingly tense. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.

This is a really interesting look at a Japanese murder trial, perfect for fans of Butter. For me, one of the most compelling oarts is that at no point do we meet the accused, instead we piece together her story from interactions between lawyers and journalists and what they think of her.

Told with the usual charm of Japanese translations, and looking at issues of gender roles in Japan alongside the crime itself, this is a really enjoyable read.

Always liked Japanese stories and although this progresses along well, the ending was disappointing..
If your a fan of Japanese tales give it a go.

***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS***

wow wow!!! this took me by surprise!!!
this short novel hooked me up right from the beginning - i couldn’t stop reading!!! one can’t help but feel the anxiety of Akitani and because of that, i knew he was going to kill the lawyer!!! i liked the twist about the shoe!!! i kept thinking that if she comes out of jail then she will have all the money despite being such a horrible person but the twist changed everything which was satisfying to me! (very petty of me to think like this but i just hate those kind of plots where the horrible person ends up being rich 😵‍💫)

thanks to the publisher and the netgelley for the copy!

Rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors, anything by Seicho Matsumoto that is published in English is an absolute must-read. From 'Tokyo Express' to 'Inspector Imanishi Investigates' - and now we have the short but perfectly formed 'Suspicion'.

Onizuka Kumako is a strong independent woman, but when the car she and her husband are in plunges into a harbour only she survives. Very quickly she is accused of planning the crash in order to murder her husband, and articles in the press cause an outrage of hatred against her. . A dogged defence lawyer, Sahara, delves deeper into the case, and especially the article written by journalist Moichi Akitani. As doubts emerge, what develops is a classic crime novel that explores very modern concepts of trial by media.

A short novella doesn't always deliver depth of character and plot, but Matsumoto is such a master of his craft that this fully satisfies both as a crime novel and as a social comment on bias and prejudice. Perfect.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

📖 A lean, psychological mystery exploring crime, media scrutiny, and public perception
💭 Minimalist and compelling, with social commentary at its core
⚖️ Sharp premise, but emotionally distant and drags in parts

In 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘯, Seichō Matsumoto delivers a tense, compact mystery that explores how media narratives and public judgment can shape a person’s fate. The beginning is quite gripping—it immediately caught my interest with its stark tone and intriguing setup. At the heart of the story is a woman accused not because of hard evidence, but because of the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death and how others interpret them.

Interestingly, the main character remains distant throughout much of the novella. She isn’t actively questioned or developed in a way that brings her closer to the reader; instead, she exists mostly through other people’s eyes. While this likely reflects Matsumoto’s intention—to comment on how society constructs guilt—it also made the middle of the book feel strangely detached and even a little boring at times. The narrative dragged, and the emotional weight thinned as a result.

That said, Matsumoto’s prose remains clean, understated, and sharply observant. There’s a noir-like coolness to his writing, and he successfully weaves a pointed critique of how perception can outweigh truth. The ending, though somewhat rushed, did genuinely surprise me—I hadn’t expected that final turn, and it pulled the story back into sharper focus.

Suspicion might not hit with full emotional depth, but it succeeds in raising uneasy questions about guilt, media, and justice.

💭 For fans of classic crime fiction, minimalist prose, and morally ambiguous narratives that interrogate how society defines “guilt.”

By now I saw quite a few other people on my social media review this and I am kind of confused over the low rating. I enjoyed this one a LOT. It's too short to be a 5 star and for it being so short it did actually give a few things away too early. Which I guess that can push down the rating for others as well.

BUT the writing style was actually feeling like a treat, it was easy to follow, we changed styled and types in between and it just kept up the pace. I also am a big fan to read mysteries with a court or prison setting to change things up and also to learn about those systems in japan. I also research the Japanese media system and one of my all time favourite books is Seventeen by Hideo Yokoyama and if you enjoyed the perspective in this book you'll most likely enjoy this one too!

The translation is very stitled. It's hard to get into the novel due to the flat tone. Unfortunately I won't finish the novel.

I found Suspicion to be an interesting and pace crime thriller with a fantastic twist on the storytelling. The story of a murder at the centre with Kumako accused of being a femme fatale and murderess the story instead focuses on the actions of the lawyers and the journalists who are involved in the story rather than the woman herself. I found this ultimately a refreshing take on the crime and psychological thriller genre that often focuses on the ‘killer’ or the ‘victims’ of the crime but not those around them.

A quickish read, I found this to be pacy but keep your attention throughout as well as well offering a good insight into the psychological build up around the case. I will most definitely get this in physical and recommend it to any fans of the crime/psychological genre.
As always thank you to Penguin for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Suspicion by Seicho Matsumoto is an interesting novella centering on whether Onizuka Kumoko murdered her husband, Shirakawa Fukutaro. Shirakawa is a much older man and Onizuka is his much younger second wife who has a past.

I found the book particularly interesting as the story unfolds from the perspective of the journalist, Akatani, who is reporting on the case and also from the lawyers Hayama and latterly Sahara who takes the case and defends Onizuka. It’s interesting to see how the court of public opinion and the reporting of the case ahead of the trial portrayed and demonised Onizuka.

It’s an interesting taut read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin Press UK, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a novella concerning the trial of a woman with a criminal past who is suspected of driving her husband off a pier and drowning him while she swims to safety. A media frenzy ensues and a particular journalist is very critical of her. He ferrets out information from her lawyer. The psychology of the journalist is really the subject of the book.

The positives of the novella are that it sustains the reader's interest and provides an interesting perspective on gender relations and professional occupations in Japan (it was originally published in 1982 but the narrative is nonspecifically timed). The negative of the novella is that the crime element is very bare-bones and there is practically no development in finding clues or revelations.

If readers liked Tokyo Express and Inspector Imanishi Investigates they should know that this is a quite a different book which is more a psychological study than a crime book. If I had been correctly orientated on that score, I would have enjoyed it more.

I am grateful to have received an ARC from Penguin Classics and NetGalley.

Suspicion by Seicho Matsumoto (translated by Jesse Kirkwood)

You can always fall back on Japanese mysteries to give you something unique.

This story follows a trial where Onizuka Kumoko stands accused of murdering her husband, Shirakawa Fukutaro, a man 20 years her senior. The accusation stems from a sizable inheritance and a life insurance policy she had taken out in his name. While Onizuka firmly maintains her innocence, the townspeople and media seem convinced of her guilt, largely due to her past crimes and questionable behaviour.
As the case unfolds, it falls to her defense lawyer to uncover the truth and untangle the layers of suspicion surrounding her.

At just 112 pages, the book moves quickly, and I found the ending both surprising and entertaining.

While it may not have the kind of mind-bending twist I often associate with Japanese mysteries, this was still an engaging and intriguing read. A solid one-time read for when you're in the mood for something short and sharp.

'Suspicion' was a short but highly enjoyable read and an excellent translation. It wasn't the story I was expecting to get from the description (Kumako is barely a character in the story and I'd argue you learn more about her from the blurb than you do throughout the entire book) but I wasn't disappointed at all with the story I did get.

Rather than focusing solely on Kumako and the crime she's accused of committing, the story is told through the actions of the lawyers and journalists involved in the case. As the femme fatale image the media has conjured up for Kumako begins to unravel and it looks as though her innocence may be proven, the story pivots and ends somewhere you won't be expecting.

Matsumoto is clearly an expert at psychological suspense and left me wanting just a little bit more, but arguably the story does end at just the right point. This was my first Matsumoto read but it definitely won't be my last!

Thank you to Penguin Press UK and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. This review can be viewed on my Goodreads page at the following link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7617453092

Suspicion is a masterful psychological noir that explores the darker corners of human nature with precision and depth. Seicho Matsumoto crafts a tense, layered story that slowly peels back the layers of truth, perception and prejudice.

Onizuka Kumako is a striking and complex protagonist, far from a simple victim or villain. Her world of Tokyo nightlife, petty crime and yakuza ties sets a gritty backdrop that contrasts sharply with her sudden marriage to a wealthy widower. When tragedy strikes, Kumako becomes a lightning rod for suspicion and public condemnation.

The book excels in its nuanced exploration of how society judges and how easily assumptions can cloud justice. The relentless media scrutiny and the battle for innocence grip the reader, while the scrupulous defence lawyer introduces a subtle shift that unsettles what seemed certain.

Matsumoto’s prose is economical yet evocative, perfectly suited to the noir atmosphere. The translation captures the tense mood and psychological complexity with care.

Suspicion is not just a crime story but a profound meditation on bias, truth and the fragile line between guilt and innocence. It is a compelling, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Diverting crime story that was not overly well written but interesting enough to engage me until the end. I found the ending a bit unsatisfying and the overall exploration of media involvement in cases and the court of public opinion to be fairly simplistic. A fun and quick read but not one that will stay with me.

Onizuka Kumako is accused of killing her husband. her colourful life as a hostess and her gang involvement with petty crime has meant that many believe she is guilty without even a trail. Kumako is hounded by the press but when a lawyer takes up her case as a last resort when no one else wants to the true story begins to unravel with tragic consequences.

This was a short but extremely thrilling noir. I was hooked and as the story unfolded I was on the edge of my seat. The novel captured the tense atmosphere and the build up to the explosive ending; 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Far too brief to get anything remotely satisfying out of this, but for what it's worth, it's still a worthwhile read. Wish it was longer and more. Love the build-up of the tension and conflict laced with a kind of terrific air of mystery but it didn't promise enough, and ultimately the end was kind of anticlimactic. Having read this, I can absolutely understand why Matsumoto's books are so well received, and so well adapted into films. I think I would have enjoyed the narrative better in a different medium - something more more visual and multi-sensual like film . Even though this was written a while back, it doesn't feel dated or awkward to read. All in all , would recommend this for sure.

Suspicion is a sharp, quietly devastating psychological mystery by Seichō Matsumoto, one of Japan’s foremost crime writers. At its heart is Kumako Onizuka, a woman with a murky past who finds herself under public and legal scrutiny when her wealthy husband dies in a suspicious car accident. The case against her is circumstantial, yet damning in the court of public opinion.

Matsumoto masterfully dissects the corrosive power of rumor and prejudice, particularly when directed at women who live outside social norms. The novel’s tension builds not from sensational twists, but from the slow, relentless exposure of character, motive, and bias. Through the defense attorney Ritsuko Sahara — herself a woman defying convention — Matsumoto adds a layer of feminist critique that feels remarkably contemporary.
A mystery that compels the reader to question not just who is guilty, but why we are so quick to assume.

A short but perfectly formed suspense thriller by Seicho Matsumoto. It reminded me a little of Butter by Asako Yuzuki with the femme fatale character being accused of murder and a reporter writing about her... is there a connection there?

Anyway, a nice wee novella to add to your list.