It takes a certain skill to build the plot of a detective story around a crime, and then carry the story through in a whole other way. I don't think Matsumoto was the first, but undoubtedly he remains one of the best in that regard.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

More a novella of under 100 pages than a novel, Suspicion is the study of a mind increasingly tortured and tormented by fear as it is a legal thriller. Interestingly, very little of the legal drama actually takes place inside a courtroom and the woman who is at the centre of the case stays at the periphery of Suspicion even though it's her defence that plays a pivotal part in making Suspicion the book it is.

Recommending this for fans of the author, even though it's very different from say, Tokyo Express or Inspector Imanishi Investigates.

This is a wonderful book originally written in Japanese and brilliantly translated into English, the work of translator, Jesse Kirkwood. I consider it a great privileged that I can read such compelling stories in my own language and in recent years I have enjoyed many such novels set in Japan.

Having enjoyed “Tokyo Express” and purchased “Inspector Imanishi Investigates”; I was delighted to learn that Penguin Classics were translating into English for the first time Seichō Matsumoto’s “Suspicion”. The book is due out at the end of May 2025 and I was therefore pleased to receive an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Penguin Press U.K, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a courtroom drama told mainly through the interactions of an investigatory journalist and the defence lawyers. It is also a murder mystery, where because of the suspect’s criminal past and clear motive, her guilt seems obvious.
It is a serious case however as a guilty verdict will carry a death sentence.
There seems to be little doubt that despite a lack of material evidence the defendant’s guilt will be upheld once it comes to trial.

A great insight into the constraints on the judicial system. The author, writing historically, prior to current social media posts, teases out those social pressures and prejudices that may impact the fairness of trial by jury. We are easily swayed and often reach a consensus opinion of guilt before any court appearance. The story is less than a hundred pages but it is an enthralling read, a can quickly enjoyed in one sitting.

The characters are well drawn and the unpicking of the circumstantial evidence and witness testimony makes one wonder about the safety of any verdict in a court of law.

I love this author and look forward to reading his books in English, it was a great joy to find they flow effortlessly; clear, easy to follow and the drama transcends any language and culture.