Tokyo Zangyo (Detective Hiroshi Series Book 4)
Rights Sold
| Publisher | Michael Pronko Publishing |
| Publication | Jul 30, 2021 |
| Format | Paperback/Softback |
| ISBN | 9781942410256 |
| Pages | 340 |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 8.5 in |
| Age | Adult 18+ |
| Price | $24.99 |
Tokyo Zangyo (Detective Hiroshi Series Book 4)
In a city built on endless overtime, some people clock out for good.
When a senior executive dives from the rooftop of a media empire, the fall is written off as another casualty of “zangyo”—Japan’s notorious overtime culture. But Detective Hiroshi knows better. He’s seen how the city chews up people and calls it business.
To the suits upstairs, it’s an unfortunate headline. To Hiroshi, it’s a message. His investigation drags him through a maze of neon and nicotine: lavish hostess clubs, empty conference rooms, and ledgers that hide more than numbers.
With his mentor, Takamatsu, and the stolid Sakaguchi, Hiroshi follows the money, the favors, and the silence. Every lead brings him closer to the darkness at the heart of Japan Inc.—a system that rewards loyalty and work, work, work, while burying the truth under a mountain of paperwork.
From the Marunouchi boardrooms to the Shinjuku backstreets, polite smiles mask quiet threats. Secrets are traded over whiskey. And somewhere between the late trains and the last drink, Hiroshi realizes he’s not just solving a case—he’s staring down the machinery that keeps Tokyo alive.
Tokyo Zangyo is more than a murder mystery. It’s a descent into the shimmering darkness of modern Japan: a world of ambition, desperation, and corporate ghosts. Every clue drags Hiroshi closer to the truth—that Tokyo’s most dangerous killer might not carry a weapon at all.
Beneath the work deadlines, something deadly lurks.
Reviews, Awards & Endorsements
Reviews
"A superb procedural thriller with an always entertaining and appealing cast. The final act, which boasts a convincing and satisfying wrap-up, is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting Hiroshi's next case or seeking out previous series installments." Kirkus Reviews
"Pronko's best series book yet. Hiroshi is now as synonymous with Tokyo crime fiction as Harry Bosch is to LA noir." Best Thrillers
"The interplay between characters, a sense of place, and a murder mystery that plays out on an especially involving stage will keep both prior readers and newcomers to Detective Hiroshi's world thoroughly engaged and guessing to the end. A standout in the genre." Midwest Book Review
"The character of Hiroshi has developed over the course of the series, and the true value of Tokyo Zangyo comes out of the way that this character has developed. International readers who can't travel to Tokyo currently will love Tokyo Zangyo's immersive representation of the megacity." Crime Fiction Lover ★★★★
"Skillfully captures the essence of Tokyo. Splendidly depicted, the metropolis, the characters, and the cultural lifestyles and traditions came to life. The story is impeccably written, with a stunning and deeply involved plot, an incredible setting, and extraordinary characters." Reader's Favorite
"The author uses his wealth of sheer passion for Tokyo and its people, and writes this unique color and vibrancy into his characters and their surroundings. This continues to be an international police procedural that is suspenseful and has its own amazing flavor." Reader Views ★★★★★
"From the gripping opening scene that sets a deadly tone, to the breakneck investigation's dramatic climax, this novel rarely lets up in intensity or intrigue. The writing is highly accessible, making this a fast-paced read that could be devoured in a weekend. Being able to manipulate simple language into a compelling plot is the sign of a confident storyteller who knows precisely how to hook an audience. Pronko deserves such praise for this latest Detective Hiroshi thriller, a multilayered mystery that hits hard and strong as both a high-caliber detective thriller and a trenchant take on the world's priorities." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★★
"A complex mystery, fast pacing, and a cast of charismatic (and often gritty) characters...his ability to offer such interesting and diverse characters to the reader brings this novel alive." Wishing Shelf Book Review ★★★★★
"The novel starts out with action and never lets up until the mystery is solved, taking the reader on a t...
Gold Medal Reader’s Favorite Mystery (2022)
Gold Medallion Book Readers Appreciation Group (2021)
Gold Award Literary Titan Book Award (2021)
Silver Award Independent Publisher Awards IPPY (2022)
Silver Medal Global eBook Awards for Mystery Fiction (2022)
Bronze Award Reader Views Literary Awards (2021-2022)
Author
Michael Pronko
Michael Pronko is a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir and music. He writes the Detective Hiroshi series of detective mysteries set in Tokyo and the Tokyo Moments series of essays on Tokyo life. Both series have won awards and five-star reviews. Michael also runs the website, Jazz in Japan, which covers the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo. During his nearly 30 years in Japan, he has written about Japanese culture, art, society and politics for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, and Artscape Japan and appeared on NHK TV and Nippon Television about his writings.
Michael grew up in Kansas City, studied philosophy at Brown University, and then traveled for years. He taught English in Beijing for two years and studied Chinese for one year. Somewhere in there, he finished an MA in Education and another in Comp Lit before completing his Ph.D. on film adaptations of Charles Dickens.
He finally settled in Tokyo as a professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuin University. His seminars focus on contemporary novels, American culture, and film adaptations. His research interests include film adaptation, crime fiction, jazz, and contemporary novels. After discussing Kurt Vonnegut or Jackson Pollock in class he’s in the right frame of mind to wander Tokyo contemplating its intensity.
All of his books have received awards and strong editorial reviews. Kirkus Reviews selected his second novel, The Moving Blade for their Best Books of 2018. His next two novels received Mystery of the Year from Thrillers.com. The fourth in the Tokyo Moments series, Tokyo Tempos, was awarded winner status by the Pencraft and Nonfiction Authors Association and was editor’s choice at Feathered Quill.
More at:
http://www.michaelpronko.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pronkoauthor
https://twitter.com/pronkomichael