Masako Togawa (1931-2016) was one of Japan's foremost writers of crime fiction. Born in Tokyo, she worked as a cabaret performer before beginning to write crime fiction backstage, during her breaks. Her debut thriller The Master Key (also available from Pushkin Vertigo) won Japan's prestigious Edgowa Rampo Prize, and Togawa went on to become a hugely successful author, while continuing to lead a colourful parallel life as a singer, actress, feminist, nightclub owner and gay icon.

• Prologue 7Part 1: The HunterThe First Victim (November 5) 35The Second Victim (December 19) 60The Third Victim (January 15) 74Interval 93Part 2: Collecting The EvidenceThe Lawyers 99The Blood Bank 128The Black Stain 172Insertion—A Monologue 189The Black Stain—Continued 192Epilogue 205

The PD James of Japan

Masako Togawa (1931-2016) was one of Japan's foremost writers of crime fiction. Born in Tokyo, she worked as a cabaret performer before beginning to write crime fiction backstage, during her breaks. Her debut thriller The Master Key (also available from Pushkin Vertigo) won Japan's prestigious Edgowa Rampo Prize, and Togawa went on to become a hugely successful author, while continuing to lead a colourful parallel life as a singer, actress, feminist, nightclub owner and gay icon.

• Prologue 7Part 1: The HunterThe First Victim (November 5) 35The Second Victim (December 19) 60The Third Victim (January 15) 74Interval 93Part 2: Collecting The EvidenceThe Lawyers 99The Blood Bank 128The Black Stain 172Insertion—A Monologue 189The Black Stain—Continued 192Epilogue 205

The PD James of Japan

Masako Togawa (1931-2016) was one of Japan's foremost writers of crime fiction. Born in Tokyo, she worked as a cabaret performer before beginning to write crime fiction backstage, during her breaks. Her debut thriller The Master Key (also available from Pushkin Vertigo) won Japan's prestigious Edgowa Rampo Prize, and Togawa went on to become a hugely successful author, while continuing to lead a colourful parallel life as a singer, actress, feminist, nightclub owner and gay icon.

• Prologue 7Part 1: The HunterThe First Victim (November 5) 35The Second Victim (December 19) 60The Third Victim (January 15) 74Interval 93Part 2: Collecting The EvidenceThe Lawyers 99The Blood Bank 128The Black Stain 172Insertion—A Monologue 189The Black Stain—Continued 192Epilogue 205

The PD James of Japan