Here are four novels in translation to check out this month, all excellent for crime lovers. Enjoy!
Seichō Matsumoto, The Quiet Place
Translated by Louise Heal Kawaii
(Modern Library)
Seichō Matsumoto has been enjoying somewhat of a literary renaissance since his mid-century masterpieces of suspense have come back into print over the past few years; in the latest to be reissued from Modern Library, The Quiet Place, a salaryman investigates the secret life of his seemingly perfect spouse after she dies of a heart attack in an unusual part of town. As he uncovers more and more of her hidden passions, he must reckon with how little he knew about the woman he loved, while deciding whether or not to confront those implicated in her death. A beautiful tale, subtly told, clinically precise, and emotionally shattering.
Jurica Pavičic, Mother of Sorrows
Translated by Matt Robinson
(Bitter Lemon Press)
Mother of Sorrows takes on the mantle of familial suffering and the ways we allow ourselves to be destroyed for the good of others. In this parable of grief, love, and culpability, a young teenager’s murder is the catalyst for a family’s slow destruction, their willingness to cover up the crimes of one in order to save the status of many. The novel is also a wry exploration of historical amnesia amidst post-war prosperity—the appearance of innocence seems more important than any reality of guilt, a pristine reputation more essential than any good behavior, and a quick arrest of a community pariah a better salve to law and order than the proper search for the right culprit.
Masako Togawa, The Lady Killer
Translated by Simon Grove
(Pushkin Vertigo)
This is more of a new edition than a new release, but hey, when this book first came back into print in 2017, I didn’t have this column yet, so fair’s fair. Togawa is pretty much the coolest person to ever write crime fiction—here’s a snippet from her bio: “She worked as a cabaret performer before beginning to write crime fiction backstage, during her breaks…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.” That background is all there in The Lady Killer, where a string of deaths is tied to a careless homme fatale. Who’s been killing all his former conquests? And will he be able to prove his own innocence (at least, when it comes to murder)? The novel is a fascinating portrait of double lives and the Tokyo underworld, and makes for an excellent complement to The Quiet Place.
Morgana Kretzmann, The Red Earth
Translated by Daniel Hahn
(HarperVia)
The Red Earth is an ecothriller with supernatural elements that packs a serious emotional punch. In a remote area of interior Brazil, three women come together to defy a hydroelectric damn that threatens a beloved nature preserve, while wrestling with their own demons. A tour de force of righteous fury that demands to be reckoned with, and an insightful dissection of a community on the precipice of destruction.
