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The Earthquake Bird

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'The Earthquake Bird' by Susanna Jones is a psychological crime novel set in Tokyo, following the story of Lucy Fly, a British expat living in Japan who is suspected of murdering her friend Lily. The narrative is told through Lucy's memories, alternating between her childhood, her life in Tokyo, and the events leading up to Lily's murder. Jones' writing style is atmospheric and descriptive, capturing the loneliness and isolation of Lucy while providing insights into Japanese culture and society.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Lucy being a particularly complex and intriguing figure who evokes various reactions.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is atmospheric and engaging, with careful and deliberate prose that blends humor with psychological depth.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features Lucy, who is arrested for murder, with the plot intertwining her psychological reflections and flashbacks to her past, exploring relationships and motives.

Setting:

The setting in Tokyo is vividly depicted, contributing significantly to the themes of the narrative and character development.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and engaging, making it a compelling read that maintains suspense throughout.
Early this morning, several hours before my arrest, I was awakened by an earth tremor. I mention the incident not to suggest that there was a connection—that somehow the fault lines in my life came cr...

Notes:

Lucy Fly is an English woman living in Tokyo and is a murder suspect.
The story is told primarily from Lucy's perspective as she narrates her experiences.
Lucy has an unconventional relationship with herself, often referring to herself in the third person.
The murder mystery is more of a psychological drama than a conventional police procedural.
Lucy works as a translator, providing insights into Japanese culture and society.
The novel explores themes of isolation, identity, and personal history in a foreign land.
The narrative includes flashbacks to Lucy's troubled childhood and her life prior to the arrest.
The writing style is described as atmospheric, with detailed descriptions of Tokyo and Japanese customs.
Despite being a murder mystery, the focus is primarily on character development and emotional depth rather than the crime itself.
The book can evoke strong emotional responses, reflecting on personal obsessions and environmental factors.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include murder, psychological distress, and themes of trauma and isolation.

From The Publisher:

In Jones's haunting debut novel, readers are taken inside the mind of Lucy, who has fled a painful past to work as a translator in Japan. It is there that she begins an affair with a secretive photographer named Teiji. But it is when Lucy and Teiji befriend Lily Bridges that Lucy's own life begins to fall apart.

Ratings (2)

Loved It (1)
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Reader Stats (6):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (1)
Not Interested (3)

About the Author:

Susanna Jones grew up in Yorkshire and studied drama at London University. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages and has won the Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger, a Betty Trask Award, and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. She lives in Brighton.

 
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