Tokyo Express

A Novel

By: Seicho Matsumoto, Amor Towles - introduction, Jesse Kirkwood - translator

Narrated by: Eleanor Matsuura

From “Japan's Agatha Christie” (The Sunday Times): A secluded bay. An apparent lovers’ suicide. And a pair of detectives with a nagging suspicion that the pieces don’t add up. Can you solve one of the most astonishing literary puzzles ever written?

“An irresistible Hitchcockian gem: a fiendishly plotted crime novel told in crisp, elegant prose.”—Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train

In a rocky cove at Hakata Bay, the bodies of a young and beautiful couple are discovered. Standing on the cold beach, the police see nothing to investigate: The flush of the couple’s cheeks and the empty juice bottle speak clearly of cyanide, of a lovers’ suicide. But in the eyes of two men, senior detective Torigai Jutaro and Kiichi Mihara, a young gun from Tokyo, something is not quite right. Together, they begin to pick at the knot of a unique and calculated crime.

Now widely available in English for the first time, Tokyo Express is celebrated around the world as Seichō Matsumoto’s masterpiece.

Critic reviews

“The debut novel of bestselling writer Seichō Matsumoto . . . first published in Japan in 1958 and never out of print, [is an] ingeniously plotted railway mystery.”—The Guardian

“[Tokyo Express] stands out thanks to the ‘elegant spareness of the prose,’ as Amor Towles writes in his introduction, but also because of the ingenuity of the tightly coiled plot . . . this novel floored me, and I expect it will floor other new readers, too.”—New York Times Book Review


“The descriptions are elegant, the plotting even moreso, with complex characterizations that belie the slim size of the volume. If you read one reissue this year, pick up this one.”—CrimeReads

“A timetable mystery par excellence!”—Ed Park, author of Same Bed Different Dreams

“Tokyo Express by seasoned Japanese mystery writer Seichō Matsumoto is a brilliant reminder that mysteries and thrillers are not unique to the Western world . . . Japanese crime fiction fans will especially like [it]. Nonetheless, this book is perfect for all dedicated to crime investigations and the entire gamut of personnel found once a crime has been committed.”—Great Mysteries and Thrillers

“Matsumoto’s debut novel is credited with launching the mystery genre in Japan. The story is built on the meticulous examination of data; timelines and maps and train schedules figure prominently. Its underlying message about malignant corporate growth in the aftermath of World War II adds poignancy and raises the novel above the genre’s parameters. . . . A tidy vintage whodunit with a forensic flavor.”—Kirkus Reviews

“’Japan’s Agatha Christie’ gets an overdue wide launch . . . [Tokyo Express is] a work of art.”—Book Riot

“A tight and fun read that is really perfect if you’re traveling.”—Maris Kreizman, The Maris Review

Tokyo Express

Great detective story very entertaining
Well written, glimpse into Japanese culture, different from British and American detective stories

A lovely, simple police procedural

I really enjoyed this story. The police found a scene and they read it for what they thought it was but it kind of nibbled at their brains a little bit and they couple of them kept investigating and I imagine this is how real police work happens.

Just enoughdetail to keep me interested, but not so much I got bored

Fantastic Story

I’ve come to really love Japanese murder mysteries. Such compelling characters and circumstances. The layers and layers of plot twists are immensely entertaining!

Train Timetables

What most struck me about “Tokyo Express” was the train schedules. The plot focuses a lot on when particular trains arrive and depart, and it seems they are always on time, never a minute late. Less likely in the US!

Overall, a mildly interesting but clever detective story, beautifully narrated.

Predicable outcome sorta boring

While it was a quick read it was sorta without substance and ultimately wasn’t much of a mystery as a police procedural and a boring one at that.