Spain was still under the domination of the Franco dictatorship in 1975, and Japan itself harbored fears of terrorism by the radical left... Freelance public relations expert Urushida Ryo is asked by one of his major clients to help locate a man sought by famous Spanish guitar craftsman Jose Ramos: a Japanese guitarist known as Santos, who had visited Ramos' workshop twenty years earlier. In spite of his outstanding guitar technique, it had proved impossible to find him in Japan's flamenco guitar world. Urushida begins to trace Santos' footsteps from the scarce leads remaining... Author Osaka draws heavily on his own experiences in the advertising industry to portray the intense competition surrounding advertising agencies and their musical instrument manufacturing clients, as well as behind-the-scenes deals with consumer action groups. The story delves into the secrets surrounding the "Red Star of Cadiz," a legendary guitar created by a master craftsman during the Spanish Civil War, and the desires and losses of the people around it. And as Urushida probes deeper he is gradually pulled in a vortex of intrigue involving the Spanish ultra-left and secret police. Multiple story lines intersect, doubling back on one another and weaving a rich tapestry of memories, including Urushida's love for Risayo, at a rival PR firm; the activities of the staff at Urushida's agency; and the search that began as a simple and heartwarming request. The action shifts to Spain and accelerates, drawing the reader into a gripping story all the more real for the stunning visual imagery of Spain, and instilling a newfound love for flamenco guitar. Winner of three prestigious awards: the 96th Naoki Prize, the 40th Mystery Writers of Japan Prize, and the 5th Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize. The perfect hard-boiled introduction to Japanese crime and suspense fiction!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Mandatory reading for mystery/thriller fans,
By Fearless Reviews "D. Patrick Miller, Editor" (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)
This review is from: The Red Star of Cadiz (Paperback)
'saka G''s The Red Star of Cádiz (translated by Usha Jayaraman) is an intriguing thriller set in 1970s Japan and Spain and includes everything an international mystery should have: action, a smattering of sex, humor and memorable characters. It all begins when Urushida Ry', a PR expert doing business in Tokyo, is asked to find a missing man from decades ago. Urushida's search, however, quickly becomes a hunt for a national treasure in the form of a diamond-studded guitar. Unfortunately, this leads him to be on the wrong side of a fascist government and a violence-prone student movement bent on killing Spain's Franco.
G' handles terrorism and fascism realistically and with an eye to fairness - no small feat. He also makes his characters believable and sympathetic, despite their engagement in some horrible acts. Couple that with a story that keeps you on edge until the very last page, and you have a novel that should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in the mystery/thriller genre. And the best thing that can be said for it? It makes you want to read the author's other works because if they are even half as good as this one, you're in for one heck of a ride.-- Doug Brunell for the FEARLESS REVIEWS
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