Lady Joker: Volume 2

Recognized as a standout in Japanese crime literature, "Lady Joker" by Kaoru Takamura reaches its thrilling climax in its second installment. A tale set in Tokyo, it follows a quintet of men who regularly gather at a racetrack and decide to execute a daring plan. Their target—the CEO of Japan's leading beer company—becomes a pawn in their scheme to expose and extract money from the corrupt financial backers of the corporation. Dubbed 'Lady Joker,' this group strikes their first blow against the company after their demands go unmet, triggering a series of escalating attacks. As tension mounts, the shadowy ties between big businesses and criminal enterprises are laid bare, shedding light on the complex motives and lives of all involved, from victims to aggressors. The story, echoing the infamous real-life Glico-Morinaga kidnapping that shook Japan for two years without resolution, reimagines this pivotal moment in Japan's contemporary narrative. Yoko Ogawa, author of "The Memory Police," describes it as an expansive novel that powerfully illustrates how individuals on society's periphery can be swallowed by their own inner darkness.