Wrong Goodbye

The Wrong Goodbye is a classic Japanese hard-boiled noir that pays homage to Raymond Chandler. It follows homicide detective Eiji Futamura as he investigates a murder suspect's escape and becomes implicated in a dark picture of the U.S.-Japan postwar alliance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

In the heart of Japan's economic downturn, a gripping tale of hard-boiled noir unfolds, paying homage to the legendary Raymond Chandler. The Wrong Goodbye pits homicide detective Eiji Futamura against a shady Chinese business empire and U.S. military intelligence in the docklands of recession Japan.

The story begins with the discovery of a frozen corpse, that of an immigrant barman named Tran Binh Long, washed up on the shores of Yokosuka U.S. Navy Base in midsummer. As Futamura investigates this gruesome find, he encounters a peculiar customer from Tran's bar. Vietnam veteran pilot Billy Lou Bonney, who had served alongside Futamura during his time in the military, persuades him to transport three suitcases of goods to Yokota US Air Base late at night. However, their journey takes a sinister turn when Bonney disappears, leaving behind a dead woman.

Futamura becomes embroiled in a murder suspect's escape and is relieved from active duty. To make ends meet, he takes on hack work for a beautiful concert violinist named Aileen Hsu, an orphan who was adopted by a Japanese woman but whose birth mother has mysteriously gone missing. Meanwhile, a phone call from a bestselling yakuza author, who once dabbled in the black market in Saigon, hints at inside information on former Vietcong mole Tran and his old sidekick Billy Lou, both of whom crossed a triad tycoon who is acquiring vast tracts of Mekong Delta marshland for a massive development scheme.

As the story unfolds, the loose strands of flashback to Vietnam gradually build into a dark and intricate picture of the U.S.-Japan postwar alliance. The web of official lies and mysterious allegiances creates a murky world where trust is scarce, and every move carries a risk. The Wrong Goodbye is a masterfully crafted tale that delves into the depths of human morality, loyalty, and the consequences of power struggles.

Translated from the Japanese by Alfred Birnbaum, this gripping novel offers a unique perspective on the complexities of the postwar era, providing a thought-provoking exploration of the shadows that lie beneath the surface of a seemingly peaceful society.

Weight: 608g
Dimension: 167 x 240 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529400977