I recently finished the second part of Lady Joker ... Some reviewers are comparing it to the TV show 'The Wire'. I can see what they're getting at ... it does have depth and is well written, but Lady Joker is fairly bleak and doesn't have the character based humour that The Wire had. Still, its a cracking read, and i would recommend it to anyone who enjoys intricate and highly detailed crime stories. It also serves as a fascinating window into Japanese society, like all the best novels to come out of Japan.
I bought this one for a quid on the weekend. Its a nice little fantasy book. Recommended. Blurb: Grandpa used to say it all the time: Books have tremendous power. But what is that power really? Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse. After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people who have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone.
