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Missing in Tokyo
When his older sister Charlie vanishes while traveling through Asia, seventeen-year-old Adam decides he can do more to find her than the nonchalant police and his distraught parents. Without telling his family, he boards a plane for Tokyo. He suspects Charlie may have been involved in the twilight world of bar “hostessing”—or worse. With help from new friends, especially the intriguing and beautiful Aiko, Adam prowls the town. His search ultimately leads him to Tokyo’s underbelly of gangsters and drug dealers. Will he learn the truth about his sister’s disappearance before it’s too late?
253 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 17, 2014
This book was a several day, light read, and yet it felt like more of a travel book than a young adults' story book to me, with the amount of unnecessary details of Japan being dropped at seemingly random moments, contributing nearly nothing to the entire story.
Despite the fact that the first quarter of the book is set in England, Japan felt almost forced into the book; as if the author was desperate to use his new found knowledge of Japan after a trip, and wrote this book as a chance to show off. I was left waiting for the plot to properly kick in! Although I did enjoy finding out more about Japan (as it is a very interesting country), I was more interested in what Adam was going through and thought, and too much of the book seemed focused on how "different" Japan is.
Looking at the blurb, I was looking forward to a complex, well-researched plot about Charlie's disappearance and how it happened. We skim the edge of the yakuza and dip our foot into hostess bars, but we never dive in, and the plot never fully evolves. Adam hardly develops as a person over the course of the book, and I am left with no real impression of what has changed. To be honest, the ending was unsatisfactory, and was too convenient and seemed to tie the ends together all too well.
One of the things that annoyed me the most was how people were presented in Japan. The way in which Marks writes Japanese accents felt ugly, with somewhat racist undertones. If we don't write how English people "pronounce" their words, then why does he make an exception for Japanese people? There is no correct way to speak English - we don't pronounce the "k" in "know", yet we still write "know", so why does Marks write "nuffin", or "boyfren"? It felt in my face, as if Marks was trying to make sure that I understood that Japanese people talked "weird", and I just didn't like it.
And then, the poorly squeezed in Aiko. The way she was written was vaguely fetishistic; complimented for being 'small' yet 'perfectly-formed' - something that seems valued in Asian characters. Marks writes a somewhat stereotypical, white overview of a Japanese girl, and it just doesn't work. I empathised for her, I really did, yet she never becomes more than a Japanese girl who cared for Adam and spoke broken English. The romance didn't seem to work in a book which was, as the blurb says, a "tense, edgy story with sinister echoes". Of course, it's hard to write foreign places and characters without being criticised, and you probably will be. But there are ways to write things without being overly offensive and stereotypical, and Marks did not succeed on this point.
Overall? It dragged me in at the start with the promise of an exciting adventure through Japan, and despite the adequate style of writing, I was left with a slightly racist overview of Japan and an unfulfilling ending. Disappointing.
Despite the fact that the first quarter of the book is set in England, Japan felt almost forced into the book; as if the author was desperate to use his new found knowledge of Japan after a trip, and wrote this book as a chance to show off. I was left waiting for the plot to properly kick in! Although I did enjoy finding out more about Japan (as it is a very interesting country), I was more interested in what Adam was going through and thought, and too much of the book seemed focused on how "different" Japan is.
Looking at the blurb, I was looking forward to a complex, well-researched plot about Charlie's disappearance and how it happened. We skim the edge of the yakuza and dip our foot into hostess bars, but we never dive in, and the plot never fully evolves. Adam hardly develops as a person over the course of the book, and I am left with no real impression of what has changed. To be honest, the ending was unsatisfactory, and was too convenient and seemed to tie the ends together all too well.
One of the things that annoyed me the most was how people were presented in Japan. The way in which Marks writes Japanese accents felt ugly, with somewhat racist undertones. If we don't write how English people "pronounce" their words, then why does he make an exception for Japanese people? There is no correct way to speak English - we don't pronounce the "k" in "know", yet we still write "know", so why does Marks write "nuffin", or "boyfren"? It felt in my face, as if Marks was trying to make sure that I understood that Japanese people talked "weird", and I just didn't like it.
And then, the poorly squeezed in Aiko. The way she was written was vaguely fetishistic; complimented for being 'small' yet 'perfectly-formed' - something that seems valued in Asian characters. Marks writes a somewhat stereotypical, white overview of a Japanese girl, and it just doesn't work. I empathised for her, I really did, yet she never becomes more than a Japanese girl who cared for Adam and spoke broken English. The romance didn't seem to work in a book which was, as the blurb says, a "tense, edgy story with sinister echoes". Of course, it's hard to write foreign places and characters without being criticised, and you probably will be. But there are ways to write things without being overly offensive and stereotypical, and Marks did not succeed on this point.
Overall? It dragged me in at the start with the promise of an exciting adventure through Japan, and despite the adequate style of writing, I was left with a slightly racist overview of Japan and an unfulfilling ending. Disappointing.
May 1, 2014
Dissatisfied with his parents and police’s vapid response to his sister’s kidnapping, Adam takes law enforcement into his own hands and flies to Tokyo to search for his sister Charlie. I’m a sucker for sibling relationships in fiction. Adam’s decision to fly to Japan to save his sister was endearing. However, Adam proved to be an irritable and purely unlikable character.
I trudged through this book. Trudged. Adam spent half the book in the UK wondering whether or not to go to Japan in the first place and feeling irritated by his parent’s response.
Once he arrived in Japan, he spent the last half wondering if he was doing the right thing. Lesson to you readers – if you don’t think you should do it, don’t do it.
According to Charlie’s best friend, Alice, she left the host bar she was working at with a strange man and hasn’t been seen since. Adam investigates the bar and questions some workers and figures out some things are amiss.
Adam’s adventure in Tokyo was interesting to read, to an extent. The voice and writing style was appropriate and I appreciated the quirky chapter titles (note; Marks used Janglish he found when he was in Tokyo. They have no relevance to the story). However, the pace wasn’t sufficient enough.
There were some things that lacked. One, the conflict and purpose wasn’t strong enough. It was silly and almost laughable. I believe Marks could have created a much more appealing ‘missing person’ drama if he concentrated on the family life of the missing person. During the early investigation on of the English police officers is skeptical of Adam because he was the only one who knew Charlie was in Japan in the first place. It would be a whole lot interesting if Marks continued down that path.
Also, Adam’s resolve was questionable. His actions were ill timed and lacked common sense. Is it because he’s seventeen? I don’t think so, probably just bad characterization. For example, if I were missing in Japan I wouldn’t want my brother to arrive in one of the most populous cities in the world (without telling my parents) and binge drink and have random romps of romance.
Yes, romance. Marks included a love sequence that really had no place in the story. It was random and maybe even a little racist. It seemed fetishized.
If you plan to read this book, prepare for an unresolved/dissatisfying ending.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Quotable Quotes: ‘Have a nice day penguin duck’ (chapter title).
Recommended For: mystery, Tokyo enthusiasts (limited), and family dynamic.
I trudged through this book. Trudged. Adam spent half the book in the UK wondering whether or not to go to Japan in the first place and feeling irritated by his parent’s response.
Once he arrived in Japan, he spent the last half wondering if he was doing the right thing. Lesson to you readers – if you don’t think you should do it, don’t do it.
According to Charlie’s best friend, Alice, she left the host bar she was working at with a strange man and hasn’t been seen since. Adam investigates the bar and questions some workers and figures out some things are amiss.
Adam’s adventure in Tokyo was interesting to read, to an extent. The voice and writing style was appropriate and I appreciated the quirky chapter titles (note; Marks used Janglish he found when he was in Tokyo. They have no relevance to the story). However, the pace wasn’t sufficient enough.
There were some things that lacked. One, the conflict and purpose wasn’t strong enough. It was silly and almost laughable. I believe Marks could have created a much more appealing ‘missing person’ drama if he concentrated on the family life of the missing person. During the early investigation on of the English police officers is skeptical of Adam because he was the only one who knew Charlie was in Japan in the first place. It would be a whole lot interesting if Marks continued down that path.
Also, Adam’s resolve was questionable. His actions were ill timed and lacked common sense. Is it because he’s seventeen? I don’t think so, probably just bad characterization. For example, if I were missing in Japan I wouldn’t want my brother to arrive in one of the most populous cities in the world (without telling my parents) and binge drink and have random romps of romance.
Yes, romance. Marks included a love sequence that really had no place in the story. It was random and maybe even a little racist. It seemed fetishized.
If you plan to read this book, prepare for an unresolved/dissatisfying ending.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Quotable Quotes: ‘Have a nice day penguin duck’ (chapter title).
Recommended For: mystery, Tokyo enthusiasts (limited), and family dynamic.
April 21, 2013
I was actually enjoying this book until Adam met Aiko, and the ending collapsed on itself.
So Adam's sister Charlie is reported to have gone missing in Japan by her best friend Alice. Adam's family, back in the UK, freak out. But because his grandparents are having health issues and one of them could drop dead any moment, his parents are forced to stay in the country and can do nothing but wait.
When his parents start acting like Charlie has died, Adam gets fed up and decides to go to Japan himself to look for her. Telling no one but his girlfriend Suzy, his parents freak out even more when they hear of their missing son and must find where both him and his sister are.
Meanwhile, the police station is finding clues through Adam's email while Adam is in Tokyo, trying to find out where Charlie is.
One thing that really bothered me was Aiko, a girl Adam hooks up with one night after getting particularly drunk. She's hot, she's good in bed, she pretends she knows no English for a long while and Adam claims he has a connection with her, both physically and mentally, which he does not have with his girlfriend back home. I'm not saying that it's impossible for someone to fall in love with someone who they hooked up with while being so drunk they couldn't remember anything the next morning, but out of the whole scheme of the whole entire world, how many people have done this? And if they have, I'd expect them to have better reasons than super hot and good in bed.
The second that really irritated me was the ending.
So Adam's sister Charlie is reported to have gone missing in Japan by her best friend Alice. Adam's family, back in the UK, freak out. But because his grandparents are having health issues and one of them could drop dead any moment, his parents are forced to stay in the country and can do nothing but wait.
When his parents start acting like Charlie has died, Adam gets fed up and decides to go to Japan himself to look for her. Telling no one but his girlfriend Suzy, his parents freak out even more when they hear of their missing son and must find where both him and his sister are.
Meanwhile, the police station is finding clues through Adam's email while Adam is in Tokyo, trying to find out where Charlie is.
One thing that really bothered me was Aiko, a girl Adam hooks up with one night after getting particularly drunk. She's hot, she's good in bed, she pretends she knows no English for a long while and Adam claims he has a connection with her, both physically and mentally, which he does not have with his girlfriend back home. I'm not saying that it's impossible for someone to fall in love with someone who they hooked up with while being so drunk they couldn't remember anything the next morning, but out of the whole scheme of the whole entire world, how many people have done this? And if they have, I'd expect them to have better reasons than super hot and good in bed.
The second that really irritated me was the ending.
May 22, 2014
wow...i jst finished the most pointless novel ever. took me almost a mnth, it was sooo boring. but i kept at it, 10 pages each day, hoping for a great ending that will redeem the remaining 90%. wat i got was an ending so lame n so unbelievably stupid, that i had to write a review to warn ppl. DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK!!!
May 3, 2021
god adam was such an ignorant prick
January 18, 2015
Tokyo: All Alone in the Big City
By: Graham Marks
After receiving a random call from his sisters travel buddy, Adam decides to immediately tell his parents that Charlie, Adams sister, has gone missing. Charlie and her friend were suddenly gone missing in the big city of Tokyo, it seemed like no one was going to do anything but wait. Relentless and impatient, Adam decides to take it to himself and look for his older sister.
Narrated by Adam himself, the boy has his own problems like being suspended from school and getting his parents to meet his girlfriend. But as he finds out his sister goes missing, he found it to be the most challenging task of his 18 year old life. He leaves for Tokyo during his suspension time and without telling his parents. Traveling around all of Tokyo was useless until he then gets assisted by the gangs of Tokyo, which was not his primary plan. With themes like violence, mystery, crime, and dishonesty the book shows how much determination and heart one needs to do something as challenging as finding someone in an unknown city.
Spoken with fear, confidence and hope, Adam makes it feel as if though the reader were in his spot. He talks a bit about everything, so as a reader you know what his struggles are and how much he has to give up to save his sister. Other struggles he faces in the book are shown in a sequence that had him running the streets as a group of boys were trying to hurt him.
This book is a hands down amazing read for people who are into themes like mystery and crime. It’s like a Taken movie but instead of Liam Neeson staring its Adam and we get personal with him. Questions come to your head the second you start reading the book, and I believe that is a good book as the author can pull that off so quickly. What happens to the girls, who took them, where the girls and much more are, are asked in less than 5 chapters of the book.
By: Graham Marks
After receiving a random call from his sisters travel buddy, Adam decides to immediately tell his parents that Charlie, Adams sister, has gone missing. Charlie and her friend were suddenly gone missing in the big city of Tokyo, it seemed like no one was going to do anything but wait. Relentless and impatient, Adam decides to take it to himself and look for his older sister.
Narrated by Adam himself, the boy has his own problems like being suspended from school and getting his parents to meet his girlfriend. But as he finds out his sister goes missing, he found it to be the most challenging task of his 18 year old life. He leaves for Tokyo during his suspension time and without telling his parents. Traveling around all of Tokyo was useless until he then gets assisted by the gangs of Tokyo, which was not his primary plan. With themes like violence, mystery, crime, and dishonesty the book shows how much determination and heart one needs to do something as challenging as finding someone in an unknown city.
Spoken with fear, confidence and hope, Adam makes it feel as if though the reader were in his spot. He talks a bit about everything, so as a reader you know what his struggles are and how much he has to give up to save his sister. Other struggles he faces in the book are shown in a sequence that had him running the streets as a group of boys were trying to hurt him.
This book is a hands down amazing read for people who are into themes like mystery and crime. It’s like a Taken movie but instead of Liam Neeson staring its Adam and we get personal with him. Questions come to your head the second you start reading the book, and I believe that is a good book as the author can pull that off so quickly. What happens to the girls, who took them, where the girls and much more are, are asked in less than 5 chapters of the book.
May 17, 2015
What an odd tale.
While doing a crazy traveling adventure, Adam's sister suddenly disappears in Tokyo. After reporting her as a missing person locally, Adam waits days with no results. The local and Japanese police both seem curious about her disappearance but not overly concerned.
So Adam, tired of seeing his mom upset and not getting any information, grabs the next flight to Tokyo and flies there himself. From there, the story is interesting but...I don't know, lacked something. I didn't find Adam terribly interesting. And I thought his insta "Do I love her" thing with Aiko a little quick.
I did like Tony's POV and even the insight into the embassy police representative - although I thought the portrayal of bumbling Japanese police completely inaccurate.
I also wasn't a huge fan of how it all panned out
I did find the chapter names completely random and nonsensical so I loved the comment at the end by the author and got a good chuckle. I'm glad it doesn't make sense in either language.
While doing a crazy traveling adventure, Adam's sister suddenly disappears in Tokyo. After reporting her as a missing person locally, Adam waits days with no results. The local and Japanese police both seem curious about her disappearance but not overly concerned.
So Adam, tired of seeing his mom upset and not getting any information, grabs the next flight to Tokyo and flies there himself. From there, the story is interesting but...I don't know, lacked something. I didn't find Adam terribly interesting. And I thought his insta "Do I love her" thing with Aiko a little quick.
I did like Tony's POV and even the insight into the embassy police representative - although I thought the portrayal of bumbling Japanese police completely inaccurate.
I also wasn't a huge fan of how it all panned out
I did find the chapter names completely random and nonsensical so I loved the comment at the end by the author and got a good chuckle. I'm glad it doesn't make sense in either language.
April 18, 2019
Decent beginning and ending. Became a bit muddy in the middle so worthy of 3 stars I feel.
March 25, 2019
Missing in Tokyo by Graham Marks is a novel about a boy who lives in London named Adam Grey who leaves his home in a desperate attempt to find his sister who is reported as missing in the streets of Tokyo, Japan. His sister, Charlie, was going around an around-the-world travel adventure until she mysteriously stopped staying in touch once she reached Japan. She did tell Adam that she worked in a bar as a waitress though. But then she began to stop emailing Adam, and he became so worried that he took his parent’s money and flew to Tokyo to find Charlie. What I think is crazy is that he is so ambitious to find his sister, and just goes to Tokyo with such a “no turning back” attitude. He keeps trying to find her but at the end of a long day of searching he drinks his problems away at a bar. He wakes up in the morning with a beautiful Japanese girl named Aiko who he falls in love with. They form a semi-relationship, even though there is huge language barrier. Once his parents find out that Adam went to Tokyo via his girlfriend back in London named Suzie, Adam is on the run, but is caught from the police, and the two must part ways. Before Adam goes on the train to head back to the airport, Aiko and Adam have one last moment together, and she gives him a package. She says something to him in Japanese, but when he asks what she says, she says he will find out later. Once he gets in the taxi to go to the airport, he opens this package. It contains a calendar for the month of August and the 26th is circled. It says “Here I come to London, to study!”. It leaves the reader at an ending to ponder… a serious “what happens next?” moment. Personally, I do believe that Graham Marks did not tie in the ending well enough, and he did leave out too many gaps in the plot. The goodreads review section was packed with low ratings of the book. But if you think about it, it is kind of healthy for a book to leave off at such an open note because it creates such a great desire to know what will occur next. It is also kind of an interesting ending with Aiko saying she will return. But what I can definitely say is that it is for your mind to finish to story or the missing puzzle pieces. Yeah sure, maybe a book needs to have a definitive ending to prove its conclusion, but Missing in Tokyo is for your brain to decide. I enjoy this and it makes you think more about the possibilities and demonstrates how books do not always have to be so concrete. I also liked all the Tokyo language and culture references that Marks makes, it showed me a lot about the ways of Tokyo and Japan. It was a very easy and solid read that wasn’t too complicated. I really liked this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
Part way through this book, I thought I had had enough. Then it kicks in and becomes something a bit more interesting.
It’s definitely a young adult novel. It has the right amount of reference to sex, drugs and alcohol to make it feel identifiable to a youth audience and get them reading. Tokyo is alien enough to grab the reader’s attention and sustain it. None of it is very deep, but there is good motion throughout and the book has a trajectory that is satisfying to readers making their way into more grown up books.
As an older adult, I kept wanting greater depth from the love story, mafia story and the relationship with Adam’s parents and sister. Then I remembered that I wasn’t the target audience. Remembering that makes sense of the optimistic ending. Growing up is tough enough and sometimes a good escapist story, with mystery, police action and romance is all that is needed.
Ultimately, a satisfying book when viewed from a teen perspective and I’m always a sucker for a happy ending, that’s well expressed and emotionally honest. Adam and Aiko’s story has enough integrity to keep you reading to the end. Ended better than I was expecting and, as I say, was a satisfying read.
It’s definitely a young adult novel. It has the right amount of reference to sex, drugs and alcohol to make it feel identifiable to a youth audience and get them reading. Tokyo is alien enough to grab the reader’s attention and sustain it. None of it is very deep, but there is good motion throughout and the book has a trajectory that is satisfying to readers making their way into more grown up books.
As an older adult, I kept wanting greater depth from the love story, mafia story and the relationship with Adam’s parents and sister. Then I remembered that I wasn’t the target audience. Remembering that makes sense of the optimistic ending. Growing up is tough enough and sometimes a good escapist story, with mystery, police action and romance is all that is needed.
Ultimately, a satisfying book when viewed from a teen perspective and I’m always a sucker for a happy ending, that’s well expressed and emotionally honest. Adam and Aiko’s story has enough integrity to keep you reading to the end. Ended better than I was expecting and, as I say, was a satisfying read.
June 24, 2017
Waaaaaaaa
¿qué decir de este libro? ♥
Primero que nada, me llamó la atención por el simple hecho de que la mayor parte de la historia se desarrollaba en Tokio, comencé a leerlo y me atrapó su trama, seguí leyéndolo, sorprendiéndome, teniendo mis dudas, descifrando cosas antes de que sucedieran...
TODO mejoró cuando ése personaje femenino apareció, mi personaje favorito sin duda alguna, aunque no se supo mucho sobre ella... ése final inesperado y tan lindo... ahhhhh fue hermoso.
También ayuda mucho el hecho de que en algunas partes de la historia, cambiamos de punto de vista y sabemos qué está pasando en Londres o con los policías... no sé, lo hace más interesante.
Sinceramente no me esperaba que éste libro me fuera a gustar tanto... ni que fuera a ser de mis favoritos del año, pero lo logró.
Simplemente lo recomiendo por completo, de principio a fin.
¿qué decir de este libro? ♥
Primero que nada, me llamó la atención por el simple hecho de que la mayor parte de la historia se desarrollaba en Tokio, comencé a leerlo y me atrapó su trama, seguí leyéndolo, sorprendiéndome, teniendo mis dudas, descifrando cosas antes de que sucedieran...
TODO mejoró cuando ése personaje femenino apareció, mi personaje favorito sin duda alguna, aunque no se supo mucho sobre ella... ése final inesperado y tan lindo... ahhhhh fue hermoso.
También ayuda mucho el hecho de que en algunas partes de la historia, cambiamos de punto de vista y sabemos qué está pasando en Londres o con los policías... no sé, lo hace más interesante.
Sinceramente no me esperaba que éste libro me fuera a gustar tanto... ni que fuera a ser de mis favoritos del año, pero lo logró.
Simplemente lo recomiendo por completo, de principio a fin.
October 28, 2019
This book has a very interesting concept that allows the author to question the morals of average people from different age groups. I really enjoyed the books character development, the parents in particular. All of the simple events that are on going throughout the book make the story realistic and interesting. Over all I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars because while it was fun to read, and very engaging the core of the book was uncreative and unoriginal; I'm sure I could find many books like this one.
September 11, 2017
Missing in Tokyo is a novel about a boy named Adam trying to find his sister in Tokyo. I think it is an excellent book that people should read because it goes back and forth between two countries, Tokyo and England.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
DNF page 154
very avarage 3star mystery
then the racist caricaturea of japanese people happened.
the aiko happened.
the epitome of white bloke who doesnt wash who reckons "cute japanese girls" will crawl all over him anyway. disgusting.
very avarage 3star mystery
then the racist caricaturea of japanese people happened.
the aiko happened.
the epitome of white bloke who doesnt wash who reckons "cute japanese girls" will crawl all over him anyway. disgusting.
April 14, 2018
Me gustó por algunos detalles que se dan de la ciudad y el mínimo misterio que se maneja en la historia. Ojalá la trama hubiera sido un poquito más profunda.
December 21, 2021
This book was meh for me. I felt sorta dissatisfied with the ending because finding his sister never really happened? Idk maybe it wasn’t me for me.
Other than that it was a good light read.
Other than that it was a good light read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2022
Un livre assez spécial. Inhabituel de mes lectures. Ce côté road trip te donne cette sensation de découvrir, voyager. Mais pour part long à lire... se laisse lire mais pas incroyable non plus.
January 1, 2023
Good optoon for some light mistery reading, perfect for subway reading.
July 16, 2023
the only thing I have to say about this book is BRUHHHH
February 25, 2025
Good book
June 20, 2016
As many people have already supplied a synopsis of what the story is about, I will not post one here and go right ahead with what I thought of the book.
For the first 3/4 of the book, Adam really just wanders around or eats/drinks something. It was an easy read but it was pretty boring. Yes, it did have descriptions about what you can find there and some district names but overall you could have gotten that information from a guidebook. It is hard to believe that all that takes place only happens within a week's time frame. He walks around Tokyo, falls madly in love, and gets (minorly) in trouble with the Yakuza.
With 50 pages left in the book, it actually got interesting but I always get nervous when something exciting happens so close to the end. This usually means that it could potentially be resolved way too quickly. It could have been so much more of a strong thriller if the author had expanded upon the last portion but it was quickly resolved. I was very disappointed in how quickly it was over.
The ending kinda dragged on. There were a couple chapters chapters where the main character just did nothing and this could have easily been summed up in a couple of sentences.... or not been used at all.
For the first 3/4 of the book, Adam really just wanders around or eats/drinks something. It was an easy read but it was pretty boring. Yes, it did have descriptions about what you can find there and some district names but overall you could have gotten that information from a guidebook. It is hard to believe that all that takes place only happens within a week's time frame. He walks around Tokyo, falls madly in love, and gets (minorly) in trouble with the Yakuza.
With 50 pages left in the book, it actually got interesting but I always get nervous when something exciting happens so close to the end. This usually means that it could potentially be resolved way too quickly. It could have been so much more of a strong thriller if the author had expanded upon the last portion but it was quickly resolved. I was very disappointed in how quickly it was over.
The ending kinda dragged on. There were a couple chapters chapters where the main character just did nothing and this could have easily been summed up in a couple of sentences.... or not been used at all.
June 10, 2010
Charlie, the main character older sister. She went missing when she traveling around asia. Adanm the main character went and look for her without knowing where he could find her. When he arrive in tokyo he met a girl there name Aiko. Afterwards he got in volve with the japanese yakuza. Adanm later find out the reason why his sister went missing.i think the book sucked. In the book Charlie wonder round Asia but the story was foucus in Japan.
August 13, 2015
If you like a good thriller, Graham Marks , TOKYO won't let you down. A great sense of location and some nice unexpected twists. I recommend this book to everyone although it does drag on a bit, it is still a good book. This book is like the first bite of chocolate. An explosion of things that never quite live up to its expectation.
February 4, 2016
I found the ultimate premise for Charlie going missing somewhat anti-climactic. But Adam's determined search for his sister in Tokyo and the culture clash and language barriers he faces are the real heart of the book and that's what made it interesting for me. Might make good companion reading for fans of manga and Japanese pop culture.
March 18, 2019
I didn't really enjoy the book, it seemed bland to me. It's not an insult towards the author I just really did not enjoy it. The characters felt like cookie cutters of a tumblr user's oc's, and the first 100 pages are hell. The pacing is slow and the build up is even slower Kids! F#*k, I'm gonna go read an old series of mine. Re:edit 3/18/19
May 3, 2013
A book that is like the first bite of chocolate. An explosion of things that never quite lives up to its full promise.
I thought the ending was rushed and disappointed and didn't see the many connections and conclusions making sense.
Now been deleted
I thought the ending was rushed and disappointed and didn't see the many connections and conclusions making sense.
Now been deleted
April 23, 2014
Well that ending was like bad! No other word for it really! It made the whole book well pointless and a bit of a waste. Aside from that it was okay and the writing style was readable but the ending just ruined it!
October 3, 2015
After reading what seem like 10 chapters, I got really bored. And when that happens, I usually just skim the rest of the book. The story wasn't focused on the plot - finding his sister - and the ending was okay... *Coughs* *Unexpected end* *Coughs*
August 1, 2010
I will read anything about Tokyo! This is a slender book, both in size and plot but I didn’t really care as it’s basically a lightweight travelogue of Tokyo and thus brings the nostalgia. Blub!
December 18, 2010
AAWWWWWEEEEESSSOOOMMMMMEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews