No Souls On The River

Tokyo MPD Mysteries #2

by M. Kato

Homicide detective Hayashi Teruo and his partner, Miyazaki Shinji are juggling their personal and work lives, trying to keep their relationship a secret from their colleagues at the Tōkyō MPD.

In the supernatural realm, the souls of the dead are disappearing from the Sanzu River, before they have reached the end of their journey in the afterlife. As a Shinigami responsible for sending ghosts to the other side, Shinji is being investigated on the suspicion that he might have destroyed the spirits.

Things turn from bad to worse when Teruo and Shinji look into a gruesome murder that shares similarities with the closed homicide case from Shinji’s past in Hiroshima. As they work on connecting the two cases, Teruo and Shinji find themselves at a crossroads when Shinji’s ex arrives in Tōkyō bringing Shinji’s dark past with him.

Shinji’s powers start to slowly spiral out of control, threatening to put an end to the future they wanted together.


No Souls On The River is a steamy paranormal police procedural. It's Book 2 in the series and features a happy ending. The book contains profanity and sexually explicit scenes meant for mature audiences only.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Ghosts

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2023

About the author

I’m an author of MM Romance set in Japan. I love blending spicy romance with other genres, such as paranormal and mystery. If you enjoy a mix of genres and very steamy scenes, you’re in the right place!

Keep in touch:

Newsletter signup for news, recs & freebies ➜ https://tinyurl.com/3wdedy9e

Instagram ➜ https://bit.ly/3uLQo1K

Reviews

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25**** stars


This one was a bit messy plotwise but boy did I love this second installment still. The mystery around Teruo’s unexplainable healing powers is driving me nuts but the premise for the next book promises to finally reveal the secrets hidden their past. CAN’T FUCKING WAIT!!


Loved their relationship, tho. It’s good to see them in their private moments. 🫠

“It’s so good here with you,” Shinji said. “I don’t want us to ever leave this bathtub.” “Same, but someone’s gotta pay the water bill,” Teruo answered between kisses. Shinji poked his ribs. “You’re ruining my fantasy with your bills.”
⏦

“Don’t take off the suit. Keep it on.” Teruo’s brows rose, and he smiled wickedly. “Got a thing for suits, hm?” “Got a thing for you in a suit.” Teruo hauled Shinji down from the table and swung him around. “You wanna be cuffed?” “Yes, please.”
⏦

“You’re staring,” Shinji said, his gaze still on the TV. “I’m admiring you.” Teruo kissed the top of his head, inhaling Shinji’s sandalwood scent. “Understandable.” Shinji nodded. “Carry on.” Teruo chuckled, trailing his knuckles against Shinji’s over-stuffed cheeks. “So humble.”
⏦

***********
Tokyo MPD Mysteries

Book 1 - The Red Collar - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - No Souls On The River - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Violets and Violence - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - A Taste of Poison - release tbd

[PaperMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as the first book ... with much more backstory provided for MCs Shinji and Teruo. I keep getting amused by the traditional/respectful bowing done within the Tokyo MPD workplaces. Some aspects of the Japanese beliefs regarding the afterlife got a little confusing for me but that did not detract from an overall fast-paced plot. A couple of plot-threads carried over from the first book were resolved with a couple more being carried forward to the next book (which I'm now anticipating very much).

[Maijie · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Souls On The River was one of my anticipated sequels and it did not disappoint at all. Though I wasn't that really keen on the romantic aspect of the two main leads this time around, I really found the case quite intriguing as it's totally different from that in The Red Collar.

Shinji's struggle in trying to balance out his supernatural duties with that of being a police officer in the non-supernatural world was cranked up in this instance as he has a more personal stake in the case. Keeping Teruo's knowledge of the supernatural and his ability to heal Shinji a secret from the supernatural authorities has placed so much pressure on him as he try to find justice for the victim.

I really love the world with it's lore and the intricacies of the hierarchy of the order in the supernatural, the creatures and the various relationships they have with the ordinary people. The side characters were interesting and were fleshed out enough to have very distinct personalities. The growth and character development of Teruo and Shinji here as they both struggle in trying to keep their secrets while maintaining their relationship was nicely done as well. There were answers provided from some of the burning questions in Teruo's mind, however more questions arose as the story progressed.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to more adventures with these two.

This would be 4.25 stars out of 5.

I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.

[Amur Thera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The good
    + The trust between them
    + Grumpy Teruo going all soft for Shinji
    + Shinji's friendship with Keiko
    + Teruo trusting and loving Shinji so much he even agrees to speak to the Yakuza leader
    + Shinji getting his revenge on Ueda
    + The way they didn't give up on their relationship even when they realized Teruo could actually kill Shinji
    + The worldbuilding
    + The cover


The neutral
    o I waited too long between reading this and writing a review, so I probably forgot to mention a lot of cool things
    o There are a few small plotlines that end on a sort-of cliffhanger. Now I'm really impatient for the next book


The bad
    - The punishment for the big bad was still unknown when the book ended. I want to know what happened and if the punishment was fitting


Quotes

    "You're perfect."
    "You always say that, but we both know I'm not."
    "I'll rephrase it. You're my definition of perfect."

    "You're staring."
    "I'm admiring you."
    "Understandable. Carry on."

I enjoyed this book so much. I love Teruo and Shinji and I hope there will be many more books about them. I'm really looking forward to the next one, at least. Would absolutely recommend the series.

__________


I've decided to finish reading this book (yay!) after I managed to contact the author. I'm really glad to hear that the author did not use an unethical AI tool to create these covers, and I stand corrected. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the book now!

__________


DNF 73%


I was really enjoying this book and I'm very invested in the mystery and the relationship between Teruo and Shinji. However, while I was reading this book, the cover was updated to a new version (as seen here on the Amazon page, as GR has not been updated yet). Since there is no attribution to the cover designer mentioned in the book, and the cover shows great similarities to other AI-generated book covers, I assume this cover was created using an AI tool. I have posted an explanation on why I don't support the use of unattributed AI-generated covers in this review. Therefore, I have unfortunately decided to DNF this book, either permanently or until the author properly attributes the designer of the cover.
I have tried to find an email address or a contact form to reach out to the author, but unfortunately, I was unable to find a way to contact the author and ask for further clarification.

[Leigh Gaskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Read!

I don’t hand out five stars often, but No Souls on the River was so good! This series DOES NOT get the hype it deserves! The world is so fascinating and intricate, I could read so many spin offs from this series if M. Kato wanted to grace us with those stories!

The crime in this one was different from the first but no less intriguing. Teruo really struggled in this book I think as to how he was going to prove who the culprit was and bring them to justice as a non-supernatural working a clearly supernatural case. And he and Shinji both suffered with Shinji’s stress and subsequent power control mishaps and what that meant for Teruo. We got some answers on that front but also more questions (M. Kato left us hanging in the best way!) and we also got some answers for Shinji and his case from Hiroshima as well.

I loved the addition of Keiko, she was humorous, helpful, and pivotal when her help was needed most. I’m glad that there will be another book but also that she will be included!

I’m so excited to continue on this journey with Teruo and Shinji!

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 2.5 stars **

I didn't care for the mystery. It was unimaginative. The investigative process was minimal. The author was very short in their descriptions of everything. The resolution was less than I hoped for. The humor was so so. This story was pretty basic PNR. The writing style was a bit simplistic for my taste. I liked the MCs and the chemistry they had though. I do not know if I am going to continue with this author in the future.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re perfect.”
Shinji drew back his energy, then averted his eyes. “You always say that, but we both know I’m not.”
“I’ll rephrase it. You’re my definition of perfect.”
Shinji blushed. “And you’re mine.” — Terou and Shinji

Warnings: From the author; The book contains a discussion about a possible suicide (alluded to, not described); physical abuse (described on page); emotional abuse (shown on page); a discussion regarding a mother’s and her child’s death during childbirth (not shown on page).
There might be other heavy topics discussed in the book. Reader discretion is advised.

This is a fantastic continuation of the series, with some funny and relatable lines. It answers some of the questions left hanging at the end of book one while exploring quite a different side of the supernatural world. The main standing question at the end of this book is how are they going to handle those healing abilities. I do appreciate that their strongest ally in that whole issue is someone who should be Terou's worst enemy. I quite that ally too, he's surprisingly charming. I like the development of Shinji and Terou's relatuonship. There are some moments where the steam was at a wait-what level but that is on me. Learning so much about Shinji's past tragic backstory (tm) is just pain.

There are some strong women in this series. Notably the victim in this case Keiko, who has a strong mind and saves herself and others after people refuse to. She also proves herself compassionate. Suzuki and Megumi are also gorgeous and strong. Holding their own in what could easily be a man's world. No Souls On The River has basically a single victim death, Ishikawa Keiko, but is tied strongly to Shinji's past and the death of Chief Sakai Haruna. It is a reminder that dying or being injured isn't the only way you can be a victim. The villain in the story and the reason for their actions is well executed and oh so human. As with The Red Collar, there is plenty of information given to allow readers to play along.

As an aside, did we know that the adorable kitties Dango and Mochi were highly sensitive to the supernatural? They are amused by the ghosts and befriend Keiko, she loves them. Also, Terou is a die-hard cat dad. This does not go unnoticed and it is one of his most appealing attributes. I still recommend this for readers who enjoy MM romance heavy on mystery with a paranormal twist. I fully intend to come back to this series when Kato releases a third book in this series, Violets and Violence (eta November/December 2023).

“Ah, I think you have an authority kink.”
“Well, I am in a relationship with my boss.” — Terou and Shinji

A representative gif:

[Luz Rivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how to make this review spoiler-free, so I'll just say: I hate Shinji's ex. I didn't expect Teruo to be so kinky, Shinji's doesn't surprise me 🤣🤣🤣

I'm sorry what happened to Nobuo. Although I did suspect her, I always knew it wasn't entirely her fault. Damn Ueda! I hope he rots in a cell.

Now I'm going to read the next book because I need to know what's going to happen to Teruo's healing powers, to know where he got them from and to know who was tampering Teruo's soul.

[Martianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first book

I enjoyed reading this book even more than The Red Collar and I loved that one a lot. I liked Keiko's character and I'm happy to be reading about her in the next book. Not to mention the relationship between our MCs. Totally relationship goals :). Highly recommend it and waiting patiently for Book 3.

[audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot but it was a little less enjoyable than book one. The procedural part suffered some hiccups in my opinion due to Ueda’s cover story for the non-supernatural side of the investigation seeming a bit shallow. Ueda’s influence was explained well especially the 4 v 1 interrogation scene regarding the gate. But his ability to mess with Hayashi was a little weak because the red herring suspect, while a good example of stalking, didn’t flow well.

There seemed to be a tiny struggle with building on the supernatural rules. Some things were a bit unclear. But most of the lore was very good especially the concept of old ghosts, ghost powers and physics of their existence, the location of the reiryoku being in the heart, paper conducting spiritual energy and expanding on what it means to be a Shinigami was perfectly spooky - stand out moments.

Miyazaki’s character suffering from the trauma of domestic abuse as a child and adult was very well written. I remember being slightly confused by his cheeriness at times in the first book (from Hayashi’s perspective) so having him explicitly confirm he was masking a lot was very satisfying. His speech on the effectiveness of therapy was very good. I also liked how the logic of his suspicions were clouded by his emotions but not completely dismissed. His instincts were correct he just didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. His powers going haywire was a good example of his emotional burdens overwhelming him. (I also liked how the sex scenes reflected the characters emotional state - book one did this well too!)

Kato is very good at writing about how the societal implications of systemic suffering leads to the individual perspective and the moral and ethical choices a person makes (or doesn’t make) when their suffering is unjustly neglected. It’s sincere and empathetic. Very powerful. It’s what makes the ending work so well here despite deficiencies with Ueda’s part of the story. (It’s also why the serial killer’s violence in book one didn’t feel gratuitous like most detective novels I’ve read.)

The reveal of the ghost between Chizuru and Miyazaki was also underwhelming. The hints spread in the story like the restaurant scene, the ex husband scene and the funeral were brilliant! But when it was time for the characters to realize it themselves it fell flat.
The reveal in book one was more polished with all the twists and turns blocking the detectives view.

Keiko and Chizuru were great supporting characters, I liked seeing more Megumi too! Hayashi returning some of the emotional support she usually gives him was a nice touch.

And if I am understanding the reiryoku colors correctly then Ueda and the yakuza boss have a lot more in common than Hayashi and Miyazaki realize 👀

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I’m loving this series. I thought book 1 was good but I think this one is even better. Teruo and Shinji’s relationship is developing and they are a great couple. Teruo’s strange healing power is causing them problems though and as Shinji is stressed out, with the new case which is supernatural, and Teruo is not, and trying to keep details of the supernatural organisation he works for from him, he is losing control of his powers when he is asleep and this is putting Teruo at risk. As if all this isn’t enough for them, this case brings Shinji face to face with his ex, another supernatural, who was the reason Shinji left Hiroshima after he shot and killed Shinji’s boss and this is bringing out Teruo’s protective side and then there is the problem of Teruo being Shinji’s partner and superior and them having to keep their relationship on the down low.

This case had more paranormal elements than book 1 and we learn a lot more about Shinji, his powers and how he is trying to juggle his job with the supernatural organisation and his role as a sergeant dealing with non-supernaturals and of course how he deals with a case that is clearly supernatural in a non-supernatural world. I love the lore of this world how the non-supernaturals live among the supernaturals in ignorance and the hierarchy among the supernaturals in the organisation.

I loved Keiko’s character and I hope she plays a part in the next book. Once she got over the shock and upset of dying she found being around Shinji and the case exciting and not wanting to pass over gives the author a good reason to bring her character back.

Teruo and Shinji’s romance is hotting up and works nicely alongside the plot. There is nothing I don’t enjoy in these books and I don’t think they get the recognition they deserve. Set in Japan I enjoy the insight into their culture, the beautiful buildings, the food and the bowing, they bow a lot.

Great plot, well-developed characters, and very enjoyable.

[Geetha Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book of the Tokyo MPD mysteries, this one is a different case which gives Shinji some much needed closure while keeping alive the mystery of Teruo's ability to see his reiryoku and to heal him.

Souls are missing from the Sanzu river in the Tokyo section and Shinji is being interrogated as are all Shinigami. Shinji's ex, who's a gate technician has been called from Hiroshima to assist with the case. When a friend of Megumi's, Keiko, is killed in the exact manner as his former boss, Shinji suspects Ueda, his ex. Things are further complicated when it turns out Keiko's sister has powers and is also working for the Onmyoryo.

The mystery of who is taking the souls and why was quite suspenseful. Also the mystery of Keiko's death and the connection between that and the death of Shiji's former boss. I hated Ueda from the get go. Abusive asshole.

Teruo and Shinji also has to investigate the case, the missing souls, and the reason behind the weird ability Teruo has of seeing Shinji's reiryoku and of healing him, without tipping off the humans or the supernaturals they work with about their relationship. Something that's made even more complicated when Ueda and another supernatural is assigned as consultants to work with them.

The relationship between Shinji and Teruo is a highlight of this book, and I loved that the author was able to keep the plot from devolving into too much romance and spice. The mysteries were the focus but the relationship is also important.

Though the mystery of Keiko's murder and the disappearing souls were solved satisfactorily, the mystery of Teruo's weird ability to heal Shinji by using his own soul and putting his life at risk, remains unsolved. For now, a soul ward will protect him, but it is, at best, a temporary solution.

I can't wait to dig in to the next book!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good to get back into the world of the Toyka Metropolitan PD and the paranormal activities surrounding one of their murder cases. Also, the relationship between Teruo and Shinji, partners working for the department continue to develop into even more serious passion and commitment.

The case involves the murder of a woman who came to the department to talk to Teruo and his good friend, another detective, about threat's to her sister's life on the day before her own death. Then, Shinji's abusive ex shows up from Hiroshima to muddy the waters, making it unclear if he's actually there to help or is involved in some nefarious way. On top of this, souls are disappearing from the river in the spiritual world where they cross over. Also, the healing and recharging of powers that Teruo frequently offers to Shinji seem to be getting out of control.

This story has action, involved storylines, a mystery to be solved, and a passionate love with a very satisfying HFN. I can't wait to read Bk 3 in the series!

[ShelfLife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice addition to series.

I really like the premise of this series and our leading men. The new side character of Keiko was also a delight. I hope she's in book 3 as well.

The writing style is good. And there's more showing than telling, which is great. But there are a lot of small typos throughout the book. Mainly, loads of missing words. One or two more proofs would catch these.

My other gripe is that this series is described as "high heat," which is definitely relative, but in my opinion, it's more medium/average heat level. Most scenes are very quick and perfunctory. There's only one longer and more descriptive scene, but it is done nicely.

And lastly, I'd really like our guys to emote a bit more. They've both had internal revelations of love, but neither have voiced it. By now, especially in the romance genre, I'd like to have had this moment already.

Despite these issues/personal views, I am enjoying the series and am invested in Shinji and Teruo's HEA, and will continue.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking advantage of the spooky season, I have decided to continue reading this series. I like it a lot, because it has elements of Japanese folklore, it has a police mystery and I find Shinji adorable.

Teruo and Shinji are still partners in the police station where they work, they are still a couple, but secretly and Shiji continues with his other job as Shinigami (at least it is explained here how a human being becomes a Shinigami). At the beginning each one has a different case, Teruo a police case and Shinji a paranormal one, but they end up coming together in one.

Everything gets complicated when Shinji's ex appears on the scene, not that he creates problems between him and Teruo, but he is related to the case they are investigating and he is an abuser, who did bad things to Shinji.

I will continue reading, as far as I know, there are two more books, one published and one to be published.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to M. Kato & Rainbow Crane Press for access to a early copy of this book!

This story is so interesting to me. The whole plot of supernatural & helping ghosts move on & being apart of the police force at the same time is so unique. This is the second book in this series and I am so glad to read more about their relationship and have it progress into something amazing.

The smut in this book is amazing, but without it, the plot carries this book and always leaves me wanting more.

I am very excited about the next book in this series & following them on more cases & through their relationship 🤍

[Becky A · Rating 3 out of 5]

"No Souls on the River" received THREE stars.

The novel gained *stars* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."

1/2 * gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

1/2 * gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for this item:

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."

[RE Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn't perfect, but the mystery was so well done. I found it completely compelling, and because of that, I'd round up to 5 stars.

Teruo and Shinji are still working things out, and there are still some holes that I wish could be filled (and maybe they will be in book 3?), but overall, the mystery of why souls are missing along the River grabbed me from the very beginning (and seeing Shinji's role in it as a grim reaper. I also wanted to know how Shinji's ex played into it all, so that kept me going too. Kato's also very good with creating an atmospheric setting. :)

[Sharon Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

The paranormal world building is exceptional, intriguing, and based on traditional Japanese folktales. The introduction of a kitsune yakuza actually tickled me. A gangster fox shape shifter for those who don't follow anime or are new to Japanese paranormal entities. But that's the cherry on top of this novel's ice cream sundae. The characters relationships are developing as the series continues. Plotting intricate and done well. I've found a new potential author to follow. Can't wait to start on the 3rd in this series find out more about the characters .

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a great departure from the normally US or UK based stories and I really enjoy the Japanese cultures.

Shinji and Teruo are an interesting couple and I like how their relationship developed.
The only thing is that for me, Shinji is a bit too forward and sometimes nearly disrespectful.

Nevertheless, I really like this series and can't wait to read the next book to find out about Teruos special "power"

[Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this world.
It's different, yet familiar.
I love the setting. It's not often that I've come across mm romance set in Japan.
It's always nice seeing different cultures in books.
I'm a pnr girl. Law enoforcment with a pnr cross is a comon mash up.
There is a basis that feels familiar, yet the world is well built and different at the same time.
I would love this to get an audio.

[Rian Durant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining sequel

It was interesting to read about the development of Shinji and Teruo’s relationship during their second case together, which had more supernatural details and feel compared to the first. Ghosts from the past (literal and metaphorical) brought further complexities and twist.
A very good read overall!

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me ages to write this review, although it was not for a lack of love for it. This series has been a joy to read and one of my biggest surprises of the year.

We find out more from Shinji's background and a lovely new character is introduced. There are ghosts, mystery, a conniving ex and all the emotions. I love this couple to pieces!

[DeeNeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this supernatural world the author has created. So different, so intriguing. This time around we learned more of Shinji and the death of Hiroshima and how it involved the current supernatural case of the missing souls on the river. But the best part is the new side character ghost Kenike. She added a new twist to their investigation. I am so looking forward to the next book.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was almost going to be slightly better than the first one, however everything got wrapped up far too quickly. It was however still good and this time I didn't realise who the culprit was and then everything clicking after that was very satisfying. This one was also much more of a supernatural one compared to the first one as well. 3.75/5

[Kimberly Morehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun paranormal police procedural

Great story overall. Engaging and likable characters, good mystery and some nice steamy moments. Enjoyed it very much, looking forward to the next book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book--enjoyed it just as much as the first one, if not more. The story was well written and first rate, loved the interplay between the characters. Shinji and Teruo, along with Keiko are such memorable characters. On to the next book. Recommend reading.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first one! I was worried I would get bored because I felt like there wasn’t more to explore between them after the first book but there was still lots of interesting dynamics and fun situations in store for them in this book!

[Emily Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Follow up!

This was a great followup story. Love Shinji and Teruo and their partnership. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Danna Iuliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5