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Headless
A supernatural serial killer in Japan is collecting heads. An unlikely pair of journalists try not to lose theirs.
A delicious blend of murder-mystery and horror mixed with ancient Japanese folklore, Headless grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go till the end. ... The characters are quirky and likable ... and the banter between the two of them were some of my favorite parts of the book. -- Reader's Favorite (5 stars)
"A captivating mystery with just the right touch of paranormal . . . a great read for those who enjoy a bit of gore, historical fiction, and mythology in their mysteries." -- Portland Book Review, (5 stars)
Akio Tsukino is a staff photographer at a Tokyo newspaper, stuck in the back pages, shooting parades and grade school plays. When a serial killer starts chopping off heads in nearby Kofu, Akio sees a chance to break out of the routine and prove himself. It never occurs to him he'd end up in the path of a monster.
Masami Sato, a top staff writer on the police beat, is a tenacious woman making a name for herself in a male-dominated news world. When she’s sent to investigate the serial killer, she’ll stop at nothing to get the scoop. If only Akio would get out of her way.
As they struggle to get along, and ghost stories of evil samurai creep into their investigation, Akio and Masami soon realize that the price for getting the story may be their own heads.
A delicious blend of murder-mystery and horror mixed with ancient Japanese folklore, Headless grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go till the end. ... The characters are quirky and likable ... and the banter between the two of them were some of my favorite parts of the book. -- Reader's Favorite (5 stars)
"A captivating mystery with just the right touch of paranormal . . . a great read for those who enjoy a bit of gore, historical fiction, and mythology in their mysteries." -- Portland Book Review, (5 stars)
Akio Tsukino is a staff photographer at a Tokyo newspaper, stuck in the back pages, shooting parades and grade school plays. When a serial killer starts chopping off heads in nearby Kofu, Akio sees a chance to break out of the routine and prove himself. It never occurs to him he'd end up in the path of a monster.
Masami Sato, a top staff writer on the police beat, is a tenacious woman making a name for herself in a male-dominated news world. When she’s sent to investigate the serial killer, she’ll stop at nothing to get the scoop. If only Akio would get out of her way.
As they struggle to get along, and ghost stories of evil samurai creep into their investigation, Akio and Masami soon realize that the price for getting the story may be their own heads.
- GenresFantasy
326 pages, ebook
First published November 23, 2016
10 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
About the author
Tristram Lowe
5 books7 followersHi, I'm Tristram Lowe. I write mostly fantasy of some flavor or another, with a focus on reluctant heroes, underdogs, and misunderstood monsters. I much prefer exploring the internal struggle over the outward sweeping actions of confident rulers and superheroes.
The first two books of my urban fantasy thriller series, The Ghost and The Mask, are out and available. The first book, Headless, is about a couple of journalists in Tokyo investigating a serial killer who is chopping off heads—and keeping them. Masami is a top staff writer at a newspaper and she gets stuck on the assignment with Akio, a newbie staff photographer. The closer they get to the story, the stranger things become. I also wrote a fun and uplifting children’s book called The Wrong Monster, which has great artwork by Jiyoon Shin. You’ll love the monster and the positive message.
Other than writing, I love fencing (and taught it for 15 years) and tabletop games. I narrate books, was an actor for a time, and wrote and played music in bands and solo for many years, all of it under another name. I currently live in Oregon with my amazing wife and kiddos.
To pronounce Tristram correctly, simply put these two words together: Tryst (a clandestine meeting between lovers) + Rum (a hearty pirate’s drink). Combined you have TrystRum: a hearty drink to be shared by clandestine pirate lovers.
The first two books of my urban fantasy thriller series, The Ghost and The Mask, are out and available. The first book, Headless, is about a couple of journalists in Tokyo investigating a serial killer who is chopping off heads—and keeping them. Masami is a top staff writer at a newspaper and she gets stuck on the assignment with Akio, a newbie staff photographer. The closer they get to the story, the stranger things become. I also wrote a fun and uplifting children’s book called The Wrong Monster, which has great artwork by Jiyoon Shin. You’ll love the monster and the positive message.
Other than writing, I love fencing (and taught it for 15 years) and tabletop games. I narrate books, was an actor for a time, and wrote and played music in bands and solo for many years, all of it under another name. I currently live in Oregon with my amazing wife and kiddos.
To pronounce Tristram correctly, simply put these two words together: Tryst (a clandestine meeting between lovers) + Rum (a hearty pirate’s drink). Combined you have TrystRum: a hearty drink to be shared by clandestine pirate lovers.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 20, 2017
Headless is not what you might think it is. It manages to meld elements of crime procedurals, buddy comedies, horror, thrillers, and historical fiction. I loved the juxtaposition of modern Japanese locales with historical fiction and mythology. The mystery and sharp writing will keep you turning the pages, and along the way the author gives you countless interesting little details and reflections that will stick with you long after your first read. Highly recommended!
October 28, 2021
Buckle your seatbelt for this one! Tristram Lowe is a gifted writer and this is an amazing book. It contains everything that a reader could want. Japanese lore, supernatural elements, humor etc. . Characters are interesting and have a great relationship which nicely helps the story flow. This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to seeing more by this author.
November 14, 2017
I love a good mystery with a supernatural twist and Headless delivered! There were some plot elements up in the air for a very enjoyable length of time. Akio is a photographer who has weaseled his way onto a project with his paper’s top report, Masami. She’s a no nonsense A type personality who is great at her job. Akio has a boyish sort of crush on her that blurs between romance and professional admiration. It’s such a great and underused dynamic. It really brought me back to my teen years, when I was single and totally inept with the fairer sex!
This story is set in Japan, which is someplace I’ve always wanted to visit. There were some neat little details, like a type of Honda I’ve never heard of, that really made me feel like I was seeing a little island nation rather than passing through Rhode Island for the hundredth time. Don’t get me wrong, I love Rhode Island, as most Connecticut residents do. Except those that are jealous that they are hogging all the good beaches and we got stuck with the Long Island Sound.
I got a free copy of this book in order to write a genre mash-up between ol’ headless Sam(urai) here and these guys I write stories about. It was a lot of fun, and includes Lowe’s prologue, so would make a great preview for this book. Or just go ahead and buy the book, read and love it, then check out Writer Battle: Head’s Up to see what this fanboy put together. It’s available for free at LARC-SciFi(dot)com, just look for “Writer Battle” in the Navbar. I don’t like to add real links to reviews, because that’s stingy.
I love martial arts and a well written fight scene. Lowe lived up to my expectations. There were fights with swords, of which I know nothing, but Jenny and I have talked about taking fencing classes as a family sometime. Maybe I can talk her into studying the katana instead! How lovely, a quaint New England family in their little downtown home. Don’t need to lock the doors in their neighborhood, because burglars will get ninja-fied! That’s a joke. No burglars were harmed in the writing of this review.
This story is set in Japan, which is someplace I’ve always wanted to visit. There were some neat little details, like a type of Honda I’ve never heard of, that really made me feel like I was seeing a little island nation rather than passing through Rhode Island for the hundredth time. Don’t get me wrong, I love Rhode Island, as most Connecticut residents do. Except those that are jealous that they are hogging all the good beaches and we got stuck with the Long Island Sound.
I got a free copy of this book in order to write a genre mash-up between ol’ headless Sam(urai) here and these guys I write stories about. It was a lot of fun, and includes Lowe’s prologue, so would make a great preview for this book. Or just go ahead and buy the book, read and love it, then check out Writer Battle: Head’s Up to see what this fanboy put together. It’s available for free at LARC-SciFi(dot)com, just look for “Writer Battle” in the Navbar. I don’t like to add real links to reviews, because that’s stingy.
I love martial arts and a well written fight scene. Lowe lived up to my expectations. There were fights with swords, of which I know nothing, but Jenny and I have talked about taking fencing classes as a family sometime. Maybe I can talk her into studying the katana instead! How lovely, a quaint New England family in their little downtown home. Don’t need to lock the doors in their neighborhood, because burglars will get ninja-fied! That’s a joke. No burglars were harmed in the writing of this review.
May 14, 2017
"Headless" is an exciting supernatural thriller with a dash of light-hearted comedy that explores a story and setting far more unique than your typical book in this genre. I was immediately drawn in from the first paragraph and couldn't put it down until the end. We follow two main characters who are complete opposites - a successful journalist and a not-so-successful photographer - as they cover a story about a serial killer in modern day Kofu, Japan. As they follow the trail of bodies, they are led down a mysterious, supernatural path. I don't want to give anything away, but the pacing and reveal of the mystery is perfect - I felt like I was constantly kept on my toes wondering what would happen next, but at the same time, the twists and turns were surprising and never felt forced. Both of the lead characters are equally intriguing - their nuances are gracefully established and they are strongly developed throughout the story so I really felt like I was experiencing this journey with them and they were changing as a result. I especially appreciated that pretty much all of the characters, whether you think they are good guys or bad guys at any point in the story, are relatable and ultimately sympathetic. And the detail in describing the city of Kofu and the unique setting was extremely well done. Thriller and mystery are not usually my first pick of genre for books, but I absolutely loved this read and would recommend it to anyone regardless of whether or not they generally like this genre. "Headless" is an extremely well-written, exciting story and I hope to see more from this author.
March 30, 2021
“Headless” by Tristram Lowe is a highly interesting reading that captivates with a mix of genres that perfectly suits the Japanese background of the story. This is an excellent supernatural thriller, which begins as a murder mystery to slowly develop into supernatural story.
A serial killer is on the loose in modern day Kofu, taking the heads of the murderer and letting them on the bodies of the following victim. Akio Tsukino, who works as a photographer at Tokyo newspaper, sees an opportunity to climb the professional ladder by approaching Masami Sato, the newspaper top reporter, which enigmatic personality is legendary. Caught in the middle of the mystery the race to solve the mystery rapidly turns into a fight for survival in which they have to unite forces, despite their clashing personalities.
The story is very well-written, fast-paced, with exceptionally crafted action scenes, and despite its supernatural flavour, fully realistic and relatable. Tristram Lowe manages to blend Japanese storytelling and western writing-style into a fully coherent narration, that preserves the spirit of Japanese horror/mystery stories without the inherent hopelessness that characterizes them. An interesting, thrilling, and captivating story that will appeal to mystery fans and/or Japan interested, looking for a fully satisfying supernatural procedural thriller.
A serial killer is on the loose in modern day Kofu, taking the heads of the murderer and letting them on the bodies of the following victim. Akio Tsukino, who works as a photographer at Tokyo newspaper, sees an opportunity to climb the professional ladder by approaching Masami Sato, the newspaper top reporter, which enigmatic personality is legendary. Caught in the middle of the mystery the race to solve the mystery rapidly turns into a fight for survival in which they have to unite forces, despite their clashing personalities.
The story is very well-written, fast-paced, with exceptionally crafted action scenes, and despite its supernatural flavour, fully realistic and relatable. Tristram Lowe manages to blend Japanese storytelling and western writing-style into a fully coherent narration, that preserves the spirit of Japanese horror/mystery stories without the inherent hopelessness that characterizes them. An interesting, thrilling, and captivating story that will appeal to mystery fans and/or Japan interested, looking for a fully satisfying supernatural procedural thriller.
September 12, 2021
A supernatural serial killer in Japan is collecting heads. An unlikely pair of journalists try not to lose theirs. Akio Tsukino is a staff photographer and Masami Sato, a top staff writer on the police beat are looking to better themselves in the journalistic world. As they struggle to get along, and ghost stories of evil samurai creep into their investigation, Akio and Masami soon realize that the price for getting the story may be their own heads. Tristram Lowe has a way of crafting his story, masterfully interwoven with progressive world building, action, and delving deeply into his characters persona without overdoing one thing or another. As they struggle to get along, and ghost stories of evil samurai creep into their investigation, Akio and Masami soon realize that the price for getting the story may be their own heads. This is an edge of your seat page turning drama that you just won’t want to put down. I highly recommend this novel. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation
February 5, 2018
My review is based on the Audiobook. I was worried that the Author narrated his own book because normally that leads to a monotone story read. However in this case I was pleasantly surprised at the superb narration skills of the Author. The story itself was a mystery with paranormal elements that was fast paced and thought provoking. The characters were in depth and there was a slight comedic undertone that I liked very much. The narration was easy to understand with distinct character voices. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this Author.
January 22, 2024
A horror-adjacent mystery with a really intriguing premise. Mismatched protagonists who somehow manage to forge a bond and work together, and a setting that promises to be different and completely delivers on that promise. A fast read with details of the Japanese culture and way of life that draws in the reader. First in a series.
December 27, 2018
Japanese
Fun story in the vein of Japanese horror movies without the sense of hopelessness. Our heroes live to fight another day and I am totally on board with that.
Fun story in the vein of Japanese horror movies without the sense of hopelessness. Our heroes live to fight another day and I am totally on board with that.
September 2, 2021
I enjoyed it
I enjoyed it, very interesting. looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Wish there had been explanations about what some of the stuff in Japanese was.
I enjoyed it, very interesting. looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Wish there had been explanations about what some of the stuff in Japanese was.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews