Tokyo Traffic

Detective Hiroshi #3

by Michael Pronko

Running from a life she didn’t choose, in a city she doesn’t know, Sukanya, a young Thai girl, loses herself in the vastness of Tokyo. With her Bangkok street smarts, and some stolen money, she stays ahead of her former captors who will do anything to recover the computer she took. After befriending Chiho, a Japanese girl living in an internet café, Sukanya makes plans to rid herself of her pursuers, and her past, forever.

Meanwhile, Detective Hiroshi Shimizu leaves the safe confines of his office to investigate a porn studio where a brutal triple murder took place. The studio’s accounts point him in multiple directions at once. Together with ex-sumo wrestler Sakaguchi and old-school Takamatsu, Hiroshi tracks the killers through Tokyo’s music clubs and teen hangouts, bayside docks and byways, straight into the underbelly of the global economy.

As bodies wash up from Tokyo Bay, Hiroshi tries to find the Thai girl at the center of it all, whose name he doesn’t even know. He uncovers a human trafficking ring and cryptocurrency scammers whose connections extend to the highest levels of Tokyo’s power elite.

TOKYO TRAFFIC is the third in the Tokyo-based Detective Hiroshi series by award-winning author Michael Pronko.

Praise for THE LAST TRAIN, the first in the series

Winner Shelf Unbound Best Independently Published Book
Solo Medalist Winner New Apple E-Book Awards for Mystery
Winner Best Mystery Book Excellence Awards for Mystery
Winner Independent Press Award for Mystery and for Thriller

“A flawless, dark, atmospheric mystery set in Tokyo. Our judges couldn’t put this novel down.” Shelf Unbound Competition

“An absorbing investigation and memorable backdrop put this series launch on the right track.” Kirkus Reviews

“Tokyo comes to vivid life in this taut thriller, an unrelenting portrayal of a strong female character and the heart-pounding search to find her.” Publishers Daily Reviews

“A heartfelt, thoughtful ode to a strange and beautiful city, in the way that so many classic detective novels are. Lyrically written with plenty of suspense.” Indie Reader

Praise for THE MOVING BLADE, the second in the series

Named One of Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Mysteries and Thrillers
Grand Prize Winner Chanticleer International Book Awards Global Thrillers
Winner Independent Press Award for Crime Fiction
Gold Award Independent Publisher Awards for Mystery

“A true page turner with main characters that come alive with intelligence, curiosity and imperfections.” Blue Ink Review

“One of the year’s best thrillers. A string of grisly murders, high stakes geopolitics and the prose of a master craftsman elevate this crime thriller to rarefied air.” Best Thrillers

“This book made it to my favorites list before I even finished reading it. Suspense and intrigue from the very first chapter.” Literary Titan

“For anyone with a fascination or even a curiosity about Japan, this is a great crime novel.” Crime Fiction Lover

“A powerfully written crime novel; often stark and unsettling, the characters spring off the page.” The Wishing Shelf

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2020

About the author

Michael Pronko is an award-winning, Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir and music. His writings on Tokyo life and his taut character-driven mysteries have won critics’ awards and five-star reviews. Kirkus Reviews called his second novel, The Moving Blade, “An elegant balance of Japanese customs with American-style hard-boiled procedural” and selected it for their Best Books of 2018.

Michael also runs the website, Jazz in Japan, about the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. He has written regular columns about Japanese culture, art, jazz, society and politics for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, Artscape Japan, Jazznin, and ST Shukan. He has also appeared on NHK and Nippon Television.

A philosophy major, Michael traveled for years, ducking in and out of graduate schools, before finishing his PhD on Charles Dickens and film, and settling in Tokyo as a professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuin University. He teaches contemporary American novels, film adaptations, music and art.

Reviews

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little surprised this rates as well as it does - it’s a very average read. There’s lots of flaws here - whole passages detailing food, clothes, interactions, none of which being pertinent to the story.

Whilst unimportant detail is given space, important advancements to the crime plot come from off-page interactions or coincidence. The crime investigation process does not feel anchored in research or real life, and comes across very unfocused.

Not one I’d recommend.

[Rohit Rawat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokyo Traffic by Michael Pronko has all the ingredients of a crime thriller novel. Apart from all the action and suspense, there is light humor sprinkled throughout the book and the relationships between different characters give a very real feeling to the complete story.

This is a story about Sukanya, a Thai girl who is a victim of human trafficking and is forced into the porn industry in Japan. One day, a brutal crime takes place on the film set, which results in multiple deaths, but Sukanya escapes along with a laptop and iPad that contain vital information about the whole operation. A local Japenese girl, Chiho, helps her along the way as Sukanya tries to fend off her perpetrators. Meanwhile, the police team starts the investigation on the multiple murders and uncovers some horrifying truths.

I firmly believe that characters drive a story forward and bring it closer to reality, and the characters in Tokyo Traffic do the same. None of the characters have been described in an over-the-top manner, and the author has done a commendable job in keeping them grounded. The desired effect that the author might have intended for the characters to have on the readers is achieved. I liked the characters of Sukanya, Chiho, Detective Hiroshi, Sakaguchi, and Takamatsu and especially loved the camaraderie between the detectives.

The plot is well developed and moves at a steady pace. I loved how the author creates a dark and gritty atmosphere by first building the scene enough to evoke curiosity before revealing the exact happenings. The action scenes aren't exaggerated which was a relief and the climax is fast-paced and nail-biting. The ending ties up all the loose ends beautifully and provides a satisfying closure to the whole story.

The novel gives us deep insight into the criminal underbelly of Japan and how the different criminal activities are inter-related and inter-dependent on each other. The porn industry gives rise to the trafficking of underage girls and drug abuse and the most dangerous aspect is the nexus between the criminals and some government bureaucrats. More than being an interesting story, it makes us aware of certain things that we might not have thought about.

The author's understanding of Japanese culture and cuisine makes it a pleasant read. There were quite a few Japanese terms but I was happy to look them up on the internet.

If violence and a bit of gore make you uncomfortable, you can skim over those pages. However, if reading about sexual abuse disturbs you, then you can skip this book altogether. But if you are one of those readers who enjoy stories that are grounded in reality, you are in for the ride of your life!

[Aristotle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit.
This is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion against the most vulnerable women and children in the world.

An okay read. The book had too much filler. Pages of what the characters were eating and what clothes they were wearing. I wanted too read about the struggle the women go through, how the financing works, and what the police do to stop the exploitation of the most vulnerable people.

"Pornography is what men make. Passion-ography is what women make." -Haruka
Gotcha

"You think money is the root of all evil." -Takamatsu
"No, but it finances it." -Hiroshi

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Pronko’s third Detective Hiroshi series novel begins with a bang as Sukanya, a drugged Thai teenager, narrowly escapes a brutal mass murder at a well-known porn studio. In shock, she flees with a bag, an iPad and a computer containing damning evidence.

When Detective Hiroshi arrives to survey the crime scene, he discovers that one of the dead is a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Finance. He also finds a folder filled with passports for girls from five different Asian countries. What was the motive? Who would target foreign girls, a well-known film director, and a bureaucrat all at the same time?

Forensic accounting is Hiroshi’s superpower, and he wields it deftly to audit the porn studio’s systems – or at least what little evidence the sophisticated crime syndicate left behind. Meanwhile, a gangster named Kenta – the link between the studio, the girls, the government and the murders – turns on the tracking signal that he hopes will lead him to recover the incriminating items Sukanya stole from the studio.

While Pronko reveals the key players behind the crimes right from the start, riding along with Hiroshi as he meticulously hunts them down is intensively satisfying. Along with his forensic study, he employs a good deal of old fashioned shoe leather, and that’s where the novel’s texture really shines. Hiroshi’s Tokyo is an extremely evocative universe, and the places he visits in the course of the investigation – ranging from his favorite jazz-themed coffee shop to a basement nightclub or the cobblestoned Kagurazaka shopping district – are drawn with just enough sensory detail to induce the imagination without slowing the book’s perfect pacing.

With Tokyo Traffic, Pronko further establishes Hiroshi as one of the most distinctive and intrepid detectives in contemporary crime fiction.

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for another Goodreads GiveAway. Good detective case, human trafficking and cyber currency. Fast paced.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pronko's cinematic thriller takes the reader into Tokyo's skeevier side -- the world of human trafficking and porn. The novel opens with a young Thai woman, who speaks no Japanese, fleeing from a porn studio which has become a horrendous crime scene. One of the victims is a former government minister. It's up to Detective Hiroshi and his crew to figure out who dunnit, and rescue the young woman, Sukanya. Along the way, Hiroshi drops in on the NPO offices of an organization staffed by young college women which is trying to fight against human trafficking and help those that it can. We also get glimpses into his personal life; Hiroshi has recently moved in with his lover, Ayana, and struggles to maintain a healthy work/life balance while fighting crime.

Pronko's writing is crisp, and the pace is brisk. In addition to a nail-biting plot, readers are privy to insider details that writers outside of Japan wouldn't necessarily include, such as the reverence that the officers show to the corpses that they uncover. Foodies will delight in descriptions of local cuisine. And, of course, this novel entertains while highlighting the dark side of cryptocurrency and brings to light the persistent problem of trafficking.

[Rod Raglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When violent intruders interrupt a film shoot in a Tokyo pornography studio, they brutally murder three people but overlook a young actress hiding in the cavernous building.
Sukanya is an illegal Thai immigrant who was smuggled into Japan and lured into the business with the promise of big money and transit to the United States. She makes her escape with cash from the dead director’s wallet and a leather bag containing a computer and iPad. Penniless and friendless, she wanders aimlessly through the streets of the megalopolis; though she’s lost, she’s not undetected. Unknown to her, the digital devices she’s taken contain sensitive information as well as trackers that reveal her location.
Kenta, a shady businessman and loan shark wants those devices back. The information they hold could compromise him and his relationship with Yoshitaka Kirino, the ruthless mastermind of the criminal enterprise he’s involved in. Kenta assigns three street punks the task of recovering the priceless data as well as the only person who witnessed the crime.
Detective Hiroshi Shimizu was trained as an accountant in America. Now he’s a Tokyo detective specializing in deciphering the finances of criminal activities by examining bank records, statements, spreadsheets, and cryptocurrency. Money trails extend “like spokes from every murder,” and Shimizu has the expertise to grasp their implications.
As Sukanya tries to elude the men sent by Kenta, she’s assisted by Chiho, a young Japanese woman who empathizes with her predicament. Together they manage to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. But for how long? It’s a race to see if Hiroshi and his colleagues can unravel the motive and identify the murderer(s) before they catch up with Sukanya and the evidence in her possession.
While being a tightly plotted, well-structured murder mystery, Tokyo Traffic, provides insights into criminal activity surrounding pornography, the sex trade, human trafficking, and to some extent how organized crime uses cryptocurrencies to transfer and conceal profits from illegal activities.
Equally engaging is author Michael Pronko’s knowledge of contemporary Japanese culture including food, fashion, entertainment, and the environs of the world’s largest city.
Pronko’s characters are fully developed, his dialogue is authentic, and his writing is clear and concise. An ambitious novel, Tokyo Traffic at times feels bogged down with the excessive Tokyo travelogue, a confusion of characters, and plot minutiae; however, realistic detective work, action, romance, and even humor make for an overall entertaining and enlightening story.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accidentally read these books out of order--but glad I went back to read #3! It was my second favorite. Like book #2, this story had a fantastic sense of place. Tokyo becomes a character. The other thing I loved in book#2 that was noteworthy in this story as well is the deep-dive into contemporary issues, in this case the dark side of cryptocurrency and human trafficking. It was very sad to read--and yes there are very bad people in the world, even in my beloved Japan. Excellent story, very entertaining to read. I wish the three main cops would have more interconnected stories and further development to Takamatsu and Sakaguchi, the ex sumo wrestler... I would love to read their backstories as I like the characters a lot.

[Thomas Lennek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I on this on Goodreads, and I am glad I did. This is a cracking good mystery set in Tokyo, Japan with all of the cultural differences you can imagine. Characters are interesting, and their story moves along with their varying points of view. This is a great way to spend a couple of evenings, and discover a new police detective series.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. While it has the elements you’d want and expect to find in a crime thriller such as this, for me and probably many of those who will see this review the books like this you typically read are normally happening in the US, sometimes the UK or possibly Canada. While there are some differences in these places, the cultural differences between them and Japan, where Tokyo Traffic takes place, is significant. Those differences and how they are reflected in the story as well as how Detective Hiroshi Shimizu approaches getting to the bottom of the case made for a change of pace from your typical crime thriller. The story kept me engrossed, wondering how it was all going to shake out and worried about a few characters who were in danger throughout.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third entry in Pronko's Tokyo series, that highlights the problems that the Japanese Police deal with every day. Because Japan has an almost endless coastline, it is impossible to keep criminals from bringing in drugs and prostitutes to the country. Many Asian women are brought in after being promised jobs and visas, but end up being hooked on drugs and forced into prostitution.

In this scenario, the women have been sold to the makers of Pornographic Movies that are little more than sex tapes. They are kept high on drugs for days on end. When the Tokyo Police are called to a murder scene, they find three people dead at a warehouse used as a film set for pornography. There are some survivors, but two are Thai's who speak no Japanese and don't have any idea what to do with their new freedom.

The Tokyo murder squad tries to figure out why the murders happened, who did them, and where are the others who were at the warehouse during the mayhem. The rest is a comment on how the Japanese look at sex for pay and the problems of increasingly violent drug cartels.

[Lorne Strachan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tokyo Traffic is the 3rd installment of the Detective Hiroshi series, the first two being The Last Train and The Moving Blade. I stumbled upon The Last Train by accident and really liked it so I was happy to learn that there was already a second book out there, which I also really liked.

I enjoyed Tokyo Traffic but not quite as much as the first two. The subject matter is not the notorious street traffic in Tokyo but the equally notorious (or so I gather from research on line) sex trafficking through Tokyo and the huge pornography industry located there. The action moves back and forth between a victim of trafficking, the police response and the gang leaders who profit from the trafficking. This is where I found the book to fall a little short of expectations.

The details and the implications of events are bigger than a relatively short book can cover. I wish it had been at least 50% longer so it could give the characters more room to develop. The first two books gave a very good window into the police characters, their private lives and their professional challenges. They also gave a real feeling of Tokyo as almost a character in itself. There isn't as much of that in Tokyo Traffic and I think it's because when you add in the gang leaders, enforcers and the victims with all of their emotions and motivations, there simply isn't enough book to deal effectively with them all.

I found the book moving from scene to scene without enough development of the previous scenes. The subject matter and the characters are interesting, with so much potential that I was left wanting more all the way through the book. Despite that I'm certainly glad I read it and eagerly await another in the series. In the mean time I'm enjoying a non-fiction book by Michael Pronko: Tokyo's Mystery Deepens. This is a book of short essays, mostly interesting observations of the subtle details of life in Tokyo. They are mostly only a page or two long and each one is complete itself so it's a great book to carry if you have a few minutes to wait before seeing a dentist or doctor or some other appointment.

[Alan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in a series, but I haven't actually read the first two so I don't know if I was missing any back stories. This is a competent enough thriller, fast-paced enough to keep you turning the pages, and with chapters only 3 or 4 pages in length it rattles along. The basic plot involves people trafficking, pornography and something to do with cryptocurrencies, and there are the usual car chases and baddies to tick all the boxes.

Decent enough, but doesn't really stand out from the pack.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokyo, Japan. Jack & Jill porn film Studios. Sukanya (young Thai girl, porn actor) hid behind the movie film screen set in the warehouse.
3 dead bodies, & the set was in total disarray.
Celeste was covered in blood.
Ratana (girl, porn actor) might be back anytime.
Sukanya snuck passed 1 of the men by the door talking on his cell.
Kenta (fixer) was tired of cleaning up after everyone, especially all hours of a day.
Shibaura came to see the mess.
Yoshitaka Kirino was in charge of clean up.

Detective Sakaguchi (Tokyo PD Homicide boss, ex-sumo wrestler) & Detective Hiroshi Shimizu (Tokyo PD Homicide) noticed 56 pieces of evidence tagged at the crime scene.
Detective Takamatsu Hiroshi (Tokyo PD Homicide, old-school. mentor), Detective Ueno, Detective Osaki (ex-rugby player), & Detective Sugamo (Tokyo PD Homicide) were hard at work.
The bodies had been ID as: Takeo Suzuki (former Ministry of Finance), Ryota Noguchi (20, porn director), & Celeste (porn actor).
The businesses/associates were doing Cryptocurrency exchanges.
Sukanya noticed the drugs were starting to wear off.
She went shopping for something to eat & new cloths.
Kenta was hot on her trial.
Detective Hiroshi went to interview Sangrawee Vipakavit (Thailand Embassy foreign officer).
Next stop to see Junko Ayase (f, Waseda U) at the Morning Light NPO office.
Chiho (Japanese girl) had let Sukanya crash at her place the internet Manga café.
Later she introduced Sukanya to Daisuke (Japanese, internet Manga café, mgr., computer whiz, Tokyo U).

Asagaya Station Tokyo, Japan. Detective Aiko distributed the morning briefing information packets to: Detective Takamatsu Detective Hiroshi, Chief Detective Sakaguchi, & Vice-Chief Detective Saito.
Chief Detective Sakaguchi had a lot to say to them.
There are new policy measures against trafficking & crimes related to the porn industry as well as cryptocurrency.
Hachioji, W. Tokyo, Japan. Detective Hiroshi & Chief Detective Sakaguchi went to interview Yoko Kawase (f, porn directors asst.), Naoki Takamura (f, Yuichi’s roommate, Japan Institute of Sports Science), Jo Shibaura (m, Jack & Jill Studios owner), & Haruka (40+, Shibaura’s secretary, chauffeur, lover, partner, Japanese porn actress).
The double investigation continues.

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Warning: This book contains descriptive accounts of extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material (minor/adult verbally, psychologically, emotionally physically & sexual abuse, pornography, kidnapping/prostitution of a human trafficking (slavery) for sexual exploitation) which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader. If you are especially sensitive to this type of material, it is strongly advised not to read any further.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written action International crime thriller book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great International crime action movie, an animated cartoon (pulp fiction), or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Author; Raked Gravel Press; Goodreads; Making Connections; Making Connections discussion group talk; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first police procedural murder mystery set in Japan that I’ve read that wasn’t actually written by a Japanese author. I’ve read a lot of these, it’s a favorite fiction niche of mine, and I have to say this one certainly feels very “Japanese.” But there are definitely differences. Pronko certainly knows Tokyo (he’s lived there for decades), and he understands the Japanese police system (which is both very similar and quite different from the U.S. system, remodeled as it was during McArthur’s postwar occupation), but the detectives in the story have a different feel, especially in their less bureaucracy-bound approach to the job and their more freewheeling methods, which might be closer to the LAPD way of doing things.

Hiroshi Shimizu is the sort of detective who carries out his investigations almost entirely from his desk. He was educated in Boston and speaks fluent American English, so he’s the de facto liaison between the Tokyo police and their counterparts in other countries, especially the U.S. and Australia. He’s also an accountant by training, so most of his work has to do with unraveling international big-money fraud schemes. But, for internal organizational reasons, he has also recently been coopted by the homicide squad, especially when they need an English-speaker (because killings and other suspicious deaths involving foreigners is always a major hassle, and the brass hates mistakes that result from miscommunication).

So he gets a call one morning from Takamatsu, the leads detective in homicide and technically his superior (though they pretty much leave alone most of the time), calling him down to a subway station where an unknown man has apparently either fallen or jumped in front of a high-speed express train as it left the tunnel t the platform area. Accidents and suicides aren’t that uncommon, but some of the bystanders wear the victim was actually picked up and thrown in front of the train by an athletic woman. Now there are body parts strewn all over the track -- Hiroshi’s first encounter with such a scene -- and the dead man’s ID says he was a rather important American executive with a rather important real estate company, so Hiroshi’s assignment is clear. He has to find out who the guy was and figure out what really happened.

It soon develops that there have ben similar incidents at other Tokyo stations, involving other American businessmen -- and that’s a small community in Tokyo, so they have various connections to each other. And did I mention that the reader knows from the first chapter that this was, in fact a cold-blooded murder? It’s a complicated narrative that will lead our accountant detective and a couple of his helpers into some of the scruffier aspects of Tokyo nightlife and also organized crime. Not, as I said, the parts of Tokyo Japanese-written police procedurals usually deal with. I hope the author has more investigative adventures in store for Detective Shimizu.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS
16th September 2020
TITLE: Tokyo Traffic
AUTHOR: Michael Pronko
Star Rating: 5

‘A gripping thriller set in the criminal underbelly of Tokyo. Highly recommended!’

REVIEW
So, on Wednesday night, I plumped up my pillow, switched on my laptop and settled down to Tokyo Traffic. And, I must say, two days later, I enjoyed it very, very much. On a basic level, it is a compelling thriller set in Tokyo. On a deeper level, it is an expose on the sinister world of human trafficking and porn.
Almost everybody I know enjoys a good thriller. Lorry drivers, doctors with a hundred PhDs, nuns – to be honest, I don’t know any nuns, but I bet they do. The thing is, a thriller is so far removed from everyday life, we – as in ‘everybody’ - find them gripping. We want to know what it’s like to hunt a killer. To be the killer even! A thriller allows us to do that without getting shot at – or going to prison. Perfect!
Well, Tokyo Traffic by Michael Pronko allows me to be Detective Hiroshi Shimizu as he hunts down killers in the backstreets of Tokyo. I get to be there as he – or I – uncover a human trafficking ring and try to find a girl who holds the key to everything. And, I must say, it was a thrilling ride.
As with most novels of this nature, setting, and the ability of the author to describe that setting, is vital to the success of the story. Thankfully, the author works particularly well with this. He understands how important it is not to just simply describe Tokyo but, rather, have the characters interact with it in a natural and unobtrusive way. It’s all very dark; all very gritty, and ALL totally gripping.
I’m an English teacher so I very much enjoy books with correct grammar and spelling. I’m happy to report I didn’t spot any problems in this respect. In fact, the author’s writing skills are excellent with a good balance of dialogue, character development and plot twists.
Tokyo Traffic is the third in the Tokyo-based Detective Hiroshi set. Would I recommend reading them in order - The Last Train then The Moving Blade and then this? Yes, probably. It’s always fun to follow characters as they develop through a set of books.
All in all, this is a classic thriller in terms of the gritty atmosphere, the dark characters and the brave and slightly broken hero. I would happily recommend it to anybody who enjoys a twisting plot and wants a glimpse into Japan’s criminal underworld.
Enjoy!

A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Detective Hiroshi Series:
Sources: AuthorsXP dot com or ARCs from author. All the books are a bit wordy but still worth reading.

The Last Train, #1 - Interesting. Immersing. Intense. A good blend of Eastern and Western cultures with well written story lines, a gamut of characters, ranging from likeable to deviant. The vigilante is a hero in my opinion and accomplished more than simple revenge. The detective did the right thing, twice, in the end. 5*

The Moving Blade, #2 - Interesting and immersing with a bit of American - Japanese history. The hierarchy of crime amongst Asians is interesting. 4*

Tokyo Traffic, #3 - Still interesting and immersing with a good pace and interesting story lines. What is good about these books is that the past novels are not brought into the present novels. 4*

Tokyo Zangyo, #4 - Interesting reading about the Japanese work culture, which I knew about for decades but Mr. Pronko describes parts that are unknown, either through the changes of time or just hidden from outsiders. The blending of English and Japanese is one of the best translation methods I have read. 4*

Azabu Getaway, #5 - Interesting and intriguing story lines with likeable characters blended with the Japanese language and culture. Detective Hiroshi and his fellow police officers, again, fight against the dark side of Japanese life, its criminal activities. 4*
The Detective Hiroshi Series end.

Memoirs on Tokyo Life: Source: ARCs from author.

Beauty and Chaos: Slices and Morsels of Tokyo Life, #1 - Read this after the Hiroshi series so the writing style varies. Interesting snippets into Toyko and her people and their culture seen through the author's eyes. 4*

Tokyo’s Mystery Deepens: Essays on Tokyo, #2 - Interesting short stories. 4*

Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo, #3 - I am saturated with Japan, her people and her culture. The sites, the sights and the complexities of Tokyo should not be read continuously but savored with one or two bits at a time. I promised the author to finish in a week all his books not understanding the world I was immersing myself in, it was too much, but still very interesting, and I am not ignorant about Japanese history and culture, although, not current. It was like my two week vacation in Utah and Colorado. By the time I arrived near Four Corners, I had enough of the beauty of those two States that I was not interested in seeing that ditch known as The Grand Canyon and turned left instead of right. 4*
Memoirs on Tokyo Life end.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tokyo Traffic,” by Michael Pronko, is an international crime drama centering on human trafficking, using a young Thai girl named Sukanya as the catalyst. This compelling story has Sukanya fleeing her captors and trying to survive on the streets of Tokyo. It isn’t as easy as she thought, but much easier than the abuse she ran from. When Detective Hiroshi enters the picture, a pit of vipers opens up, and he has his hands full as he investigates murder, trafficking, and a conspiracy that leads to shocking revelations.

Although the material is dark and we hear about trafficking on a daily basis, this novel personalizes it with empathetic characters and realistic situations. When you hear it on the news, the subject is boiled down to statistics, but when an author brings it to life like Pronko has, you know the victims are real people, and so are the ones trying to help them.

Though this is a violent tale, it mirrors the stark reality of trafficking. The characters are trapped and need a way out, as do victims in real life. This author takes the elements of plot, characters, and pace, and delivers high-caliber entertainment, wrapped in today’s social issues. Sukanya is a sympathetic character. You root for her survival, and her successful quest in finding a better life. But for some victims, there are no happy endings, as Detective Hiroshi knows all too well. You may think this is a depressing story, and it does have its downside, but overall has sparks of life and hope running through it.

There are elements of the classic noir detective story, but with a new twist tackling modern problems. This detective is sharp, and he has to be if he’s going to get to the bottom of it all. Pronko’s immediate style puts you into the guts of the action but will pull at your heartstrings at the same time. The city of Tokyo shines brightly, with grit and glamour, and the author isn’t afraid to tear the wrapper off of this dynamic city. “Tokyo Traffic,” by Michael Pronko, is a crime thriller you mustn’t pass up.

[Markmehrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokyo Traffic is a good book. If you've enjoyed previous installments of Detective Hiroshi Shimizu's hard-boiled adventures, you'll be pleased with this one, too. However, there are new twists, new villains, new crimes, and a new type of victim. In addition to the pursuits around Tokyo and environs, there are overseas connections. Join me in following the plot by finding the scenes of the action on Google Earth and Google Maps. In Pronko's The Last Train, we visited train stations, districts, and neighborhoods, for example, that are all fascinating when viewed in 360 degree street-level images. Of course, Pronko lives in Tokyo, writes about where he lives, and it pays off for the reader's imagination.

Like in The Last Train, I expected Tokyo Traffic to feature mass transit, too, but was intrigued by Pronko's alternate meaning for 'traffic.' I don't feel that it's a spoiler to reveal here that traffic referrs to the international exploitation of sex workers - it's sex traffic, sex slavery. A different author might have turned such a plot into an emotionally draining read that would rend our hearts. Really, our hearts should rend but not in a police procedural. Pronko does a remarkably fine thing by handling the details, the drama, the legal pursuit, a non-governmental organization's efforts, the personal lives, and emotional cost to the victims, while quite straightforwardly educating us about some of the realities of that world. Sometimes clear understanding is more helpful than tears.

Again, I don't think I'm spoiling the story by telling you that the main characters we root for survive. Pronko doesn't give us rose colored glasses; there are tragedies. But we finish with a handfull of hearty survivors and a few unlikely hero/heroines, all of whom we hope to see in future installments of Detective Hiroshi's adventures. Don't miss Tokyo Traffic. The ebook is available directly from his website. Order it there and he'll probably send you your copy personally. Then don't put it down!

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Tokyo Traffic
Author: Michael Pronko

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 16 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
14 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“I very much enjoyed this detective novel set in Tokyo. I loved the setting and I liked the protagonist and how complicated he was. My only criticism is I felt the story was too slow in parts. Other than that, it's a gritty read dealing with subjects such as human trafficking.” Male reader, aged 52
“Love the Japanese setting. I thought the plot was complex but not overly complex and looks at subjects such as human trafficking and porn. So, if you're easily offended, this is not for you. But as a gritty, albeit, slow-paced thriller, this is an interesting read.” Female reader, aged 43
“A well-crafted detective novel with fully formed characters and a cleverly plotted storyline. This is not in any way a cheerful book, but if you enjoy dark novels and if you are in any way interested in Japan, this book is for you.” Male reader, aged 62

To Sum It Up:
‘A dark, gritty detective novel filled with memorable characters. A finalist and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Barnaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the "Detective Hiroshi" series and they just keep getting better. I've read each one as they came out and they all reveal a depth of understanding of Tokyo life and culture that only someone living here for as long as the author has would be able to manage. This one skirts the fringes of Japan's dangerous porn industry, as well as the very real (and often-ignored) problem of human trafficking - one of the two main meanings of the title, as the book also involves probably the most convincing car chase I've ever read. Rather than offer ridiculous, death-defying stunts and everyone, whether criminals or law enforcement, careening thoughtlessly though mysteriously abandoned roads, the author leads the reader through the streets of the city at night as they really are, making the whole thing somehow much more exciting as a result.

In fact, this novel, like the others in the series, tends to shy away from action cliches and cartoonish heroism in general. The police are ordinary people doing their jobs with determination, the criminals exist in a kind of grey area and the whole thing feels authentic. It's a wonderful book, written with craft, and integrity, and highly recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I had not previously read this author, but as soon as I was finished this book (which is the third in the series) I checked out the first two from the library.

This book takes places in Tokyo. A triple murder at an adult film studio comes to the attention of Detective Hiroshi Shimizu. As the detectives begin their investigation a human trafficking ring comes to light. The team of detectives, and the human traffickers both begin to search for a missing witness to the crimes. The witness, a young Thai girl, struggles to evade both the police and the traffickers.

The story is fast paced and exciting. It is obvious that the author is familiar with Tokyo and this adds to the excitement as the police move around the city following up various leads. If you are a fan of quick moving detective stories, stories set in Asia, or a fan a fast-paced novel, don't miss out on this one.

[Gerald Kinro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery-suspense set in Tokyo is of another kink of traffic, Sex trafficking It is about how young foreign nationals (mainly poor, young, ignorant females) are tricked into coming into Japan illegally and then exploited to work in the various sex trades.

The story begins with a murder at a porn studio. A young Thai girl, Sukanya, flees for her life and is pursued by her "captors" for she has information that could be detrimental to her. Not knowing the Japanese language or Tokyo, and not having money, she is on her own in this large city. Fortunately, she receives assistance from Chiho, a Japanese national. Now both are forced to flee and evade their pursuers. This is part of the Detective Hiroshi Series with the familiar cast of characters solving the puzzle. However, what kept me fixated on the book was the brave Sukanya, whom I got to like from the beginning.

This is a good read with plenty of suspense.

[Rubery Book Award · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award 2021

This is an excellent thriller. It’s about the corruption within the pornographic industry in Japan and the exploitation of young victims from impoverished villages in surrounding countries who are enticed by promises of a better life. The story starts as a young Thai girl witnesses a brutal murder on a film set and then has to flee for her life, making friends on the way. We see the criminal underbelly of Tokyo through her eyes, but also the detective investigating the murders – a likeable man who features in other novels by Pronko – giving insight into his thoughts and motivations. The novel sheds light on the huge industry of people-smuggling, its huge profits and its casual violence. It’s a fast, exciting read as the criminals pursue two young girls, but also insightful and penetrating about the world they live in and the powerful instinct for survival.

[Jed Konopka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Detective Hiroshi series from Michael Pronko is by far my favorite set of crime mysteries. As someone who travels to Japan on an annual basis I am very comfortable saying I fall into these novels...the imagery never fails to bring you first hand into all of what Japan is on a visual level, and the action keeps you turning pages and neglecting responsibilities with abandon. This most recent installment (Tokyo Traffic) was the fastest read out of the series yet. Mr. Pronko has a genuine ability to pull you in like you’re watching a movie in your mind, which is something rare in novels these days. Whether you start with the first in the series or jump in with Tokyo Traffic, you will assuredly enjoy the ride. I can not recommend this author or series in a stronger sense.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running from a life she didn’t choose, in a city she doesn’t know, a young girl, loses herself in the vastness of Tokyo.

A thrilling read that captivates the reader making it hard to put the book down at times. Strong characters and a story line based on events that really take place in our world but can be hard accept, child trafficking. This is the first book I've read by this author and now I want to read other books by him. If you love a good suspenseful mystery thrillers, you don't want to pass this one up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally read books that took place in Japan and written by Japanese authors, this is the first time that I read a novel with plot in Japan but written by a westerner author. The book is very intricate and exciting, the author know how to build up tension and must have had a lot of knowledge and doing a lot of research into Japanese culture and society. The plot and characters are well developed, very solid, authentic, and the writing is clear and concise. It is very refreshing to read a story took place in Japan from a none Japanese author who is very knowledgeable about the country.

[Steve Essick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Michael Pronko/Detective Hiroshi book I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The timely story about child trafficking in the porn business is told efficiently and moves at a brisk pace but without a hurried attitude giving the narrative a very logical flow.Pronko’s characterization of Detective Hiroshi is right on, subtle and never overstated. All the supporting characters are written with superb finesse. Much of this book reminded me of the works of George Pelacanos. If you are a crime fiction lover, by all means don’t pass up Tokyo Traffic.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series, these have been fun, quick reads, with a fair level of realism. I don't know Tokyo, so I can't judge the accuracy of the action, but I have no doubt it is pretty accurate... though the cops do seem to get around the city a lot faster than I would expect.
As with the two previous books, though less than those, the cultural aspects are handled well, and the aspects of human trafficking and Japan's labor challenges are well handled, if a little vague on the details. I will continue the series.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tokyo Traffic details the sordid business of human trafficking and the porno industry in Japan. It's interesting how the author explains the peculiarities of Japanese daily life and culture, resulting in a different type of reading. Sometimes there was an overload of details but those did not make me give the book up, they could, however, be shorter. I did not read the previous books in this series and will certainly be doing so.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.