‘Sayonara, My Sweet’ by Lea O’Harra

Published by Black Rose Writing,
7 May 2025.
ISBN: 978-168513595-9 (PB)

This Japanese-set mystery novel opens with the news report of an unnamed young woman in her twenties dying of poison, then returns to twelve hours earlier, with beautiful, conventional Kaori Hirakata preparing to run away with Hiroki Sato, a young man her parents definitely wouldn’t approve... except that when Hiroko arrives, the author tells us, The next five minutes turned [Kaori’s] world upside down. The reader doesn’t know what happened, but it seems Kaori’s spoiled little brother, Aki, overheard. Then we move to Murota Police Station, where Chief Inspector Ito learns more details of Kaori’s death. He already knows the family – over ten years ago, there was a gun attack on Kaori’s father, and his boss accused him of gang membership and corruption.

The movement between the other characters and Chief Inspector Ito is neatly done, giving us the true feelings of characters compared to what they tell the police. We meet a variety of people: Mrs Goto, the nosy neighbour who can keep her head in an emergency; Emi Tada, Kaori’s best friend, who enjoyed the luxury of Kaori’s life compared to her own poverty; Juno-sensei, an unpleasant, pushy missionary at the Christian church where the Hirakata family worshipped; Koji Yanagihara, the reporter from the Nippon Times who finds himself attacked by a masked man with one pinkie missing – a sign of gang membership.

With no leads and the disappearance of Hiroki, his superintendent humiliates Ito publicly, and takes him off the case. However, it’s re-opened nearly halfway through the book, ten years later, by the return of Kaori’s brother Aki, with new evidence. This part of the book drew me in well, with the description of the time-capsule house and the reactions of its new tenant, a young American teacher at the university. Aki renews his friendship with the people in the case, and now the threads of the mystery are drawn together to a tense conclusion.

A cleverly constructed stand-alone murder novel with interesting characters, an atmospheric background and a knowledgeable portrait of Japanese society. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Marsali Taylor

Lea O’Harra has previously published four crime fiction novels: Imperfect Strangers, originally published in 2015 by Endeavour Press, republished in 2022 by Sharpe books; Progeny, originally published in 2016 by Endeavour Press, republished in 2022 by Sharpe books; Lady First, originally published in 2017 by Endeavour Press, republished in 2022 by Sharpe Books, and Dead Reckoning, published in 2022 by Sharpe Books. The first three books comprise the so-called ‘Inspector Inoue murder mystery series’ and are set in Japan. The fourth book is a standalone in small-town America. In autumn 2017 Lady First was awarded finalist status in the crime fiction section of the Beverly Hills Books Awards. It was also a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards in 2018. Dead Reckoning was selected as a Book Excellence Award Finalist in 2023 in the thriller category. 

http://leaoharra.com  

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.  

Click on the title to read a review of her recent book
Death at a Shetland Festival 
www.marsalitaylor.co.uk