Buddha Kiss

By Peter Tasker

A brilliant atmospheric financial thriller--written by a top British financial analyst based in Japan--that does for contemporary Tokyo what Gorky Park did for Moscow. Gritty, fast-paced, filled with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385485522
• ISBN13: 9780385485524
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.5" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Exciting Japanese Thriller

I really enjoyed this book! It was tough at the beginning (getting used to the Japanese character names and organizing who is who) but once I got that figured out it was terrific. I have read only one other book based in Japan and ironically my husband was reading it ("Memoirs of a Geisha") at the same time I was ready this one. Wow, are they different! This is a great thriller with twists, turns and a story line that is new and fresh. It also gives you a look into current day Japan from the point of view of a "foreigner". The dialogue is so good and really made me feel like I was there and getting a real flavor for how the Japanese communicate with each other. I can't wait to read "Silent Thunder" and "Samarai Boogie" both of which I understand use the Mori private eye character again.

This is NOT "Memoirs of a Geisha"!

I was a bit confused for the first couple of chapters of this galloping mystery, but then I realized that the principal characters were confused, too. There are three main proponents: Richard Mitchell, semi-novice financier from Yorkshire who has relocated to Tokyo to seek his fortune, Kazuo Mori, hard-boiled private detective (or "economic and social researcher"), who takes on a case involing the mysterious death of and old friend's daughter, and Tamura, assistant manager of one of the most important branches of one of Japan's most important banks, who wakes to find himself in a love hotel with the corpse of an attractive young woman. There are several memorable nemesises, too: Yazawa, the financial whiz-kid who drives Mitchell on with his unpredictable style, Ono, founder and godhead of a new cult, who seems to be behind the deaths of several of his female followers, and "Snowbird," a warped but very professional yakuza. As the several threads begin to draw closer together, and as you begin to discern what the real threats are, you'll find yourself staying up late to finish the book. Tasker is himself an English financier resident in Japan, and he writes with authoritative knowledge of both those worlds, so the story resonates with verisimilitude. Nor was I distracted by the "foreignness" of the world the author, and the characters, so ably move in.

This is NOT "Memoirs of a Geisha"!

I was a bit confused for the first couple of chapters of this galloping mystery, but then I realized that the principal characters were confused, too. There are three main proponents: Richard Mitchell, semi-novice financier from Yorkshire who has relocated to Tokyo to seek his fortune, Kazuo Mori, hard-boiled private detective (or "economic and social researcher"), who takes on a case involing the mysterious death of and old friend?s daughter, and Tamura, assistant manager of one of the most important branches of one of Japan?s most important banks, who wakes to find himself in a love hotel with the corpse of an attractive young woman... As the several threads begin to draw closer together, and as you begin to discern what the real threats are, you?ll find yourself staying up late to finish the book...

spellbinding!

I started this book in the bookstore and couldn't put it down! Even though I don't usually buy fiction in hardcover, I had to take this one home. Indulge yourself--you won't be disappointed! I'm anxiously awaiting Mr. Tasker's next book.

A modern day "Shogun".

Tasker takes the reader to the heart of Japanese society known to few foreigners. From the inner sanctums of Shinto lore to the sleazy bath houses, one reads about the entire spectrum of modern day Japan through two wonderful and memorable characters, Mori and Mitchell. The perfect New-York to Tokyo plane book.