This fast-paced thriller immediately pulled me in and kept me hooked until the very end. When a series of deaths in Tokyo are dismissed as suicides, reporters Reina Kubo and Emily Watson uncover clues that point to something far more sinister.

I loved the atmospheric Tokyo setting, the strong investigative storyline, and the constant sense of suspense. The plot was filled with tension, surprising revelations, and enough twists to keep me turning the pages. Emily was a determined and compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed following her search for the truth.

A gripping and entertaining thriller that I would recommend to fans of suspense and investigative mysteries.

Really enjoyed the plot and the pacing of this book.. I loved Emily so much that I feel the need to go and read the previous book to learn more about her. Also, the way the crimes were depicted made the story feel so real. And that reveal and plot twist ending was done so well.

I love international crime fiction, and have been looking for a crime thriller set in Japan for a while. This hits the spot for me.

Journalist Emily Watson, fresh from winning the Pulitzer Prize for her last investigation, is summoned to Tokyo to investigate the murder of multiple women found dead in the River Sumida. Officially they are ruled as suicides and the cases closed, but Emily and her friends Tetsuo and Reina know there is a cover up at the highest level. Putting their lives at risk, they dig deep into the mystery to try and expose dark secrets. Somebody is determined to stop Emily and her friends from finding out the truth, at any cost.

This is an exciting fast moving book. There is constant tension throughout as shadowy figures are close behind Emily at every step. Almost every potential witness has mere minutes to talk or hand over information - a plot device that works well. A writing style of short sharp sentences increases the sense of urgency. Every book section is time checked, with Emily seemingly working almost 24 hours a day. It builds to a satisfying conclusion. 

The novel provides some interesting insight into Japanese culture as well, with the use of Japanese words where appropriate (explained in footnotes). 

You might enjoy this if you like Tariq Ashkanani.

Four Women in the River is a gripping crime thriller set in contemporary Japan against a fascinating backdrop of political corruption and organized crime.

The Japanese setting helped the novel stand out from many other thrillers I've read. I particularly appreciated the glossary at the end of each chapter and the cultural notes included at the end of the book, which added valuable context without interrupting the flow of the story.

Although this is the second book in the Emily Watson series, it works well as a standalone. I never felt lost, and the story provided enough context for me to become invested in both the investigation and Emily's personal history.

The ending delivered a satisfying payoff and left me eager to learn more about Emily's past and continue with the series.

My thanks to Theo St. John, Kurohana Books, and NetGalley for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.