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The Rope Artist

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( 645 ratings, 141 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Rope Artist by Fuminori Nakamura and Sam Bett delves into a gripping world where a retired detective is drawn back to unravel the mysterious death of a man found bound in knots, exploring the subculture of kinbaku, or Japanese rope art. As the investigation progresses, it exposes hidden secrets and complex human desires, weaving a tense and atmospheric narrative rich with psychological intrigue. The book melds elements of crime and introspection, providing a window into the darker corners of human nature and the art of restraint.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy intricate crime thrillers that immerse you in a world of suspense and psychological depth. It explores complex characters and a dark, enigmatic plot, offering a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The blend of tension and intriguing storytelling might captivate your interest if you appreciate stories that delve into the human psyche.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The aftermath of the murder of a bondage teacher reveals the darkest corners of the human mind in this chilling new mystery from the master of Japanese literary noir.

Two detectives. Two identical women. One dead body—then two, then three, then four. All knotted up in Japan's underground BDSM scene and kinbaku, a form of rope bondage which bears a complex cultural history of spirituality, torture, cleansing, and sacrifice.

As Togashi, a junior member of the police force, investigates the murder of a kinbaku instructor, he finds himself unable to resist his own private transgressive desires. In contrast, Togashi's Sherlock Holmesian colleague Hayama is morally upright to a fault, with a stalwart commitment to the truth and nearly superhuman powers of deduction. When Hayama notices a dangerous measure of darkness within Togashi, he embarks on a parallel investigation, which soon spirals out of control.

Unflinching in its flayed-raw treatment of identity, violence, sexuality, power, the occult, and the divine, The Rope Artist is both viscerally painful and unexpectedly hopeful—a genre homage that shines a light on the most dangerous elements of the human psyche.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Rope Artist by Fuminori Nakamura, translated by Sam Bett, blends noir elements with dark psychological exploration. Critics highlight its philosophical narrative, examining power dynamics and dominance in sexual relationships. The prose is described as cool and calculated, fitting the novel's dark themes. The book is considered a complex literary mystery filled with raw eroticism and unexpected psychological twists, offering a mind-bending reading experience not for the faint-hearted.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781641294140

Publisher: Soho Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 May 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Soho Press

Edition: International edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Fuminori Nakamura was born in 1977 and graduated from Fukushima University in 2000. He has won numerous prizes for his writing, including Japan's prestigious Ōe Prize; the David L. Goodis Award for Noir Fiction; and the Akutagawa Prize. The Thief, his first novel to be translated into English, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His other novels include Cult X, The Gun, The Kingdom, Evil and the Mask, The Boy in the Earth, My Annihilation, and Last Winter, We Parted. Sam Bett is a fiction writer and Japanese translator. His translation work has won the Japan-US Friendship Commission Prize and been shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.

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