Kinki Lullaby by Isaac Adamson

The further adventures of Tokyo-noir detective Billy Chaka. Chaka, a reporter for "Youth in Asia" magazine, is in Osaka to accept an award for an article he wrote years ago. it's all part of a crazy rotary club scheme to bring tourist attention to the city. Leave it to Billy to get involved in a murder mystery involving puppet theater, adultery, real estate deals gone sour, the yakuza, and British curry-lovers.

There's a lot to learn here about the art of Bunraku puppetry, and the world Adamson creates keeps the pages turning. While the story isn't anything too brand new, the characters are all likable enough. The entire resolution hinges on whether you're willing to accept the premise of the story (some kind of pervasive consciousness) or whether you'll think there are too many coincidences piling atop one another. Personally, I bought the concept, but felt the execution at the end could have been played out a little better. Adamson delivers an Coda to the story that is reminiscent of the best pulp fiction of the 40s and 50s.

Adamson hasn't written a new Chaka story since 2004, and I'm anxious to see if he'll be continuing the tale or stretching into new territory. The Hollywood rumor mill has Toby Maguire inked to play Chaka in the adaptation of the first boo, Tokyo Suckerpunch. (I believe this was all pre-Spider-Man, so chances are probably slim now. That's showbiz for ya...)