Shitamachi Scam by Michael Pronko

Following the money from a sleazy rip-off ring leads to bigger and more dangerous fish in Shitamachi Scam by Michael Pronko, a high-stakes hunt for justice in Tokyo.

In a city where real estate is profitable enough to kill for, a group of clever con artists are scamming older people out of their pensions, identities, and even the deeds to their homes. The authorities are aware of the scheme, but the seemingly juvenile sagi group has ties to powerful people and surprisingly sophisticated methods, so cracking the case proves more challenging than expected. With multiple bodies in the morgue and a growing suspect list, Hiroshi and a team of detectives must unravel the mystery before the criminal circle breaks up and vanishes. Balancing revelatory character development and relationship building with hard-nosed investigation, this sixth installment of the Detective Hiroshi Series is brimming with well-strung tension.

As usual, Pronko excels in his world-building and immersive writing, welcoming readers into the vivid sights, sounds, cultural norms, and behaviors of Japanese people – criminals, cops, and otherwise. From skateboarding scammers and ex-sumo detectives to izakaya fronts and silver-haired seniors who aren’t afraid to fight back, this well-paced procedural is entertaining and eye-opening, delivering another authentic portrait of Tokyo life, as well as a glimpse at the city’s seedy underbelly. With an aging population in Japan, there has been a real-world focus on ensuring the dignity, health, and communal connection of older generations, and this storyline is a timely nod to the ugly threats that elderly demographics can face in a fast-paced online world.

Carving his unique niche in a crowded genre, Pronko continues to craft believable contemporary crime fiction with enrapturing plots that work both as a cultural study and page-turning thriller.