In a sea of predictable plots, once in a great while a gifted writer still delivers surprises - one after the other. Much more than a police procedural, this book takes that genre to another level altogether.The book begins in a fairly straightforward, predictable way. Osamu, a writer, narrates Chapter One. He travels to visit a lifelong friend and fellow author, Kunihiko. Kunihiko and his new wife, Rie, as they are about to leave Japan for Vancouver, BC.As their house is boxed up and ready for the movers, Rie has gone ahead to the hotel where she and her husband will spend the night as Kunihiko has a few last minute changes to make to a manuscript. Osamu has an appointment with his editor and he, too, leaves.Shortly after Osamu and Rie leave, Kunihiko is murdered. While Osamu is in his apartment with his editor, he receives a phone call. Annoyed, he tells his editor that Kunihiko wants to see him on some urgent matter, but he can wait, as he, Osamu is hungry and suggests that he and the editor have dinner first - then he will visit Kunihiko again. After his dinner, Osamu arrives back at Kunihiko's house and all the lights are off and the front door is locked. Concerned, he calls Rie at her hotel. Rie rushes back to the house, opens the front door with her key and they find Kunihiko dead in his study.There is no doubt that Kunihiko is murdered. Both Rie and Osamu have well documented alibis. Osamu's account of his last visit with his friend casts a cloud over Kunihiko's character and it appears that many people may have had sufficient motive to murder him.There is no way to describe what follows without revealing more than the reader wants to know - however, this is one of those books that whatever you think you might know about what is transpiring --- you don't. This book is clever and thought provoking without becoming so bogged down in details that the thread is lost. Interesting, compelling, great writing, great plotting. Stellar.