Shitamachi Scam
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press (2023)
ISBN: 978-1942410317
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (12/2023)
“Shitamachi Scam” (Detective Hiroshi Series Book 6) by the award-winning Michael Pronko, is the classic detective drama you’ve been waiting for. From the descriptive opening of the first chapter and throughout the rest of the novel, you will find yourself swept into the culture of Tokyo; traditional values and old ways vs. new realities and players, with characters so real you think they could step off the page. Detective Hiroshi Shimizu is an intriguing character who finds himself in a non-traditional environment. From a culture that has historically respected older generations, he must now navigate the opposite.
In a world where a woman in her seventies and an isolated student have died under suspicious circumstances, Hiroshi is after a band of scammers who prey on retired people and steal their retirement benefits and savings, not to mention their homes by way of their deeds. If this plot angers you as much as it does me, keep reading, because it gets better. Hiroshi is determined to track the culprits and bring them to justice. Just the thought of the elderly being taken advantage of and exploited is enough to get to the bottom of it. The setting is a shitamachi, an older city on the east side. Things get even more interesting when Detective Ishii enters the picture, whom Hiroshi partners with, as she has been running a women’s crime task force. Combining their areas of expertise is a brilliant idea.
Having read and enjoyed Pronko’s “Tokyo Traffic,” I knew I was in for a treat, and I wasn’t disappointed. This author digs into modern social issues and turns them into page-turning crime dramas. His style is crisp, clean, and durable. When you read Pronko’s writing, you know he’s done his homework in the detective world, and you know you can trust him to lead you through the intricacies of an investigation. He makes Tokyo come to life for readers who are curious about the city and wonder what it’s like there.
I love how the author carefully crafts each character so that they are rich and realistic. The dialogue is fresh and direct, and with the character sketches listed at the beginning, you have a handy reference if you want to go back and look. One of the traits I like best about Detective Hiroshi is that he puts the brakes on his own life to tackle this scammer case. He is truly dedicated.
An ex-sumo wrestler named Chief Sakaguchi is looking out for Hiroshi and is a big help in digging into the scammer mystery. The pacing of this story is pitch-perfect, and the conflicts are well-conceived and executed. It’s a simple story told in intricate layers. Pronko’s style of writing is one you can quickly become a fan of. But even in the gritty storytelling, you get a sense of positivity. The subjects are serious, but it isn’t all doom and gloom, and you are left with a satisfying ending. And Hiroshi is a great detective character. If you read any detective novels this year, “Shitamachi Scam” (Detective Hiroshi Series Book 6) by Michael Pronko should be one of them.
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