Earthquake Bird: A Novel

Susanna Jones' mesmerizing debut novel, now a major Netflix film starring Alicia Vikander and Riley Keough, is a haunting psychological thriller set in Tokyo that probes deep into the mind of a murder suspect. The grisly headline leaves nothing to the imagination: "Woman's torso recovered from Tokyo Bay. Believed to be missing British bartender Lily Bridges." The only suspect is Lucy Fly, whose friend is dead, and whose lover has disappeared, leaving her as good as guilty in the eyes of the authorities.

Trapped in the interrogation room, Lucy begins to unravel two stories. One, for the police, is a spare outline, offering more questions than answers. The other, the real one if you believe her, is a gripping dive into an obsessive mind, revealing the checkered past that brought her to Japan, her complicated friendship with Lily, and a tempestuous affair with a missing Japanese photographer named Teiji. As she excavates the dangerous secrets, both past and present, that haunt her waking mind, Lucy relates an unsettling life story that spans bustling Tokyo, the British countryside, and remote Japanese islands, each step taking us closer to the chilling truth about Lily's death.

This all-consuming crime story is unlike any other, a neo-noir thriller that is as shocking as it is exquisitely composed. The narrative weaves together the two parallel stories, gradually uncovering the complex web of relationships and events that led to the tragic outcome. Lucy's account is a haunting exploration of the human psyche, delving into the depths of obsession, guilt, and the fragility of our perceptions.

The setting of Tokyo serves as a rich and atmospheric backdrop, its bustling streets and mysterious corners providing the perfect canvas for this dark and unsettling tale. The author's meticulous attention to detail and her ability to build tension and suspense keep the reader captivated from start to finish.

Susanna Jones' debut novel is a masterful work of psychological fiction, blending the suspense of a crime thriller with the depth and complexity of a character study. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring allure of the mystery genre. Readers will find themselves drawn into Lucy's world, grappling with the unsettling questions that arise and the shocking revelations that unfold.

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