Crossfire

When Junko Aoki, a girl with the gift of pyrokinesis, inadvertantly discovers a murder by the Asaba gang she immediately vows revenge. After burning three of them, she seeks out to destroy the leader who escaped. Joining her in the pursuit are Chikako Ishizu, the only woman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Plice Department, and a group called the Guardians. The police department seek to stop crime through legal ways; the Guardians, who are a secret band, seek to stop crime through whatever means possible. They wish Aoki to join them because of her powers, but they are quickly disappointed when she makes her gift too well known. Not only is the mystery/thriller aspect of this book captivating, but I found the ethical questions posed at the end to be of enormous importance: Does anyone have the right to take another's life? Is there ever a right reason to do so? This was an outstanding book written by Miuki Miyabe who "was born in downtown Tokyo and worked in a law office before becoming a full-time writer. She is the recipient of numerous literary prizes, including Japan's most prestigious award for popular literature, the Naoki Prize. Crossfire was a major bestseller in Japan and has been adapted to film." (From the back cover of the book published by Kodansha International)

Miyuki Miyabe began her professional career in a law office, but soon turned to full-time writing. She has published three prior novels to CROSSFIRE and has been awarded numerous literary accolades. She is considered to be Japan's number one mystery writer. CROSSFIRE merges the mystery world and more than a bit of the supernatural. Miyabe's heroine, Chikako Ishizu, a veteran police woman who has to constantly fight male attitudes, is pushed into a series of arson/murders. No one can figure out who, or even what, started the fires. Chikako meets the talented and morose Detective Makihara, a man who has devoted his life to the idea of pyrokinesis after he sees his younger step-brother go up in flames before his very eyes many years before. Makihara introduces the idea of a human born with the ability to consciously start fires to Chikako's skeptical reaction: "'The ability to start fires using willpower,' Makihara said, his light-colored eyes fixed on Chikako. 'That is the theory I gave the investigation team for the Arakawa incident. I told them they should deepen their knowledge of pyrokinesis in order to proceed with their investigation.' He laughed again in a mischievous way. 'That must make me sound pretty eccentric to you, doesn't it?'" What makes Miyuki Miyabe's writing so profoundly intoxicating is not just her excellent plotting and characterizations (which are compelling). It is the ideas that she presents in her writing. She forces the reader to face some very tough questions about personal ethics; love; and what loneliness contributes to the human condition. The very lovely Junko Aoki is one of two haunted characters born with the unfortunately ability to start fires. What does a person do with that kind of ability? Can she use it for the good of mankind? How does she deal with people who would use her and her powers for their own ends? How will mankind react? CROSSFIRE is a tragic story of love; a constant reminder of how making decisions about right and wrong can tear people apart; and is just a wonderful read. It's a "can't put it down once you start reading" book, and immediately the reader wants more of what this author has to offer. A spectacular read from a young sensation from Japan and one that American readers will love. Shelley Glodowski Senior Reviewer

Although being marketed as a mystery/police writer in the US, in her native Japan Miyuki Miyabe is a master of all genres. Science fiction, social commentary, juvenile fiction, mystery fiction...there are very few arenas where she has not sown her considerable talent. This third book to get an English translation is quite a departure from the reality-based "All She Was Worth" and "Shadow Family," entering a world of super-powered assassins and powerful conspiracy organizations. "Crossfire" follows the lives of two very different women. Junko Aoki is a young and beautiful pyrokinetic, capable of unleashing devastating heat-based attacks using only her mind. She is a warrior in a personal war, seeing herself as a weapon, a scourge against the inhuman crime that she sees day to day in modern Japan. Chikako Ishizu is a middle aged detective in the arson department, an unexceptional woman of average abilities who owes her position to a political maneuver placing more women in detective positions. There paths merge when Chikako investigates a murder, the victim burned alive in an impossible manner. Her investigation forces her to leave her accepted reality, and enter a shadow world she never new existed. Behind it all, manipulating circumstances, is a group called The Guardians, a powerful group dedicated to delivering justice when the courts have failed. Regardless of the genre, Miyabe's strength is her characters, specifically her women characters who come alive and bring an honesty to incredible circumstances. She doesn't force relationships, love stories, or anything else that would interfere with the main plot. Chikako is a married woman, with children, muddling her way through a murky world the best she can, well aware of the power that others wield over her and the directions she is being pushed. Junko is cold, having sealed away her emotions in order to control her explosive power. They could not be more different, but Miyabe maintains the appropriate tones as she switches between the characters. While not a masterpiece like "All She Was Worth," "Crossfire" is a great read, fast paced and with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader's blood pumping. Its great to be able to sample some of Miyabe's more fantastical adventures, and I hope that future translations allow for a fuller scope of her talent.

I am a big fan of Miyabe Miyuki and this novel is not her best, but also not her worst - it is in the middle range. It is a very compact storyline and short novel, so if you want something different to read for a long weekend, I recommend this book. The story was initially somewhat reminiscent of Stephen King's "Firestarter", since the main character can start fires at will, but that is pretty much where the similarity ends. As with her other novels, Miyabe entwines social issues, gender issues and other pertinent topics into her novel and this is what makes her writing so unique. Although not her best novel, it is well written and the story is captivating. I recommend it for a leisure read.

I enjoy this author enormously. The first book I read by her was "All She Was Worth," which stands up with the very best of mystery fiction. While this one isn't as strong in terms of the "mystery," the author's strengths in character development and the manner of fitting the story into the contemporary Japanese milieu are very evident. I can think of few writers that make you care as much as this talented woman does. Having said all that, this book was a bit of a departure in that a part of the mystery deals with people with paranormal powers (fire starting or pyrokinesis). Two protagonists coexit, a wonderful middleaged lady detective from the arson squad, and the firestarter -- a young woman who must decide if what she is doing is ethical (for example, what about innocent bystanders? Is the death of a few of them worth the many, many who will be saved if she blasts a guilty person?) In addition, there is a shadow organization, the Guardians, who at times seem to be protectors, and at times. . . well, read the book. This author deserves to be a bestseller!