Return to Hiroshima by Bob Van Laerhoven
1995, Japan struggles with a severe economic crisis. Fate brings a number of people together in Hiroshima in a confrontation with dramatic consequences. Xavier Douterloigne, the son of a Belgian diplomat, returns to the city, where he spent his youth, to come to terms with the death of his sister. Inspector Takeda finds a deformed baby lying dead at the foot of the Peace Monument, a reminder of Hiroshima’s war history. A Yakuza-lord, rumored to be the incarnation of the Japanese demon Rokurobei, mercilessly defends his criminal empire against his daughter Mitsuko, whom he considers insane. And the punk author Reizo, obsessed by the ultra-nationalistic ideals of his literary idol Mishima, recoils at nothing to write the novel that will “overturn Japan’s foundations”….
Hiroshima’s indelible war-past simmers in the background of this ultra-noir novel. Clandestine experiments conducted by Japanese Secret Service Unit 731 during WWII become unveiled and leave a sinister stain on the reputation of the imperial family and the Japanese society as a whole.
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About the Author
A fulltime Belgian/Flemish author, Laerhoven published more than 35 books in Holland and Belgium. Some of his literary work is published in French, English, German, Slovenian, Italian, Polish, and Russian. Three time finalist of the Hercule Poirot Prize for Best Mystery Novel of the Year with the novels “Djinn”, “The Finger of God,” and “Return to Hiroshima”; Winner of the Hercule Poirot Prize for “Baudelaire’s Revenge,” which also won the USA Best Book Award 2014 in the category “mystery/suspense”.
His collection of short stories “Dangerous Obsessions,” first published by The Anaphora Literary Press in the USA in 2015, was hailed as “best short story collection of 2015” by the San Diego Book Review. The collection is translated in Italian, (Brazilian) Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. “Retour à Hiroshima”, the French translation of “Return to Hiroshima,” is recently finished. In 2018, The Anaphora Literary Press published “Heart Fever”, a second collection of short stories. Heart Fever, written in English by the author, is a finalist in the Silver Falchion 2018 Award in the category “short stories collections”. Laerhoven is the only non-American finalist of the Awards.
Website (NL/FR/EN) Website (Russian website for Месть Бодлера, the Russian edition of Baudelaire’s Revenge)
My Review
5 Stars
This story is about Mitsuko, the daughter of Rokurobei. Rokurobei is considered the reincarnation of a Japanese demon runs the Yakuza. He feels his daughter is insane and has to protect his empire from her. Mitsuko can handle the abuse no longer and leaves and finds herself staying with Reizo, an author that is writing a novel that will change everything.
We also have Xavier Douterloigne that is trying to come to terms with the death of his sister while visiting the country he spent most of his youth in. And Inspector Takada who finds the twisted body of an infant at the Peace Monument and strange assaults on tourists.
This is an amazing story with so much happening. Each player has their role to play and at first it doesn’t seem to connect between each person and the time periods. But the more you read the story starts to circle around and around and mesh everyone together. I admit that I didn’t see how things were connected but the more you read the more you are drawn into the web.
If the people were not enough, we also go through time with Unit 731 and the experiments that were done during World War II. Something that I had an idea of what was done but is over shadowed by the atrocities from the Nazi’s. This plays a huge role along with the dropping of the atomic bombs too.
I am not that big into history normally but I really enjoy a good story that blends history like Return to Hiroshima. It has so many layers from simple family connection and our interactions with people. But then you add in the history, the events that took place, and how it has effected the world them and today which adds another dimension.
I loved this brutal story and recommend everyone check it out. I am really curious to read Bob Van Laerhaven’s other works.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
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I would like to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and share this book.
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