A Game of Cat and Killer

Introducing an iconic investigative duo—a hapless detective and his capable cat—in this must-read by one of Japan’s most beloved novelists of crime fiction.

Detective Yoshitaro Katayama is afraid of many things: heights, dark spaces, blood and … women. When a young female student is found murdered, he’s given two choices—review the harrowing crime-scene photographs or head to Hagoromo Women’s College to investigate—and reluctantly opts for the latter.

But the threat escalates with additional murders, and soon Katayama has a different surprise on his hands: a calico cat named Holmes, orphaned when the dean himself falls victim.

Surely that’s the last thing Katayama needs. Until Holmes begins to display some uncanny investigative instincts of her own …

• “This sophisticated series debut packs the offbeat winsomeness of The Thursday Murder Club, the exotic charm of a travelogue, the animal magnetism of Remarkably Bright Creatures, and the odd-couple appeal of your favorite buddy-cop TV drama... but most and best of all, A Game of Cat and Killer is F-U-N—high-spirited, big-hearted, and splendidly light on its four feet. Think Agatha Christie with claws.”
  A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author
• "The perfect balance of light and dark, with a main character I couldn’t stop rooting for. Add in one of the most creative locked room murders I’ve ever read, and a real surprise of an ending, and you can absolutely see why Jiro Akagawa is such a staple of Japanese crime fiction. Equal parts puzzling and entertaining from start to finish, and one of the most satisfying mysteries I’ve read this year.” 
  Kristen Perrin, New York Times bestselling author
• "Murder mystery fans and cat lovers get ready for an iconic new series. A Game of Cat and Killer pairs a misfit detective with an enigmatic calico cat called Holmes, who has an uncanny knack of finding clues to her owner’s murder. This is an irresistible blend of gritty crime and cozy mystery, with deeper themes of companionship and inclusion. Delightful, intriguing and the height of purrfection!"
  Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author
• “It’s undeniably heartwarming to witness the harmony between Katayama and Holmes develop as the plot unfolds. Readers will hope for more Holmes adventures soon.” 
  Publishers Weekly
• "Jiro Akagawa’s A Game of Cat and Killer proves an alluring combination of cultural insight, charming characters – not least a cat named Holmes – and a locked room puzzle to challenge even the most avid crime reader. A delightful introduction to Japan’s master of mystery.” 
  Vaseem Khan, award winning author