The Investigation
by J. M. Lee

Longlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, 2015

Fukuoka Prison, 1944. Beyond the prison walls the war rages; inside a man is found brutally murdered. Watanabe, a young guard with a passion for reading, is tasked with finding the killer. The victim, Sugiyama—also a guard—was feared and despised throughout the prison and investigations have barely begun when a powerful inmate confesses. But Watanabe is unconvinced; and as he interrogates both the suspect and Yun Dong-ju, a talented Korean poet, he begins to realize that the fearsome guard was not all he appeared to be...

At once a captivating mystery and an epic lament for lost freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Investigation—inspired by a true story—is a sweeping, gripping tale perfect for fans of The Shadow of the Wind​.


​Buy now on IndieBound, Amazon, or at your local bookseller.

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Reviews

"If Lee's stateside debut is any indication of the quality of his other titles, English-language audiences should demand accessibility to more, also made available under the auspices of accomplished translator Kim, one hopes...[An] exquisite, electrifying discovery."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"[A] breathtakingly beautiful novel that boasts a cerebral murder mystery and a rare look at the human impact of Japan's colonialism in Korea."
--Booklist (starred review)

"This effective, elaborate historical novel is from Lee, a bestseller in his native South Korea...Readers will find Lee's novel to be a satisfying mystery supplemented by rich historical detail."
--Publishers Weekly

"A rollicking good mystery tale. It is also a volume of poetry, with heartbreaking verses of love and loss set against the backdrop of war. The Investigation is nearly impossible to review in a paragraph; even a whole page won't do it justice. Read it, you'll understand."
--BookPage