Pathway to Japanese Literature

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The Amber PipeAuthor: Kōga Saburō

Original Title	琥珀のパイプ
Author	甲賀三郎
Genre	Detective & Mystery
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the chaotic aftermath of Tokyo’s Great Earthquake, a tempestuous night patrol unfolds as a typhoon ravages the city. A weary government clerk joins Retired Colonel Aoki and sharp-witted journalist Matsumoto Junzo, their ideological clashes echoing the storm’s fury. Amid howling winds, they discover a fire engulfing the home of Fukushima—a man despised by neighbors for refusing patrol duties. Inside lie three corpses: a caretaker family brutally murdered, their blood staining scorched tatami. Matsumoto’s keen eye uncovers cryptic symbols and mercury traces, hinting at arson linked to potassium chlorate and a chilling insurance scheme. As tensions mount, Fukushima’s return sparks accusations, while shadowy connections emerge to Iwami Keiji, a figure entangled in past crimes involving stolen jewels and ciphers. The journalist’s relentless deductions expose layered betrayals, yet questions linger—why did Iwami infiltrate the house? What secrets lie buried beneath floorboards? And who is the true architect of this tragedy? A tale of desperation and deception unfolds, where nature’s wrath mirrors human frailty, leaving justice as fragile as the amber pipe that silently seals a confession.