Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

The Pigeon HandlerAuthor: Ōkura Teruko

Original Title	鳩つかひ
Author	大倉燁子
Genre	Detective & Mystery
Author Type	Female Author
Summary	In a shadowy Tokyo gripped by fear, Detective Akaboshi races against time to unravel a string of audacious jewel heists orchestrated through sinister carrier pigeons. Wealthy elites receive chilling threats: surrender precious gems or face gruesome consequences. When Third Secretary Sugiyama becomes the latest target after purchasing a dazzling diamond, Akaboshi and Chief Tatematsu plunge into a labyrinth of deception. Clues point to a cunning mastermind exploiting jewelers and insurance agents, while shadowy figures like a mute assassin and a bruise-faced accomplice muddy the waters. As Akaboshi deciphers volcanic ash traces on pigeon feathers and confronts a web of lies, he uncovers unsettling ties to a woman whose elegance masks lethal ambition. With Sugiyama’s life hanging by a thread and public pressure mounting, the detectives must outwit a criminal who turns symbols of peace into instruments of terror—before another victim falls.