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The Pressure of Testing
Tokyo Juku follows an eighteen-year-old student in Japan who, while studying all night in her cram school, discovers one of her teachers has been murdered, leading to an investigation into the education system. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The main inspiration comes from talking with my students. Their struggles inspired me to write about them. I teach at a university, so hearing from my seminar students about what they’ve been through really made me rethink the Japanese educational system from their perspective. One of the largest problems is the pressure of testing. Students hate tests. I mean, really hate them! My job entails evaluation, but more as individual feedback than standardized testing as social gatekeeping. Over the years, when I tell people that I teach at a university, they often cast their eyes down and mumble the name of their school, a little embarrassed at their past failings. Or, just the opposite, very proudly. That’s a sad reaction to what should be a life-transforming experience. In the novel, I wanted to take my students’ stories, my observations, and others’ experiences and condense them into the struggles of the main character, Mana. Like most Japanese, she has to learn how to navigate treacherous educational waters. As an educator and a writer, I’m on the side of improvement, but that’s easier said than done.
How has character development for Detective Hiroshi Shimizu changed for you through the series?
Hiroshi has evolved through the series. In the first novel, he had just returned from America and found the detective job through a connection. He works the job reluctantly but gradually finds he is pretty good at it, despite being resistant to crime scenes and the grittier aspects of the job. He reconnects with his college girlfriend, moves in with her, and they start a family in the latest novel. That idea of fatherhood causes him great anxiety because of what he’s seen behind the curtain. Does he want to bring a child into the world he’s glimpsed while working in homicide? But he has a knack for finding the pattern in the chaos of cases, and he’s needed.
Was it important for you to deliver a moral to readers, or was it circumstantial to deliver an effective novel?
An effective novel comes first. The moral is something that occurs in readers’ minds. I think if you push a moral or make themes too explicit, it takes away from the beautiful ambiguity of reading. As a writer, I can nudge readers in specific directions, but they will draw their own conclusions. So, if you push a moral without a compelling story, it comes across as preachy. Nobody likes that. Readers have their own reactions to the characters’ conflicts, which might yield a moral they take away, but it might also be something more complex—a conclusion or understanding that doesn’t fit into the frame of a moral. The conflicts and confusions of characters are at the heart of an effective story. I focus on that. My job as a writer is to keep them turning pages, thinking, and enjoying the ride.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Detective Hiroshi Shimizu and the direction of the next book?
The next book will focus on the tourist industry, which has really taken off in Japan. I have culture shock—or maybe reverse culture shock—in parts of the city swamped with visitors from abroad. That’s changing the city. I’m not against that, but the influx of tourists and tourist money has not been clearly planned for. And much of Japan is highly planned. Japan is internationalizing, in good and bad ways, so that Hiroshi will be needed even more with his English and accounting skills. He’s got plenty more cases to work on.
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Eighteen-year-old Mana pulls an all-nighter at her juku, a private Japanese cram school that specializes in helping students pass the once-a-year exams. She failed the year before but feels sure she’ll get it the second time—if she can stay awake. The Japanese saying, “Four pass, five fail,” presses her to sleep just four hours a day, and study the rest.
When she wakes up in the middle of the night, head pillowed on her notes, she takes a break down the silent hallway. A light comes from an empty classroom, and still sleepy, she pushes open the door to discover something not covered in her textbooks. Her juku teacher, the one who got her going again, lies stabbed to death below the whiteboard, with the knife still in his chest and the AV table soaked in blood.
Detective Hiroshi Shimizu is called in, and though he’s usually the forensic accountant, not the lead detective, he’s put in charge of the case. With the help of colleagues old and new, he’s determined to find the killer before the media convicts the girl in the press, the new head of homicide pins it on her, or big money interests make her the scapegoat.
Hiroshi follows up on uncooperative witnesses, financial deceptions, and the sordid details of some teachers’ private lives. Even as he gets closer, the accumulating evidence feels meager amid the vastness of the education industry, and the pressures and profits of Japan’s incessant exams.
At the outset of the investigation, Hiroshi listens as an education ministry official lectures him on how education holds the nation together, but he soon discovers how it also pulls it apart, and how deadly a little learning can be.
Tokyo Juku
Tokyo Juku begins with a bang, literally and emotionally. A young student named Mana discovers her teacher dead in a cram school classroom, his body crumpled under the sterile glow of fluorescent lights. Detective Hiroshi Shimizu and his team step into a Tokyo dense with pressure, ambition, and secrets. What follows is a layered mystery that weaves together the cutthroat world of education, the hidden costs of success, and the loneliness tucked behind the city’s polished exterior. Author Michael Pronko takes what might seem like a simple murder case and turns it into a study of human drive, shame, and survival.
The writing pulled me in right away. Pronko’s style is sharp and cinematic. The scenes snap from one point of view to another like the cuts in a film, yet nothing feels rushed. The descriptions of Tokyo at night, its cram schools glowing like lanterns, its streets humming with ambition, feel both beautiful and sad. There’s something almost tender about how he writes the city, even when it’s cruel. What I liked most was how the story balanced the crime with emotion. The mystery kept me guessing, but it was the characters’ quiet struggles, the overworked teachers, the anxious students, the tired detectives, that stuck with me. They all felt painfully real, like people you might pass on a crowded train and never think twice about.
Pronko dives deep into conversations and inner thoughts, and sometimes I wanted the story to move faster. But even then, I couldn’t stop reading. I liked how he made me feel the weight of every decision, every word unsaid. The book doesn’t just show a crime; it shows what happens to people who live inside constant expectation. It’s not only about murder, it’s about burnout, ambition, and how easily a person can crack under the strain. The writing feels clean but heavy with meaning, and that balance hit me hard.
Tokyo Juku isn’t just a detective story; it’s a mirror held up to modern Tokyo and anyone chasing success at any cost. I’d recommend it to readers who love smart mysteries with heart, and to anyone who enjoys books that make you sit back and think after you close them. It’s perfect for fans of slow-burn suspense, city stories, and those who don’t mind a little soul-searching between the clues.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B0FLW78XTZ
Percolating
Shadows of Truth follows a retired investigative reporter and his homicide detective girlfriend as they embark on an Alaskan cruise, who wind up investigating the suspicious death of a passenger in the cabin next to them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I had been considering the cruise ship scenario for a while. The thought of being trapped with a killer on board a cruise ship in an intense storm seemed like it could create some excitement. My wife and I joined family members on an Alaska cruise in 2024, and I was fortunate enough to tour the ship, including the bridge and other parts travellers don’t normally get to see. The plot for Shadows of Truth all came together at that point.
Jake and Dani are both interesting characters bringing a unique perspective to the case. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Shadows of Truth is the fourth book in the Jake Scott Mystery Series. Each book stands alone, but the characters evolve, and Jake and Dani’s relationship has progressed throughout the series. I enjoy writing about them both and developing their relationship. I especially enjoy writing about Jake as he’s a bit old school, and definitely not your typical six-pack stud hero. He’s great with Dani’s daughter, Emilie. To me, he’s about as average as someone can be, but he’s intelligent and has a curiosity honed by years as an investigative reporter. Sometimes, he’s invited into Dani’s cases, and other times, he inserts himself. Together with Dani, he slowly but steadily solves the case.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
For me, the hardest part is dropping clues and inserting misdirection without tripping myself up. I tried plotting my books, but I find the characters go where they want to anyway. Still, I have to plot to some extent to ensure I don’t drop a clue or plant misdirection that creates a hole in the storyline. After thirteen books, I’m still looking for the perfect combination of plotting and flying by the seat of my pants. I think I’m getting closer.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Jake Scott and the direction of the next book?
I just finished Shadows of Truth for release on September 15, so I don’t really have a solid direction for the next book yet. My wife and I always say when I finish writing one book, the next one is percolating. That’s the stage I’m at now. It’s percolating. I will say that Jake will undoubtedly find himself in trouble again, somewhere, somehow.
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Retired investigative reporter Jake Scott thought he was finally leaving the dangerous world of crime behind. But when a passenger is found dead on the balcony next door during his much-needed cruise vacation with his homicide detective girlfriend, Dani Perez, and her daughter, Emilie, Jake realizes that danger is never far away. As Dani’s instincts tell her that the death was not just a case of natural causes, the couple delves into a web of secrets and deceit linked to a powerful high-tech company. But as they draw closer to the truth, a violent storm hits, throwing the ship into chaos and putting their lives in danger. With time running out, Jake and Dani must race against the odds to unravel the mystery and stay alive.
Shadows of Truth: A Jake Scott Mystery
Barry Finlay’s Shadows of Truth follows Jake Scott, his partner Dani, and her daughter Emilie on what is supposed to be a relaxing Alaskan cruise. But almost from the moment they set sail, the trip takes a darker turn. When a fellow passenger is found dead on the balcony next door, Dani, head of Ottawa’s Homicide Division, can’t shake her suspicion that it was no accident. As the ship glides through breathtaking scenery, Dani quietly investigates, unearthing unsettling connections and running into resistance from the ship’s crew. What begins as a holiday turns into a slow-burning mystery at sea, blending moments of lighthearted travelogue with the tension of an unfolding crime.
I loved how immersive the cruise setting felt. Finlay paints it with vivid detail, from the ship’s bustling dining halls and over-the-top entertainment to the quiet, salty nights on the balcony. The dialogue feels natural. Jake’s dry humor made me grin more than once, and Dani’s calm competence grounded the story. At the same time, I found the pacing deliberately unhurried, which matched the cruise setting. The murder mystery simmers beneath layers of shipboard life, and that contrast works, though it sometimes feels like the crime takes a back seat to the vacation.
What really hooked me was Dani herself. She’s methodical, perceptive, and quietly relentless, even when others want her to let it go. I felt her frustration when leads went cold or when official channels seemed more interested in avoiding bad publicity than finding the truth. Jake, on the other hand, is endearingly out of his element, torn between wanting to support Dani and just wanting to enjoy the trip. Their dynamic felt genuine, equal parts affection, exasperation, and mutual respect. The mystery is clever in how it teases possible motives and suspects without dumping everything at once.
Shadows of Truth is a solid and atmospheric mystery with characters who feel like people you might actually meet on a cruise. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy slower-paced, character-driven mysteries where the setting is as much a part of the story as the plot. If you like your crime fiction laced with travel, humor, and the occasional glass of wine on a moonlit deck, this is a trip worth taking.
Pages: 269 | ASIN : B0FLWN2XCD
A Haunting Mix
The Light of Faded Stars follows a retired detective on his deathbed who is reflecting on his final, unsolved case—the brutal murder of a young woman. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The setup for The Light of Faded Stars emerged from a blend of literary influences, personal observations, and a deep sense of duty to honor my friends’ experiences. Stylistically, I was heavily inspired by the works of American writers like Cormac McCarthy, William Faulkner, Jack Kerouac, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Fante, J.D. Salinger, and Jack London. Their mastery of raw, evocative prose and their ability to portray the complexities of the human spirit left a lasting impression on me and shaped the tone and style of my novel.
The idea for a crime story took root as I explored Saint John, often called Fog City. Its streets, steeped in a haunting mix of faded grandeur and lost promises, struck me as the perfect setting for a noir narrative. Despite its challenges, Saint John is a city on the cusp of renewal, and that tension between its past and its potential added depth to the story’s backdrop. In this place, shadows conceal untold stories, yet hope flickers on the horizon.
I also wanted to weave in a backstory about Afghanistan as a tribute to my friends who served there. While I served in the military, I didn’t deploy to Afghanistan, but I witnessed its profound impact on those who did. Including this element felt like a duty to honor their sacrifices and to explore how such experiences ripple through lives and communities. Together, these threads—the literary influences, the atmospheric setting of Saint John, and the Afghanistan backstory—formed the foundation for a tale of mystery, reflection, and remembrance.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The human condition offers endless inspiration for fiction, particularly in its messiness and contradictions. One aspect I find compelling is how people wrestle with their pasts—how regret and unresolved questions can linger like ghosts. In The Light of Faded Stars, the retired detective, facing his final days, is consumed by his last case with Marcel, his partner: the brutal murder of a young woman with such promise. This allowed me to explore the human yearning for closure and the burden of carrying unfinished business to the grave, and to tie it all together with the unfulfilled promise of the city.
Another fascinating element is the tension between memory and truth. As the detective revisits his life, he grapples with his recollections of the case, questioning what’s real and what’s colored by his biases. This mirrors a universal struggle—how we reshape our stories over time, often blurring the line between fact and perception, and how many things fall in the cracks of unremembered time. I think it ties well with the life of small-town folks. There are whispers and stories about everyone, and people’s reputations become more real than the real person sometimes. I wanted my narrator to be from a village like mine, where memory and truth can be two separate things.
Finally, the enduring impact of trauma captivates me. Whether it’s the detective’s decades-long career in law enforcement or the Afghanistan backstory reflecting my friends’ service, trauma shapes people in profound, often invisible ways. It influences their choices, relationships, and sense of self, making it a powerful lens for fiction that resonates with readers on a visceral level. And I wanted to explore the gritty outlook of hard-boiled characters in a philosophical and poetic way, which the reviewer noted and truly appreciated.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In The Light of Faded Stars, I wanted to explore themes that reflect the weight of a life fully lived. Regret stands at the forefront. The detective’s curse is that he meets the body before the person and only uncovers the humanity of his victim as he goes along. Basically, he is always too late, and that has to affect his psyche and outlook.
Another key theme is the passage of time. On his deathbed, the detective feels time slipping away, heightening his urgency to make sense of his past. Time is a palpable force in the story, underscoring how fleeting opportunities for resolution can be. Aging is a universal reality, and by exploring that subtheme, I wanted to offer an answer as to the best way to approach it. In my book, I did not shy away from darker themes, since literary fiction is not just there to entertain but also to help us confront real problems.
The search for closure ties closely to this. The case is an open wound—not just for the detective but for everyone touched by the crime. It extends itself like dominoes in multiple directions and affects various characters. I wanted to explore how people chase that elusive sense of completion and what happens when it remains out of reach. In real life, a detective investigation does not necessarily meet a resolution for all its threads. I read and researched about the experiences of real detectives to help me integrate a sense of realism into my investigation narrative.
Lastly, the impact of trauma runs through the narrative. From the detective’s years confronting violence to the Afghanistan backstory, the story examines how such experiences leave lasting marks. These themes—regret, time, closure, and trauma—intertwine to create a portrait of a man seeking meaning at the end of his journey. It makes it an existential novel at the core, but, as the reviewer mentioned, there is some humour, entertainment, and poetry to keep the reader positive and engaged.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next project is a collection of short stories about the people of Saint John. It will be a fresque of the colorful people of the Maritimes—a vibrant tapestry of characters who embody the region’s spirit, struggles, and resilience. I’ve already written many short stories for this collection and aim to publish it in 2025 or early 2026. One is currently competing in a literary competition in New Brunswick, which is an exciting step forward. I’ll keep my readers updated on progress through my social media, and I’m eager to share these tales with them!
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The Light of Faded Stars
The Light of Faded Stars is a detective novel, but it’s also a sprawling, introspective meditation on memory, mortality, and the quiet devastation of time. The story follows Jack Willington, a retired detective on his deathbed, as he reflects on his final, unsolved case—the brutal murder of a young woman named Evie MacMurrough. With the help of his eccentric, bookish partner Marcel, Jack recounts not only the details of the investigation but also the philosophical undercurrents that haunted both men as they waded through the shadows of humanity and themselves.
I was floored by how the book balanced grit with poetry. The crime scene where Evie is found is brutal, but not gratuitous. It’s haunting. And the prose reads like noir. The first-person voice has this almost cinematic texture—world-weary, vulnerable, even funny in that grim detective kind of way.
What really pulled me in, though, was the relationship between Jack and Marcel. Marcel is the type of character you both want to strangle and protect at all costs. He’s maddeningly intellectual, forever quoting French authors and waxing philosophical about death and dreams. But there’s a tenderness underneath, a haunted soul just trying to hold it together. The scene where Jack catches him hiding in his office, surrounded by French literature and cold coffee, was weirdly beautiful.
Another thing I really appreciated is how the city becomes its own character. Fog City, as they call it, is sad, damp, and falling apart. But the descriptions are lush and honest. There’s a passage during a drive where Jack describes the industrial buildings exhaling smoke and the morning sun fighting through the fog like it’s battling to be seen. It’s so rare to see a city rendered with such gritty affection. It’s not romanticized, but it’s not dismissed either.
Jack’s memory wanders. But it fits the voice. He’s dying. He’s reflecting. It’s messy because life is messy. Some readers might get impatient, but if you lean into the detours—into the tangents about dreams, wars, childhood, guilt—they’ll reward you with insight.
The Light of Faded Stars isn’t just a mystery. It’s a story about the damage we carry and the traces we leave. It’s for anyone who’s ever looked back and wondered what it all meant. I’d recommend it to readers who loved The Road by Cormac McCarthy, or those who like their crime novels with a side of existential dread and a dash of heart.
Pages: 206 | ASIN : B0DM97NLH7
The Lost Boy
Callum “Cal” Nowak fled the confines of foster care and his small-town upbringing in the Catskill Mountains when he turned eighteen. In New York City, he joined the police force, determined to escape the shadows of his traumatic past and carve out a new life. Fourteen years later, after being placed on administrative leave, Cal reluctantly returns to his hometown, where every street and memory resurrects the pain of his mother’s murder. When the husband of his ex-girlfriend dies in his arms, Cal finds himself thrust into a gripping investigation. Convinced of her innocence, he’s determined to uncover the truth and expose the real killer before she’s wrongfully imprisoned.
How do we confront the weight of our past while forging a path forward? The Lost Boy: A Small Town Murder Mystery Gay Cop Romance by S. F. Williams explores this question poignantly. This enthralling series opener pulls readers in from the first page, weaving a narrative that balances the unraveling of Cal’s childhood trauma with the suspense of a high-stakes murder mystery. It’s a compelling, emotional, and unforgettable read.
What truly stands out is the nuanced portrayal of Cal. Through his perspective, readers are invited to reflect on their own struggles and resilience. Williams writes with a compassion that makes Cal not a perfect hero, but an authentic, flawed, and deeply human character. His journey is raw, relatable, and profoundly moving.
I do feel the storyline occasionally feels a little weighted with unnecessary details. Within the narrative, there seems to be a blending of genres which I believe can sometimes detract from the central storyline. Even so, these moments do not overshadow the book’s many strengths.
The Lost Boy‘s approach to representation is significant. The story offers a refreshing perspective, a gay protagonist whose challenges stem more from his personal history than his sexuality. This kind of storytelling is vital and refreshing, delivering both inclusivity and depth without resorting to clichés.
In the end, The Lost Boy, by S. F. Williams, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant tale that combines mystery, introspection, and heart. It’s a story that stays with you and one that leaves readers eager for the next installment in the series. A truly remarkable debut.
Pages: 285 | ASIN : B0DK41MW5J
With Full Intent
Jon Gaskins’ With Full Intent unfolds like a slow-burning bonfire in the heart of 1930s Virginia. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the novel begins with a chilling discovery of multiple murders on a plantation. The narrative hooks you immediately, transporting you to a time when law enforcement relied as much on intuition as emerging forensic science. The story explores the hunt for justice in a community torn by secrets and the lingering shadows of systemic inequality.
Gaskins doesn’t just describe the rolling fields or dusty roads; he places you there, with the smells of manure and tobacco leaves filling the air. The descriptions are sharp and raw, setting a stark contrast to the brutality of the crime at the heart of the story. The pacing, particularly in the first few chapters, builds tension effectively, even if some scenes linger longer than necessary. The characters are a standout feature, particularly Deputy Kendricks, who serves as a lens into the complexities of the investigation. His mix of naivety and determination brings authenticity, especially as he navigates not only the crime but also the entrenched prejudices of his environment. Floyd Williams, the black farmhand who discovers the bodies, is another compelling character. His role highlights the intersection of race and justice, especially poignant when he’s thrust into suspicion simply because of proximity to the victims. These dynamics made me empathize with Floyd, even as I winced at the systemic injustices he faced. Thematically, the book succeeds in exploring the fragility of trust and the consequences of greed. The depiction of the Cannon brothers’ wealth as both a shield and a target is particularly sharp. Scenes involving the safe—both as a physical object and a symbol of secrets—stood out as both metaphorical and plot-driving. The novel’s treatment of burgeoning forensic science is another highlight. Kendricks’ visit to the Bureau of Investigation’s lab was a fascinating window into early criminology, showcasing both the potential and the limitations of technology at the time.
With Full Intent is a gripping historical thriller that thrives on its evocative setting and layered characters. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy crime dramas with a strong sense of history and don’t mind a bit of narrative indulgence. It is a story that lingers, reminding us of the human cost of justice and the ever-present scars of history. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with moral complexity and atmospheric depth, this one’s for you.
Pages: 229 | ASIN : B0CZV272RY
LITERARY TITAN 