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Matthew Legare - Historical, Thrillers, & Noir

Website for Matthew Legare, writer of historical, thriller, and noir novels, including the Reiko Watanabe/Inspector Aizawa series set in 1930s Japan.

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Japan

Rising Sun by Michael Crichton Book Vs Movie Review

December 28, 2020 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

As the Nakamoto Corporation celebrates with a lavish gala in a prestigious Los Angeles office building, a woman is found murdered in an empty board Rising Sun paperback by Michael Crichtonroom. So begins Rising Sun by Michael Crichton, one of his most controversial novels.

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Tagged With: Japan, movie reviews, Novel vs Movie, Thrillers

China Dawn by Robert L. Duncan Novel Review

April 18, 2020 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

China Dawn Robert L DuncanChina Dawn by Robert L. Duncan is a historical epic novel from 1988, spanning the years of 1931 to 1981, moving through various locations, from Tokyo to Shanghai, to Manchukuo, to Singapore, to Paris.

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Tagged With: Book Reviews, Forgotten Fiction, historical fiction, Japan, Japanese History, Japanese Military

Winter Raven Review & Adam Baker Interview

January 25, 2020 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

Winter Raven by Adam Baker is a thriller novel mixed with espionage, philosophy, martial arts, and war, all set against the backdrop of Winter Raven by Adam BakerJapan’s chaotic Sengoku Era.

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Tagged With: Author Interviews, Book Reviews, historical fiction, Japan, Japanese fiction, Japanese History, Thrillers

5 Japanese War Movie Recommendations

December 15, 2019 by Matthew Legare 2 Comments

Japan's Longest Day DVDJapanese cinema has never gained widespread acceptance in the West, save for Godzilla and Kurosawa films. But those are only a tiny pinprick of Japanese films, which cover all genres, including war. Aside from Tora Tora Tora and Letter From Iwo Jima, there haven’t been many movies that show war from a Japanese perspective that have gained traction in the West. I’d like to change that with 5 Japanese war movie recommendations.

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Tagged With: History, Japan, Japanese History, Japanese Military, movie reviews

The Last Train Review & Michael Pronko Interview

June 12, 2019 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

The Last Train Michael PronkoIn modern-day Tokyo, an American businessman meets a grisly end underneath an oncoming subway train. But it was no accident. He was pushed, and furthermore, we know who did it. Michiko Suzuki, a seriously damaged young woman, is the murderer, but why did she do it? So begins The Last Train by Michael Pronko.

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Tagged With: Author Interviews, Book Reviews, Japan, Michael Pronko, mystery, Thrillers

Tokyo Kill Review & Barry Lancet Interview

April 23, 2019 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

Tokyo Kill CoverFull of international intrigue, long-buried historical secrets, and criminal conspiracies, Tokyo Kill is a worthy follow up to Barry Lancet’s Japantown and Book 2 in the Jim Brodie series.

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Tagged With: Author Interviews, Barry Lancet, Book Reviews, Japan, Thrillers

The March Incident of 1931 – Japanese History

March 20, 2019 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

General Ugaki reviewing troops

1931 was an important year in Japanese history. Casual research of this era will have a brief overview of the invasion of Manchuria in September, and vague references to a coup d’état which put the Army in charge. In truth, there was no armed coup d’état in 1931, at least none that were successful. However, the March Incident (Sangatsu Jiken 三月事件) came close.

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Tagged With: Japan, Japanese History, Japanese Military

Tokyo Black Review & Andrew Warren Interview

January 31, 2019 by 2 Comments

Tokyo Black by Andrew Warren has everything that thriller readers like. A burned ex-CIA operative hiding out in Tokyo Black by Andrew Warrenexile. High-stakes geopolitical tension. A gang of villains ready to kill anyone to bring out their plans. And most importantly, lots of action.

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Tagged With: Andrew Warren, Book Reviews, Japan, Thrillers, Tokyo

The Revolt 動乱 (1980) Movie Review

December 31, 2018 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

The Revolt 動乱 (Doran) 1980 Movie Poster The Revolt 動乱 (Doran) is a Japanese movie from 1980 that seems like it was specifically made for me. It’s a sweeping historical drama set in 1930s Japan that deals with the internal politics of the Imperial Army and the two famous coup d’é tat attempts of 1932 and 1936.

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Tagged With: 1930s, Japan, movie reviews

7 Edogawa Ranpo Recommendations

October 29, 2018 by Matthew Legare Leave a Comment

Edogawa RanpoEdogawa Ranpo has become synonymous with Japanese horror and mystery fiction. Using a pen name based off of Edgar Allen Poe, (try saying it three times fast), the author Taro Hirai wrote many short stories and novels as Edogawa Ranpo (sometimes Romanized as Rampo). Like his namesake, Ranpo wrote mostly horror and mystery stories, basically introducing the genres into Japanese literature. While Ranpo has a plethora of material to choose from, here are my recommendations on where to start with his writing and films based off his work.

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Tagged With: Book Reviews, Japan, Japanese fiction

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