Steve Knight, international correspondent for newsweekly US Journal, has returned to Tokyo, where a terrorist bomb strikes, killing his Japanese assistant, Kuniko Nishimura. As bombings and murders continue, old “Japan hand” Ike Greenwald points Steve toward the Black Dragon Society, a fascist cabal whose ruthless believers have been embedded within Japanese politics since the 1880s. Banned and disbanded by the post-war U.S. Occupation, the Black Dragons have abided quietly, building strength and numbers — with fanatic secrecy — inside Japan’s corridors of power. The rain of political murders paralyzes Tokyo.

Steve, Ike and Kuniko’s daughter, Mie and hunt for “Lord Toyama,” a Black Dragon capo who is systematically killing off the entire Japanese Imperial family.In the climax, Steve, Mie and Ike find themselves the last best hope to save the Emperor’s life. In Ike’s vintage VW Beetle, they scramble to avoid midnight military patrols loyal to Toyama, while also worrying about the whereabouts of an Australian hitman called Dingo.

To warn the Emperor — and to save their own skins — they must beat both the good guys and the bad guys in a mad race around Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace.

AWARDS: NYC Big Book Awards, Best Political Thriller, 2019. Independent Press Awards, Distinguished Favorite, Political Thriller, 2019. Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Notable 100, Political Thriller, 2020.