Readers might bear this in mind: the three sub-chapters reveal significant information - but also do so, in part, only suggestively. The first chapter also returns to events from 1951 - some seven years before the structure is to be moved - and is titled: 'Three Hints'. The apartments in the complex are 'connected by dark corridors into which the sunshine never penetrates', but events now bring a lot to light.īut first there's a great deal of shadowy and shady behavior. Meticulously planned, they promise the actual physical shifting of the structure will be so gentle that the residents can stay inside and they won't even notice in fact, of course, the plans for the move already shake things up a great deal. That Togawa wants to shift the ground beneath reader's expectations is made obvious by the scenario she has devised to trigger the main action in the novel: the story revolves around 'The K Apartments for Ladies', a 150-unit, five-story building, and its residents, and things are set in motion by an urban redevelopment plan that involves moving the entire building - by all of four meters. There are many things in The Master Key which aren't quite what they seem to be, beginning with the red-scarfed figure in the Prologue, set in 1951, that gets flattened by a van and dies before reaching the hospital. We acknowledge (and remind and warn you) that they may, in fact, be entirely unrepresentative of the actual reviews by any other measure. Similarly the illustrative quotes chosen here are merely those the complete review subjectively believes represent the tenor and judgment of the review as a whole. Please note that these ratings solely represent the complete review 's biased interpretation and subjective opinion of the actual reviews and do not claim to accurately reflect or represent the views of the reviewers. An eerie gem.' - Marcel Berlins, The Times 'Extraordinarily atmospheric Japanese thriller (.) Miss Togawa writes with economy, subtlety and an astonishing feel for time, mood, and the eccentricities of loneliness.

(.) In a less unfamiliar setting, the melodramatic aspects of the story might stand out more sharply, but as a study of gnarled, often damaged characters it rings firm and true.' - John Gross, The New York Times

' The Master Key is a novelty, and something more than a novelty.

(.) (O)ne word sums it up - superb !' - Nick B. '(A)s fascinating a weird yarn of mystery as you'll find - well, anywhere, even in L.A.General information | review summaries | our review | links | about the authorī : atmospheric but sometimes frustrating presentation Trying to meet all your book preview and review needs.

La llave maestra by Masako Togawa