Netflix’s recent TV series “Tokyo Swindlers” is a very different creation from Ko Shinjo’s 2019 novel of the same title. Although showrunner Hitoshi One credits Shinjo for co-writing all seven episodes, fans shouldn’t approach the novel as simply a written version of the suspenseful, fast-paced crime show. The novel is best appreciated as a companion work — a comparative, psychological study into the nature of the criminal mind.
As Shinjo boldly explores the twisted psyches of various con artists, readers should expect not only ruthless violence but also appalling sexual gratification connected to death and money.
Tokyo Swindlers, by Ko Shinjo. Translated by Charles De Wolf. 264 pages, STONE BRIDGE PRESS, Fiction.