A Curse in Kyoto: A Gripping Mystery Thriller, Hunter and Higashi Book 1 (The Hunter and Higashi Mysteries)

Winner of the 2024 Discovery Editors’ Choice Award

When a supposedly cursed traditional Japanese instrument arrives at the British School of Kyoto, strange things start to happen. A phantom geisha haunts the halls, a star student vanishes, and cryptic symbols appear across the campus.

For Jessica Hunter, a seasoned globetrotter trying to adapt to life at BSK, the eerie events are more than just schoolyard rumours. Teaming up with Kenta Higashi, a local boy with his own connection to the missing student, Jessica suspects a sinister force is at play.

As they investigate, they uncover a web of secrets, lies, and a vengeance plot tied to the instrument’s shadowy past. Can Jessica and Kenta unravel the truth behind the curse before it claims another victim? Or will they become the next targets of its wrath?

What people are saying:

“Cullen’s high-tempo storytelling and nuanced portrayal of Japanese culture have helped establish him as an author to watch, with an extraordinary talent for crafting compelling characters and enthralling mysteries.” Discovery Editors’ Choice Awards

“I couldn’t put this book down!…The story was fast-paced, suspenseful, gripping and the unfolding of the plot was done so beautifully.” Booksprout

“A Curse in Kyoto is the best crime story I’ve read in months… block off a good amount of time to read because you won’t be able to put it down!” Reedsy Discovery Review

“An immersive and captivating read.” Book Nerdection

Amazon customer reviews

“Page turning and gripping, I couldn’t put the book down.”

“Gripping from start to finish, it took me on a wild ride through the streets of Kyoto… I highly recommend this book.”

“I was intrigued and engrossed from page one.”

“I can’t wait for the next books in the series.”

“The story was fast paced, suspenseful, gripping.”

“A highly engaging and thoroughly readable book.”

“This has left me primed and ready for the next Hunter and Higashi adventure!”

“Took me on a wild ride through the streets of Kyoto.”

“A fast-moving detective story… plenty of twists and turns.”

“I loved this from the first page… This book managed to weave a real web of intrigue and twists.”

“The twists and turns will keep you guessing!”

“Cullen’s masterful storytelling and attention to detail make this book a delightful read for young adults and beyond.”

“A Curse in Kyoto’ is a gem that will leave readers yearning for more.”

“A thoroughly enjoyable read for all fans of mystery and suspense.”

Goodreads Reviews

“A truly gripping, energetic and totally immersive thrill ride from beginning to end.”

“I flew through it in a few days and am eagerly awaiting the next books in the series! Fantastic debut.”

“This book gripped me from chapter one and I simply couldn’t put it down.”

“I wholeheartedly recommend this book to sleuthing fans of any age.”

“I loved this book! It was well-written and beautifully paced.”

“This is NOT one of the books where you think you know who did it and what the ending will be. It gets you so you can’t put the book down.”

“What a gripping and entertaining read – All I can say about A Curse in Kyoto is that I didn’t want it to end!”

“A great read. I thought this was a really well-written, fast-paced book. I’m a bit of a Japanophile, so I loved the setting.”

“I’m already marking my calendar for when the next one comes out. Loved the premise, the suspense in the story, the setting, and the characters.”

“A Curse in Kyoto is a fast-paced debut that I found thoroughly enjoyable.”

From the Publisher

S.J. CULLEN

S.J. Cullen has never murdered anyone, nor has he ever solved a real-life crime. However, he has been an international schoolteacher in Asia, so his stories about Hunter and Higashi, a crime-solving duo who attend a British school in Japan, are not completely pulled out of thin air.

He is originally from the North of England, though now lives in Stellenbosch, a lovely historical town in South Africa. The Hunter and Higashi Mystery series represents an attempt to combine his experiences teaching abroad with a love of thrillers and mysteries.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CY288Y2X
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hadeda Press (8 May 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 518 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1776499409