Shizuko Natsuki

Shizuko Natsuki is a celebrated Japanese mystery writer born in Tokyo in 1938. A graduate of Keio University with a degree in English literature, she has authored over eighty novels and short-story collections, establishing herself as one of Japan’s most prolific authors. Her debut mystery novel, "Tenshi ga kiete iku" ("The Angel Has Gone"), was published in 1970, followed by her first English-translated work, "W no higeki" ("Murder at Mount Fuji"), in 1984. Many of her stories have appeared in "Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine," broadening her international readership.

Natsuki’s writing is heavily influenced by renowned mystery author Seichō Matsumoto, a hallmark of her generation of Japanese mystery writers. Her works often explore intricate plots and psychological depth, earning her widespread acclaim. Over forty of her novels and stories have been adapted into films, further cementing her legacy in the genre. Since 1963, she has resided primarily in Fukuoka, with a nine-year stint in Nagoya, balancing her prolific writing career with a quiet personal life.