A fast-paced techno-thriller by Michael Crichton. Set in Los Angeles during the height of Japan's economic influence in the United States, the novel begins with the murder of a young woman at the opening of a Japanese corporation's new headquarters. Veteran detective John Connor, an expert on Japanese culture, and his partner Peter Smith are assigned to investigate the case. As they dig deeper, they uncover corporate espionage, political intrigue, media manipulation, and hidden motives that make the murder far more complex than it first appears. The novel combines crime, technology, and cultural insights into a gripping thriller.