Excerpt – Falling Leaves by Lea O’Harra
Synopsis
November 2023
A Japanese schoolgirl kidnapped. A death on campus. Colonialist wounds are reopened.
One cold night in 1983 in a coastal town in Japan a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl disappears on her way home from badminton practice. The local police explore all avenues, but as is often the case, when there are no clues, there are no answers.
Decades later, the repercussions of her mysterious disappearance are still being felt in Japan in unspoken secrets and lies and broken lives that are left littered behind. When a half-Japanese, half-Korean student is found hanged in her room on the campus of Fujikawa University, the local police at first suspect suicide, never dreaming that this death could possibly be connected to the fortieth anniversary of that schoolgirl’s disappearance.
Chief Inspector Inoue and his trusted team of detective inspectors face their most challenging case yet in a race against time to apprehend the culprit before more lives are lost.
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Excerpt
Tuesday, 1 November 1983
Matsue, Japan
The girl walked down the dimly lit street, a black puffer jacket over her gym clothes, a heavy satchel holding her school uniform, a badminton racket, and books on her back. The chill wind gusting from the sea three blocks ahead made her shiver, and she comforted herself by anticipating the dinner she knew awaited her at home. Her mouth watered, thinking of her mother’s hotpot. She could almost taste that first bite of tofu and pork dipped in ponzu sauce.
Out of seemingly nowhere, a man dressed all in black, wearing a black mask, appeared from the bushes at the side of the road. In the haziness of dusk her mind didn’t have time to comprehend what was happening. Without a word, this mysterious man threw a big cloth over her head that reached down to her feet, scooped her up like a weak kitten, and slung her over his shoulder. Then, he set off running. The girl wanted to cry out but could scarcely even breathe, being jostled up and down like a bag of potatoes.
The sound of waves grew louder. They were approaching the beach.
“Oof!” she cried on being dropped unceremoniously on the sand.
Struggling to free herself from the cloth enveloping her, she got a sharp kick in the thigh. “Keep still. Stay quiet!” a man’s voice barked.
Tears trickled down the girl’s cheeks. Okaasan! she moaned. Mother! Panting, she took short shallow breaths. She wondered if she’d suffocate.
She couldn’t believe what was happening. She’d been within sight of her house when she was snatched. She’d seen the front porch light on. Her family must be wondering why she was so late.
Hearing men’s voices, she lay motionless on the sand, straining to listen over the loud rhythmic pounding of the waves. But before she could make out a single word, she was picked up again. Unable to see through the smothering material, she could sense someone holding her by the legs and another person holding her by the shoulders, making harsh grunting noises as they carried her. Water droplets splashed over her, and she heard the sound of feet stomping through the surf. They were taking her into the sea.
Catching the sound of waves slapping against an object, she thought there must be a boat nearby. In one movement, she was lifted up high and dropped onto a hard surface. She landed on her back, her left shoulder taking the force of the fall. With the wind knocked out of her, she panicked. It was harder than ever to catch her breath. Her shoulder aching, she gasped and sobbed. Then she was grabbed and picked up again. A door opened, and men grunted as they descended what was apparently a ladder, their steps clanging noisily on metal rungs. She was put down again, but more gently this time. Lying still—stunned, breathless—she heard the men go up the ladder and slam the door.
Clawing at the thick cloth enveloping her, she finally managed to extricate herself. But once she was free, she found herself in complete darkness. Trembling, she rose to her feet and shrugged off her school satchel.
Taking a shuddering breath, she filled her lungs to let out a scream. Suddenly, there was a throbbing noise, and she caught a strong whiff of diesel. The rocking movement she’d become accustomed to was succeeded by a spurt of speed. The floor moved beneath her feet, throwing her to her knees. The boat had set off, buffeted by waves.
She fell down full length on the floor, clutching her satchel with one hand, unwilling to relinquish hold of this vestige of her life as a schoolgirl. Her shoulder still hurt, but worst of all was the pain of realizing she was a prisoner in the grip of unknown forces, speeding away from everything she knew and loved.
About the Author
Lea O’Harra has published six crime fiction novels. They include the Inspector Inoue mystery series of Imperfect Strangers (2015), Progeny (2016), Lady First (2017), and Falling Leaves (2026), as well as two standalone murder mysteries: Dead Reckoning (2022) and Sayonara, My Sweet (2025). In autumn 2017 Lady First was awarded finalist status in the crime fiction section of the Beverly Hills Books Awards. It was also a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards in 2018. Dead Reckoning was selected as a Book Excellence Award Finalist in 2023 in the thriller category, and Sayonara, My Sweet was selected as a Book Excellence Finalist in 2025 in the mystery category. Falling Leaves is a Maxy Book Awards finalist (2026).
