The Miracles of the Namiya General Store

by Keigo Higashino

Overview

When three delinquents hole up in an abandoned general store after their most recent robbery, to their great surprise, a letter drops through the mail slot in the store's shutter. This seemingly simple request for advice sets the trio on a journey of discovery as, over the course of a single night, they step into the role of the kindhearted former shopkeeper who devoted his waning years to offering thoughtful counsel to his correspondents. Through the lens of time, they share insight with those seeking guidance, and by morning, none of their lives will ever be the same.
By acclaimed author Keigo Higashino, The Miracles of the Namiya General Store is a work that has touched the hearts of readers around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781975382582
Publisher:	Yen Press
Publication date:	09/24/2019
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	321,159
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Keigo Higashino is one of the most prolific and successful authors working in Japan today, with numerous awards to his credit, including the Mystery Writers of Japan Award and the Naoki Prize. His Detective Galileo series is published in English by Minotaur Books, and the translation of The Devotion of Suspect X was nominated for an Edgar Award.

Editorial Reviews

10/07/2019

Higashino (Newcomer), a bestseller in his native Japan, departs from his normal thrillers to deliver a sparkling tale about opening up to others’ troubles. Shota, Atsuya, and Kohei are looking for a place to lay low after committing a robbery and end up in the abandoned Namiya General Store. While they are hunkered down, a letter slides through the store’s mail slot—an unnamed woman is asking advice about if she should dedicated herself to pursuing her Olympic dream or stay with the dying man she loves. Through reading the letters, they learn that Mr. Namiya, the former shopkeeper, had devoted his time to answering the mail of anyone in need of advice. Over the course of a single night, the three robbers read letters other people had sent and see their own views on humanity change. In one story, a man dreams of making it in the music world, but when he finds out that his father is sick, he must decide between pursuing his dreams and taking over his father’s shop (and sends a letter to Namiya for advice). In another letter and narrative thread, Takayuki Namiya is shocked to discover his father is healing from his own grief by giving advice to random people, but finally, in his father’s last days, he comes to understand the impact of the letters—both on his father and on those who solicited his advice. Those used to Higashiro’s more high-octane plots will discover a new side to the author in this satisfying outing. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"This international best-seller smoothly anglophoned by award-winning Bett is quite the timely charmer."—Terry Hong, Booklist

"More than a time travel mystery, the story is a rather earnest tale of human decision-making, and the author is adept at drawing an emotional response from readers. Inventive and always surprising, this book is easy to get drawn into and difficult to put down."—Kirkus Reviews

"Those used to Higashino's more high-octane plots will discover a new side to the author in this satisfying outing."—Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher

2019-10-07
A fantasy novel tells the story of three thieves who inadvertently become advice purveyors after seeking shelter in an abandoned store.

When their car breaks down unexpectedly, three young criminals decide to hide out in a convenience store that has long been out of business. Atsuya, Kohei, and Shota are planning to lie low for a while—at least for the night—but before they can even settle in, an envelope slides through the store's mail slot. They are immediately suspicious. Who would deliver a missive to a store that hasn't been open in decades? The letter is from an athlete looking for advice: Should she forgo her Olympic training to take care of her dying boyfriend or push forward to pursue her dream? "As I was struggling on my own with these thoughts, I heard some rumors going around about the Namiya General Store," she writes. "I know my chances are slim, but I'm writing on the off chance that you might be able to help me figure things out." The guys discover that the store—when it was in operation—had a reputation for being a place to have questions answered. Kohei, out of boredom, answers the letter and drops it in the mail bin. Almost immediately, he gets a response. The correspondence continues, though the trio can't tell where the letters are coming from—other than that they seem to be from 30 years in the past. The novel is a bit of a Russian doll, with one layer of narrative opening to reveal the next. Higashino's (The Name of the Game Is a Kidnapping, 2017, etc.) prose—as translated from the Japanese by Bett (Star, 2019, etc.)—is muscular and concise: "Exiting the station and heading down the street of shops, Kosuke Waku felt an unsettling feeling creep across his chest. He was right. Just as he'd feared, hard times hadn't spared this town." More than a time travel mystery, the story is a rather earnest tale of human decision-making, and the author is adept at drawing an emotional response from readers. Inventive and always surprising, this book is easy to get drawn into and difficult to put down.

An endearing tale about a magical correspondence.

Kirkus Reviews