People Who Eat Darkness

The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo - and the Evil That Swallowed Her Up

by Richard Lloyd Parry, Simon Vance

mp3 cd

Published Aug. 1, 2012 by Blackstone Audiobooks, Blackstone Audio, Inc..

ISBN:: 978-1-4708-2895-0

(10 reviews)

An incisive and compelling account of the case of 21-year-old Lucie Blackman, who stepped out into the vastness of Tokyo in the summer of 2000 and disappeared forever. The following winter, her dismembered remains were found buried in a seaside cave.

The seven months in between had seen a massive search for the missing girl, involving Japanese policemen; British private detectives; Australian dowsers; and Lucie's desperate, but bitterly divided, parents. As the case unfolded, it drew the attention of prime ministers and sado-masochists, ambassadors and con-men, and reporters from across the world. Had Lucie been abducted by a religious cult, or snatched by human traffickers? Who was the mysterious man she had gone to meet? And what did her work, as a "hostess" in the notorious Roppongi district of Tokyo, really involve?

People Who Eat Darkness is, by turns, a non-fiction thriller, a courtroom drama, and the biography of both …

People Who Eat Darkness is, by turns, a non-fiction thriller, a courtroom drama, and the biography of both a victim and a killer. It is the story of a young woman who fell prey to unspeakable evil, and of a loving family torn apart by grief. And it is a fascinating insight into one of the world's most baffling and mysterious societies, a light shone into dark corners of Japan that the rest of the world has never glimpsed before.

9 editions

Marsha Woerner reviewed People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry

Review of 'People Who Eat Darkness' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

In many ways, not a standard "real crime" book, although I'm not sure I can exactly say what it is. The emphasis was on a few aspects: Lucy's life as a hostess (it seemed very similar to the role of a geisha), the life of "George O'Hara" (or whatever his name has been determined to be), the overall investigation, a little bit of reflection and criminality and the differences between Japan and "the West" in terms of expectations of people in general and criminals, and differences in the legal systems.
The other thing was a little bit about history and prejudice within Japan and Korea. As an American, I feel unjustified to even present an opinion, because our history and society is so screwed up and unwilling to admit anything wrong. But it is enlightening (wrong word, but I can't think of the right one at the moment) to actually see some of what MAY have contributed to George's inhumanity.
The idea that an innocent finding can be APPEALED is so against all legal systems with which I have any familiarity (okay, that would be the ONE US system…) is just weird and wrong. As an outsider, I can have my own feelings about the verdicts, but I wasn't there. The whole thing is so confusing, sad, and unjust all around.
I do enjoy learning more about societies unlike ours and doing some comparison between outcomes in different systems. And there is consideration as to whether the Japanese culture is better in some way because of the police or whether the police is like it is BECAUSE the Japanese are better in some way because of society and expectations. Lots and lots of thoughts provoked.

Kevin Smokler reviewed People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry

Review of 'People Who Eat Darkness' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

Spellbinding tale but 50 pages over reported. Meaning this story would lose nothing being 70 pages shorter and demonstrating some editing chops and restraint on the author’s part. The last thing he should want is us, the reader, left with the feeling that his story would be better served by a 28 minute episode of Forensic Files.