Author: Natsuo Kirino
Publisher: Vintage (1997)

Out is a thriller about four women- Masako, whose family is drifting apart; Yayoi, married to a man who spent all their savings in hopes of winning the heart of a hostess; Yoshie, a widow dreading her extended responsibility towards her paralysed mother-in-law and 2 ungrateful daughters; and Kuniko, a woman hugely in debt because of her extravagant lifestyle. They work in the graveyard shift of a lunch box factory in Tokyo and share the same dreams of getting out of their dead-end lives. Finally, Yayoi cracks and murders her husband. That very night, she confides in her closest friend, Masako, who dismembers and disposes the body with the help of Kuniko and Yoshie. The body parts are uncovered soon after and the police is convinced that Satake, a night club owner is guilty of the crime, hence causing him to lose his business empire. However, other players have come into the picture including a yakuza connected loan shark who discovers their secret.

Unlike some crime novels, Out dwells deep into the characters, their circumstances and how they are connected with the events that unravel with the murder. It explores the dark recesses of the human soul; how one can change in a desperate attempt at freedom and the price that comes with it. A stunning work that'll keep you glued to its pages!