Natsuo Kirino, born in 1951, quickly established a reputation in her own country as one of a rare breed of mystery writer whose work goes well beyond the conventional crime novel. This fact has been demonstrated by her winning not only the Grand Prix for Crime Fiction in Japan– for Out in 1998– but one of its major literary awards– the Naoki Prize in 1999, for Soft Cheeks (to be published in English). Several of her books have also been turned into full-scale movies.
Out is the first of her novels to appear in English and was nominated for an Edgar Award. Natsuo Kirino lives in Japan.
