Review: Tokyo Juku by Michael Pronko, performed by Peter Berkrot – Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Entertainment
Tokyo Juku is the seventh book in Michael Pronko’s award-winning Detective Hiroshi series, set in Tokyo, Japan. I’ve been a fan of these stories right from the beginning, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them so far. The mysteries keep getting better with each new entry, and this one shows us once again why I never miss a new Hiroshi adventure.
In Tokyo Juku, we follow Mana, an eighteen-year-old student navigating the pressure of Tokyo’s juku system, where special schools prepare students for exams that can determine their future. During one of her late nights of studying, she stumbles upon something terrifying: a murder inside the school. From that moment on, the mystery unfolds at a steady pace, keeping us entertained until the satisfying conclusion.
As expected, Detective Hiroshi Shimizu is called in to investigate, joined by his friends and colleagues, but unlike most fictional characters, he feels like a real person, not just a detective chasing clues. He has to juggle his demanding job with his family life, which is never easy and requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice.
As always, Michael Pronko’s writing is flawless. He knows how to keep things interesting while still making the setting feel immersive. Mr. Pronko has lived in Japan for around 30 years, and this is evident in every chapter. He portrays Tokyo with respect and honor, and the people in these stories always feel authentic. The way he writes about Tokyo is one of the many reasons why I love this series so much. It’s not just a backdrop; it too serves the purpose of a location, it’s a character, integral to the story.
The audiobook is narrated by the award-winning actor Peter Berkrot, whose performance is absolutely perfect. Berkrot is a true legend in the audiobook world, and it’s always a joy to listen to him read, act, bringing all these characters to life. His pacing is smooth, his character voices are easy to follow, and he brings the right tone, cadence, and atmosphere to every scene. For me, Peter Berkrot is Detective Hiroshi, just as Titus Welliver is Harry Bosch. I’ve been making comparisons between these two series for a long time because I love both authors, both characters, and both worlds. Bosch and Hiroshi feel to me like stepbrothers working together on different sides of the world to make it better and to bring justice to those who deserve it.
I highly recommend Tokyo Juku and the entire Detective Hiroshi series to anyone who enjoys well-written mysteries with a strong main character. Michael Pronko and Peter Berkrot make a great team, and I always enjoy what they create together. After finishing this one, I’m already looking forward to the next mystery in the series.
Starting February 2024, I’m giving honorary awards to audiobooks that I enjoy very much, and Tokyo Juku by Michael Pronko and performed by Peter Berkrot receives the Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Entertainment.
To be considered for these awards, an audiobook needs to seamlessly combine flawless writing and narration in such a way as to elevate the narrative experience to the highest level of immersion and entertainment humanly possible! These awards celebrate the cooperation between author and narrator and are awarded to them together.
This is the second year in a row that a Detective Hiroshi audiobook earns this award, and it’s well deserved!
Victor Dima
Latest posts by Victor Dima (see all)
- Review: Tokyo Juku by Michael Pronko, performed by Peter Berkrot – Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Entertainment - February 11, 2026
- Review: Pendergast: The Beginning by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, performed by Jefferson Mays - January 28, 2026
- Audiobook Review: The Hidden Kingdom, written by Amy Daniels, narrated by Phillip Nathaniel Freeman and a full cast - January 26, 2026
