Rising Sun by Michael Crichton

During the grand opening of a Japanese corporation’s new Los Angeles headquarters, a young woman is discovered murdered in an upstairs conference room. LAPD detective Peter Smith is assigned to the investigation and paired with the unconventional John Connor, a veteran officer with extensive knowledge of Japanese language, business, and culture.

Their investigation quickly becomes far more complicated than a straightforward homicide. Security recordings have been manipulated, powerful executives have secrets to protect, and enormous business interests are at stake. As Smith and Connor work through conflicting evidence, corporate maneuvering, and political pressure, they uncover a dangerous struggle involving technology, influence, and deception. Crichton combines a murder investigation with corporate espionage and technological suspense in a fast-moving thriller.

EugeneBookStore Summary

Rising Sun combines a murder mystery with Michael Crichton’s fascination with technology and the ways powerful institutions can manipulate information. The partnership between detectives Peter Smith and John Connor drives an investigation filled with surveillance technology, corporate secrets, political influence, and international business rivalry. A strong choice for readers who enjoy Crichton’s more grounded crime and techno-thrillers.

Collector Notes

Published during one of the most successful periods of Michael Crichton’s career, Rising Sun became a major bestseller and was adapted into the 1993 feature film starring Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes. This Ballantine mass market edition prominently advertises Crichton as the author of Disclosure and the book’s status as a national #1 bestseller with more than five million copies in print. It is a recognizable 1990s paperback edition and a worthwhile addition to a collection of Crichton’s classic thrillers.