What is in the miso soup?

"In the Miso Soup" is a psychological thriller novel written by Japanese author Ryu Murakami. It was originally published in Japan in 1997 under the title "In za Misosūpu" and later translated into English in 2003.

The story follows a young Japanese sex worker named Kenji, who takes on an American client named Frank in Tokyo. As Kenji spends more time with Frank, he starts to sense that something is not quite right about him. The novel explores themes of identity, obsession, and the darker aspects of human nature.

"In the Miso Soup" has garnered critical acclaim for its unsettling and intense portrayal of the relationship between the two main characters. It has been praised for its atmospheric writing and its exploration of cultural differences and the seedy underbelly of urban life in Tokyo.