Kotaro Isaka  

The author was born in Chiba and currently resides in Sendai. He holds a law degree and previously worked as a system engineer before beginning his writing career. His debut work, Akuto-Tachi ga Meni Shimiru (Rogues Get in Your Eyes), received recognition with the Suntory Grand Prize of Mystery in 1996. Audubon no Inori (The Prayer of Audubon) won the Shincho Grand Prize of Mystery, Ahiru to Kamo no Coin Locker (A Duck and a Wild Duck in the Same Locker) earned the Eiji Yoshihara Prize for best new author, and Shinigami no Seido (Accuracy of the Grim Reaper) received the Japanese Authors Association of Mystery Award, all in the short story category. Additionally, he was awarded the 57th Mystery Writers of Japan Award and the 21st Prize Yamamoto Syuugorou (第21回山本周五郎賞).