Eyes mark the shape of the city.

The midnight hour approaches in an olmost-empty diner. Mari sips her caffee and reads a book, but soon her solitude is disturbed: a girl has been beaten up at the Alphaville hotel, and needs Mari's help.

Meanwhilw Mari's beautiful sister Eri lies in a deep, heavy sleep that is 'too perfect, too pure' to be normal; it has lasted for two mounths. But tonight, as the digital clock displays 00.00, a hint of life flickers across the television screen, even though its plug hasn been pulled out.

strange nocturnal happenings, or a trick of the night?

'Stylish and enigmatic'

The Economist

'The novel could be an allegory of sleep, a phenomenology of time, or a cinematic metafiction. Whatever it is, its memory lingers'

Guardian

'The narrative carries considerable literary weight a rare grace'

spectator

'A captivating mood piece, delicate and wistful'

Evening Standard