Escape from Amsterdam is a creative thriller about modern-day Japan. The main character, Aozora, is an apathetic student at Kyoto University, aspiring to do nothing more than fix bids at the Ministry of Construction. He’s obsessed with brand-names and just wants to make easy money and retire early. When his Mahjong debts become too much, he’s given a gift. An old Aunt left him and his sister a priceless collection of art. The only problem, he must find his sister. She’s been non-communicative for the past few weeks, so Aozora must set out to track her down, before his debtors track him down. The characters in this book are quirky, and none of them are black and white. Every person in this book does questionable things, even the “good guys.” As the circumstances of his sister become apparent, even Aozora’s motivations come into question. Some of the foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed, but the story-line keeps your interest piqued. An interesting feature to the book is the manga and illustrations. Peppered throughout are xeroxes of manga, photographs the main character snapped, and drawings he’s made. It’s an interesting story filled with yakuza, family amusement parks with sinister underbellies, and families, as strange as they may be.