Under the neon sun: in the jaws of the dragon - Conrad Ruell

"Under the Neon Sun: In the Jaws of the Dragon" introduces readers to Conrad Ruell, the pen name of a writer fascinated by the mysteries and contradictions of Asia. Inspired by the real-life struggles within Japan’s criminal underworld, the novel blends fact and fiction, offering a dark, layered view of a region caught between ancient traditions and rapid modernization. Ruell holds a degree in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and has spent years immersed in the cultures of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. His journeys—from bustling urban centers to remote mountain temples—have fueled a deep understanding of the region’s unique dilemmas. As a former expatriate in both Japan and China, Ruell’s career spans various industries across Asia, blending his academic insight with rich, firsthand experiences. Through his writing, he explores themes of identity, alienation, and the precarious balance between old and new. Now settled in the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, Ruell lives with his wife, young son, and two wolfdogs, Boris and Brutus, who roam freely over the windswept moors. For Ruell, storytelling is both an escape and a journey inward, drawing readers into a world where East and West converge

GENRE: Crime, fiction, organized crime, thriller

Blurb:

Under the Neon Sun follows Alexander Grant, a successful but disillusioned financier who travels to Japan in search of meaning after a health scare forces him to confront his own emptiness. In Tokyo, he becomes entangled with Sakura, a woman connected to the dangerous world of the Yakuza. Caught in a deadly feud between rival gangs, Alex is thrust into a struggle for survival. Amid the violence and intrigue, he wrestles with his own inner demons and questions of redemption.