Product Description

For almost a year now, Shiiba has been using Keigo Munechika as his S, his spy, to get information on the gun dealings of the Yakuza world. Shiiba uses his body in exchange for Munechika s sensitive information...and only his body as far as Shiiba is concerned. Shiiba vows their relationship will not go beyond that. But when a rowdy young man with a penchant for piercing and an enigmatic Yakuza leader cross paths with the young detective, sins of the past are unearthed once more-sins that just might shatter the fragile bond between the detective and his S.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #174571 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 250 pages

Review
A seemingly unrelated case gets top priority and Shiiba looks into it, unaware of the Pandora s Box he is about to open. Top-of-the-line guns have been making their way into the hands of regular civilians, a nearly unheard of phenomenon in the strict gun-regulated Japan. When Shiiba follows a lead to a local club, he meets the violently unpredictable Kuro. Immediately given the promise of a solid clue, Shiiba must gamble his body in order to get closer to the truth. When he discovers it, his entire world will be thrown into chaos along with his relationship with his dear informant, his S and lover, Munechika.

All this time and still Shiiba has been hiding his true feelings from his lover. He tries to convince himself it is only business, that they are simply using each other. But his heart tells another story. Yet never do the worlds I love you pass his lips. When his latest case lands him a clue about the past and the shooting that killed his sister, Shiiba is suddenly in danger he could never have suspected. The head of a powerful company, the affluent Godou is a man of international influence, an influence that extends to the highest branches of government and even within the police. Upon hearing the name it is Munechika who warns Shiiba not to go near that man. But Koru will prove to be even more dangerous than anyone guesses. He will be the bridge to disaster that will possibly ruin Shiiba and land him face to face with his sister's killer. Even more surprisingly, the sado-masochistic young man has a tie to Munechika that could tear the two lovers apart.

The biggest schism though occurs when Shiiba is trapped and in Godou's predatory hands. Munechika attempts to intervene, but the cost is a hefty one that may put not only Shiiba's body, but his soul and sanity on the line. Is Godou the murderer? What of Kuro? Who shot Munechika? And what decision does a resolved Shiiba make to try to save the man he loves and get to the truth? Some of those questions will have to wait until the fourth and final volume but what a build up of suspense in this one!

It holds an increasingly complex story with a great deal of eroticism and razor sharp danger on all sides. Shiiba not only fears the truth and has to be cautious of the enemies around him, he also fears himself. He keeps trying to avoid his true feelings for Munechika. In these most recent events however, he may finally have to face the truth within his heart even has he risks death to find out the truth behind his sister s murder. The novel also provides insightful background on Munechika's life and sheds new light on his past as well as the man he truly is behind the tough exterior. Fans of Makoto Tateno's Yellow series will thrill at Saki Aida's S novel series. It's a must read for yaoi fans who enjoy excellently penned and taut crime/suspense stories. --Active Anime

This is one yaoi novel series that has completely captivated me and leaves me wanting and waiting desperately for the next installment in the series.

Masaki Shiiba is a member of the elite COC5 group in the police force. His group is responsible for finding illegal firearms. Because they sometimes work outside the law, they have to create trusting networks of informants or "S" (you know, spy) to gather information from. One of Shiiba's informants is a yakuza by the name of Keigo Munechika. Since Munechika is not hurting for money the way Shiiba gets his info from Munechika is by using his body. But it seems as though Shiiba's feelings for Munechika are much deeper than detective and S. He's fallen, and fallen hard, for Munechika.

Several years ago Shiiba's sister Yukari was killed by a stray bullet from a firefight between two opposing yakuza factions. The police hurried through the case and Shiiba doesn't believe the story that they've fed him. Because of that life changing event Shiiba became an undercover cop. There seems to be new information regarding Yukari's case that Shiiba's reporter friend dug up. Not only that, more and more guns are being sold to people responding to a spam email. A man named Kuro has stepped up and offers up some information regarding guns.

There's also a new yakuza boss on the scene by the name of Godou. Godou has got money up the wazoo and police, politicians, and terrorists under his thumb. He's determined to make his yakuza faction the strongest in Japan. He's also set his sights on Munechika and Shiiba.

This is one of the most intense series that I have ever read. I have never been into the crime/mystery type books, but dang, throw in yakuza, hot sweaty male sex, and of course have it set in Tokyo, then you've got a chance of me showing interest. Honestly, I wasn't going to read this series but then I got the review copies of the first two books. Just call me trout, I'm hooked (sorry, that was REALLY dumb). The story is so addictive. This book has just heaped on the intensity and now I have to wait even longer for the next and final book. Saki Aida-sensei has created such an interesting world with S that you can't help but be drawn in. Add in Chiharu Nara-sensei's art and you have an amazing piece of work. I did catch one spelling error, but because the story is so engaging I was able to overlook it. Bravo Juné for licensing this title.

This book can be as a stand-alone title, background story is provided throughout. But to get the whole amazing story, you have to read all of them. Trust me, you won't be missing out. This is an outstanding piece of work and you don't want to miss it. --The Journal of the Lincoln Heights Literary Society Miscellanea and Ephemeron

Customer Reviews

Best June Novel Yet
If you buy just one title from the June yaoi novel list, make it this one. Saki Aida's the bomb, Chiharu Nara's illustrations are pitch-perfect to the text, and DMP has served them both well with a solid translation job and good production.

The first volume of the series can be slow going at times due to necessity of setting up the story groundwork: there's lots of information on the police agencies and yakuza group structures. But Aida makes sure to keep the human element foremost, and once Munechika and Shiiba meet the story takes off. In volume two, the plot starts building up and the wonderful cast of supporting characters--Kaname and Shinkozuka in particular--comes to life. This volume sees Shiiba and Munechika's relationship take a crucial turn and ends on a cliffhanger that'll make you impatient for the fourth and final installment.

I can only hope that this series does well enough that DMP will bring over Aida's other books. In the meantime, enjoy this one!

This is a MUST buy series...
I just received my copy of "S" Volume 3: Split, and all I can say is... wow. I previously rated this as a 4 out of 5 stars but this volume makes it a 5 star series all the way. We are pulled further into the underworld of gun smuggling but this volume also delves further into who killed Shiiba's sister eight years earlier. There are twists and turns around every corner and just when you think it couldn't get any more intense, it does and in a big way. The ending leaves us on a bit of a cliff hanger but volume 4 is right around the corner and is the finale to this wonderful and thrilling series so I am glad it ended the way it did.

One thing I liked about this volume is that it further developed the character of Shiiba's widowed brother-in-law which adds a lot of the tension throughout the story. I am really intrigued to see how his character turns out in the final volume. I also like the fact that Shiiba and Munechika's relationship is further cemented as they both fall deeper for one another. We are introduced to two new characters (sort of) who will continue into the final volume and we learn more about Munechika's past and his mysterious relationship with his half brother.

If you haven't read any of the books in this series, you must. It is by far my favorite yaoi novel series to date. If you like this review, you can also read my reviews on volumes 1 and 2 to get a better feel for the story.

S Volume 3 Split
Wow if you have read the first two then you need to read this one as well. This series is one of the ones that I would read again and again and not be disapointed with!