Richard Lloyd Parry’s book, People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman, was released in February 2011, and it narrates the harrowing tale of a young British woman who was killed and her body dismembered in Japan back in 2000. The book delves into the life of the accused perpetrator, Joji Obara, and explores the controversial role of Lucie’s family in the search for her. Additionally, it covers the gripping ten-year-long trial that ensued after the heinous incident.

On July 26, Netflix released a true crime documentary into the disappearance and death of Blackman.

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Who is Richard Lloyd Parry?

Parry was born in Southport, Lancashire, and received his education at Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, and later at Oxford University. In 1986, he won a trip to Japan as a prize for his appearance on the UK TV quiz show Blockbusters.

In 1995, he took the role of Tokyo correspondent for the British newspaper, The Independent, marking the beginning of his reporting career in Asia. Over time, he expanded his coverage to various other countries in the region. In 1998, he provided first-hand reporting on the downfall of President Suharto in Indonesia and the subsequent unrest that ensued after the independence referendum in East Timor. In 2002, he started working for The Times.

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He has an extensive reporting experience in over 30 countries, with assignments in Ukraine, Iraq, Myanmar, and North Korea. Among his literary works are “People Who Eat Darkness” and “Ghosts of the Tsunami,” which provides a gripping account of the tragic 2011 disaster in Japan and earned him the Rathbones Folio Prize. His achievements in journalism garnered him recognition as the UK’s Foreign Correspondent of the Year and also awarded him the prestigious Marco Luchetta Prize.