El lagarto negro es una novela de detectives, un juego de ingenio entre una ladrona

de joyas y un detective

starring a beautiful master jewel thief and her devoted male accomplices, and also
featuring a master detective half in love with her but nevertheless determined to
bring her to justice.

plot is as improbable and fantastic

seductive

Her ultimate prize is the fabulous jewel known as the Star of Egypt, which she
plans to get in the form of ransom for its owner’s daughter Sanae.

With Kogoro putting his very career on the line to guard Sanae as well as the
priceless jewel, the Black Lizard delights in the challenge.

Yukio Mishima wrote a screenplay based on this book

tons of twists

Akechi

she writes him anonymous letters warning him what is going to happen and when

. The female master(mistress?)mind have another motive, though, one which is not
revealed until much later.

The Black Lizard is a clever crime caper with some improbable but fun twists and a
genuinely odd vibe. It foreshadows James Bond's supervillains while nodding
respectfully to Conan Doyle in its characters' use of ingenious disguises and
cunning plots.

femme fatale

Sexy without being vulgar.