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crows_in_a_trenchcoat's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Kidnapping
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Sexism
domreadsb00ks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really wanted to like this book. It starts off so well; the maim character, head of police/media relations, finds an anomaly in an old kidnapping case, and uncovers a whole network of police corruption . He then has to navigate this discovery amidst office politics, the disappearance of his daughter and threat of his marriage breaking down, and trying not to anger the press.
I do like the complexity of the book, especially concerning office politics within the police and press. It allows for the setting to be beefed up slowly over the course of the book, immersing you in the world of 2002 Japan. One minor thing is i found it so hard to keep track of the names; you have a Minako, Mikumo, Mikami and Matsuoka among others. It doesnt reflect anything on the author -they are just Japanese names afterall- I just struggled remembering who was who.
The characters arent particularly loveable. The main character is completely devoted to his job, and as such makes decisions that seem the worst option, but i suppose you have to read it in context of 2002 Japan. There's also a fair element of sexism in the way he treats some of the women throughout the book, though he is self aware of it up to a point.
In the last few chapters, the speed noticeably picks up. The chapters shorten and the action increases. I welcomed the change in pace, but this part of the book also ended up being my least favourite. Six-Four could well have done with another hundred pages, as the ending seemed rushed and was SO SHALLOW. If the ending had been less rushed this book easily would be a 4.5 .
I do like the complexity of the book, especially concerning office politics within the police and press. It allows for the setting to be beefed up slowly over the course of the book, immersing you in the world of 2002 Japan. One minor thing is i found it so hard to keep track of the names; you have a Minako, Mikumo, Mikami and Matsuoka among others. It doesnt reflect anything on the author -they are just Japanese names afterall- I just struggled remembering who was who.
The characters arent particularly loveable. The main character is completely devoted to his job, and as such makes decisions that seem the worst option, but i suppose you have to read it in context of 2002 Japan. There's also a fair element of sexism in the way he treats some of the women throughout the book, though he is self aware of it up to a point.
In the last few chapters, the speed noticeably picks up. The chapters shorten and the action increases. I welcomed the change in pace, but this part of the book also ended up being my least favourite. Six-Four could well have done with another hundred pages, as the ending seemed rushed and was SO SHALLOW. If the ending had been less rushed this book easily would be a 4.5 .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, and Suicide
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