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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was something a little different for me. I'd never read a translated Japanese murder mystery and I really enjoyed it. This was definitely a slow to start locked-room murder mystery. That being said the ending makes it all worth it. It got me. I didn't guess who the culprit was until the very end. So, in my book, that's a win. It's honestly been a while since I've been truly surprised by the unmasking. All of this being said, I will say that in my opinion, somethings were lost in translation. At times the wording felt a bit disconnected and didn't seem to mesh with the overall feel of the book. There were also moments where the prose and characters felt a little bland.
Overall, the ending is what makes this book worth the read. I definitely recommend it.
This book was recommended to me by TBR (Tailored Book Recommendations).
Overall, the ending is what makes this book worth the read. I definitely recommend it.
This book was recommended to me by TBR (Tailored Book Recommendations).
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Moderate: Vomit
This was one of the first books I read (aside from Tokyo Express) as I've started getting into Japanese detective fiction.
I think I would give it a 3.75, which seems low, but I'm not saying the book was bad. It was a good, fun book. It didn't impress me like Tokyo Express's plot impressed me, but it was still fun to read. The twist at the end was fairly good too. It felt a bit YA, maybe that's why I feel this way. But I'm still going to read the others in the series.
I think I would give it a 3.75, which seems low, but I'm not saying the book was bad. It was a good, fun book. It didn't impress me like Tokyo Express's plot impressed me, but it was still fun to read. The twist at the end was fairly good too. It felt a bit YA, maybe that's why I feel this way. But I'm still going to read the others in the series.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is in the style of And Then There Were None.
Not everyone can execute a book like this. I thought the plot was interesting (though obviously has been done before). The fact that it was a decagon house further references ATTWN.
The characters fell flat for me to the point that they all kind of blended together. In one way, that added to the mystery because I didn’t know who was who but not in a good or satisfactory way.
Not everyone can execute a book like this. I thought the plot was interesting (though obviously has been done before). The fact that it was a decagon house further references ATTWN.
The characters fell flat for me to the point that they all kind of blended together. In one way, that added to the mystery because I didn’t know who was who but not in a good or satisfactory way.
Dripping with delicious atmosphere, this suspenseful book is a feast for the little grey cells! As I've read hundreds upon hundreds of Golden Age mysteries, this one drew me in, hook, line and sinker. The twists and turns kept coming from the moment the characters stepped onto an isolated island until the fabulous ending. The premise is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None yet completely different. It was written in Japanese and translated into English.
With names such as Poe, Ellery and Leroux, the core members of a mystery club quite willingly decide to stay on an isolated island for a week. A week on an island can zip by quickly but when you're on an island where a cold case quadruple murder mystery is niggling your subconscious and weird things begin happening in the present, including murder, a week can be intense and insurmountably long. Maps in mystery books are always fun, including those in this book. To me it's details like that which elevate a good book to a great book! The descriptions are awesome and there is a plethora of red herrings.
When reading this I was practically looking behind my back for something or someone sinister. The author wrote in tension beautifully and crafted his characters marvelously. If you are hankering after a superb mystery reminiscent of the Golden Age, do read this. It would be a shame to miss.
My sincere thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the e-ARC of this refreshing, enticing and engaging book. I absolutely adored it! Now am on the hunt for other books written by this author.
With names such as Poe, Ellery and Leroux, the core members of a mystery club quite willingly decide to stay on an isolated island for a week. A week on an island can zip by quickly but when you're on an island where a cold case quadruple murder mystery is niggling your subconscious and weird things begin happening in the present, including murder, a week can be intense and insurmountably long. Maps in mystery books are always fun, including those in this book. To me it's details like that which elevate a good book to a great book! The descriptions are awesome and there is a plethora of red herrings.
When reading this I was practically looking behind my back for something or someone sinister. The author wrote in tension beautifully and crafted his characters marvelously. If you are hankering after a superb mystery reminiscent of the Golden Age, do read this. It would be a shame to miss.
My sincere thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the e-ARC of this refreshing, enticing and engaging book. I absolutely adored it! Now am on the hunt for other books written by this author.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
