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juliana2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ryder_reads's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sare1125's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Suicide
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
• Translated from Japanese
DESCRIPTION
Selected by NYT as one of MOST NOTABLE BOOKS of 2020.
On a stormy summer day the Aosawas, owners of a prominent local hospital, host a large birthday party. The occasion turns into tragedy when 17 people die from cyanide in their drinks. The only surviving links to what might have happened are a cryptic verse that could be the killer's, and the physician's bewitching blind daughter, Hisako, the only person spared injury.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
But the youth who emerges as the prime suspect commits suicide that October, effectively sealing his guilt while consigning his motives to mystery. The police are convinced that Hisako had a role in the crime, as are many in the town, including the author of a bestselling book about the murders written a decade after the incident, who was herself a childhood friend of Hisako’ and witness to the discovery of the murders. The truth is revealed through a skilful juggling of testimony by different voices: family members, witnesses and neighbours, police investigators and of course the mesmerizing Hisako herself.
DESCRIPTION
Selected by NYT as one of MOST NOTABLE BOOKS of 2020.
On a stormy summer day the Aosawas, owners of a prominent local hospital, host a large birthday party. The occasion turns into tragedy when 17 people die from cyanide in their drinks. The only surviving links to what might have happened are a cryptic verse that could be the killer's, and the physician's bewitching blind daughter, Hisako, the only person spared injury.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
But the youth who emerges as the prime suspect commits suicide that October, effectively sealing his guilt while consigning his motives to mystery. The police are convinced that Hisako had a role in the crime, as are many in the town, including the author of a bestselling book about the murders written a decade after the incident, who was herself a childhood friend of Hisako’ and witness to the discovery of the murders. The truth is revealed through a skilful juggling of testimony by different voices: family members, witnesses and neighbours, police investigators and of course the mesmerizing Hisako herself.
natbee's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Interesting format, had me curious to know exactly what had truly happened that day.
denisedup's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shhchar's review
5.0
Wow oh wow, this book was amazing. I’m a sucker for a comparison to “In Cold Blood” and “The Aosawa Murders” certainly carried the mantle faithfully. Though it did it across the world in Japanese. So kudos to the marketing team for that tagline on the back cover. I would love to read more Riku Onda translations if there are any.
asreadbyaki's review
2.0
The Aosawa Murders provides an image of Japan I recognise - a modern day economy where people exercise respect for culture, tradition and others. But then a mass poisoning occurs at a party and the only survivor is a blind girl.
It’s a murder investigation in a setting unfamiliar to me, conducted from an unlikely viewpoint, which piqued my interest. The book is quite intense - full of detail and character viewpoints (essentially witness interviews) and I was convinced there’d be a payoff at the end. I
n fact, there almost was a big reveal until everything went left in just the last few pages. I can’t lie - It irritated me as I like closure in this genre, but perhaps you’ll pick up a clue that I missed!!
It’s a murder investigation in a setting unfamiliar to me, conducted from an unlikely viewpoint, which piqued my interest. The book is quite intense - full of detail and character viewpoints (essentially witness interviews) and I was convinced there’d be a payoff at the end. I
n fact, there almost was a big reveal until everything went left in just the last few pages. I can’t lie - It irritated me as I like closure in this genre, but perhaps you’ll pick up a clue that I missed!!