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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved the build up. Strong plot.
End / result was a bit weird and not what you would expect from a Matsumoto. Still very solid though.
End / result was a bit weird and not what you would expect from a Matsumoto. Still very solid though.
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
I’ve read Tokyo Express from this author and although it was a much shorter work, it had a neat twist. This one is longer and in the vein of the detailed Japanese police procedural where even the slimmest of leads are followed to their more often than not unfruitful ends!
We follow Inspector Imanishi and his junior colleague Yoshimura as they attempt to identify the victim of a brutal murder at a train station. The process of identification is long, slow and laborious and leads them down several intriguing and seemingly disconnected paths, where suspicious circumstances and uncertain clues combine to form an engaging if on occasion tedious narrative. Matsumoto takes us into a post-WWII Japan and its changing cultural and social landscape, where traditions are giving way to modernisation and a new social order. However other than Inspector Imanishi, we do not get in-depth characterisations for the other characters. They are for the most part unlikeable. The solution in typical Japanese fashion is rather far-fetched even though the motivations for murder remain familiar - greed, fear and ambition. I always feel that Japanese crime fiction is very topical. It’s hard to imagine such a crime taking place anywhere else in the world! Nobody but the Japanese murderer would have the infinite patience and will power needed for the long-term planning of these elaborately plotted crimes!
This was a decently engaging read though and I liked Inspector Imanishi with his love for bonsai and Haiku, his dedication to his job, his often testy relationship with his wife and his nuanced friendship with Yoshimura. I wouldn’t mind reading more in the series.
We follow Inspector Imanishi and his junior colleague Yoshimura as they attempt to identify the victim of a brutal murder at a train station. The process of identification is long, slow and laborious and leads them down several intriguing and seemingly disconnected paths, where suspicious circumstances and uncertain clues combine to form an engaging if on occasion tedious narrative. Matsumoto takes us into a post-WWII Japan and its changing cultural and social landscape, where traditions are giving way to modernisation and a new social order. However other than Inspector Imanishi, we do not get in-depth characterisations for the other characters. They are for the most part unlikeable. The solution in typical Japanese fashion is rather far-fetched even though the motivations for murder remain familiar - greed, fear and ambition. I always feel that Japanese crime fiction is very topical. It’s hard to imagine such a crime taking place anywhere else in the world! Nobody but the Japanese murderer would have the infinite patience and will power needed for the long-term planning of these elaborately plotted crimes!
This was a decently engaging read though and I liked Inspector Imanishi with his love for bonsai and Haiku, his dedication to his job, his often testy relationship with his wife and his nuanced friendship with Yoshimura. I wouldn’t mind reading more in the series.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2 stars. And that’s only because I was genuinely interested to see what nonsense would draw this mystery to a much needed conclusion.
I usually enjoy Japanese literature, and I enjoyed this. As a police procedural from the 1960s, it was very interesting in terms of what has changed and what hasn't. I did find the large cast of characters a little confusing (I actually kept a note of who everyone was, I was glad to be able to reference it throughout). The misogyny is breathtaking though, but it was the 1960s. I will look for more books by this author.
As an admirer of Japanese thrillers, I’ve always been drawn to how they differ from their Western counterparts. While many Western mysteries thrive on fast pacing, shocking twists, or psychopathic reveals, Japanese thrillers often feel more introspective—almost like quiet meditations on crime. Inspector Imanishi Investigates is a prime example of this, much like the works of Keigo Higashino, where the mystery unfolds as a character study of both the murderer and the victim, exploring what drives people to the edge in deeply human terms.
This novel reads like a social mystery, with Inspector Imanishi’s investigation serving as a vehicle to explore not only the crime but the complex emotions, shifting identities, and buried histories that surround it. Imanishi himself is a wonderfully unassuming protagonist—gentle, thoughtful, and even writes haikus in his spare time (a charming detail I truly enjoyed!). His quiet determination guides readers on a journey across Japan, from bustling Tokyo to remote countryside towns, and in doing so, allows us to experience the richness of Japanese culture, geography, and postwar societal shifts.
Set in the 1960s, the novel subtly yet powerfully depicts the tensions between rural and urban life, the rise of modernity, and the lingering psychological effects of war. These layers deepen the mystery beyond the whodunit.
What adds a unique dimension to this story is how many of the clues eventually trace back to the Nouveau Group—a Tokyo-based avant-garde collective of artists and writers. Their involvement adds intellectual intrigue, as they represent a time when art became an outlet for personal and political expression. While they were engaged in what could be seen as a political art movement, their rebellion felt rooted more in individual alienation and existential resistance than the identity-based movements we might associate with modern-day “wokeness.” It’s a nuanced look at a generation navigating societal change through art.
Seichō Matsumoto’s storytelling is patient and layered—rewarding those who read attentively. Inspector Imanishi Investigates isn’t just a mystery novel; it’s a cultural, emotional, and philosophical journey. For readers who appreciate quiet complexity, psychological realism, and socio-cultural depth, this is a masterclass in literary crime fiction.
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No