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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good mystery, I like how the answer was right there and a very interesting solution to the murder, all of the clues were in fact there and it was a satisfying ending, I think I just had more confusion by the ending as we go from the story we followed all along to a long epilogue which distracts from the ending so it feels slightly unfinished
There’s a note at the end of the book that explains this story was written in a style such that the reader is supposed to try and solve the mystery as they read, hence the insane amount of detail. This would have been helpful at the BEGINNING of the book, especially since it’s a translated work and English speaking audiences might not be familiar with this style of Japanese mystery. I did not enjoy the excruciating detail that the author went into, but might have felt differently had I known why.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
I started reading this book two years ago but couldn’t make it past the first chapter, but if you’ve had a similar experience then push through it because it’s completely different to the rest of the book. The premise of this locked room murder mystery is an ‘eccentric’ artist who details his grisly plans for murdering the seven women (daughters and nieces) he lives with to create the perfect doll. But before he can carry out his plan, he’s found murdered in a locked room - but the seven women in his life are found murdered in exactly the way he planned days later.
This is a specific type of Japanese mystery where the author (who writes us several notes during it, a little quirk I found charming) lays out all the suspects and clues for the reader and encourages them to solve it alongside the detectives. I am absolutely useless at stuff like this, so I just enjoyed the ride. But as a result, some of the book reads a little dryly, as the author is trying to give you as much information as possible. With so many victims, suspects, and detectives at play, it can get a little confusing sometimes.
I found the resolution to be clever if a little unsatisfying in terms of motive. I genuinely still don’t fully comprehend the method of the women’s murders, despite several diagrams 😂 But I understand enough to know that it’s smart - and brutal! But yes, not fully convinced that some neglect from your parents and ostracisation from your sisters is quite enough to make you commit seven murders and dismember several bodies
It seems like I have quite a lot of complaints but honestly I did enjoy reading it, kept me engaged, and was a good set up. Doesn’t feel fair to rate it any lower than a three given some of the books I’ve rated two this year, which I didn’t enjoy nearly as much.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
A very fun introduction to the Japanese whodunnit genre of "honkaku". Plus a locked-room mystery? Yeah, reading this was just a full on good time.