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a1exander's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Classism, and Stalking
maissi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
asoka's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
brilliant! entah itu langkah ishigami dalam menyusun alibi ataupun cara yukawa dalam memecahkannya. bukan hanya terbunuhnya togashi, namun juga keterkaitan perasaan ishigami dengan yasuko dalam kasus yang terjadi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Minor: Self harm, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Violence
goodgraces's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
atalea's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Stalking
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt
bahamyulala's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Stalking
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Update: reread this ten months later and I'm still bowled over by this book.
Wow. Gradual buildup to a walloping ending. A contemporary Tokyo mystery about friendship, loyalty, and obsession, this story starts with a sad tale of domestic abuse. Divorced Yasuko and her teenage daughter are horrified when the abusive ex-husband shows up, claiming to want to get back together (but looking for money, too). They thought they’d successfully hidden their tracks - Yasuko is in a new job and a new apartment, the daughter in a new school - but somehow he found them and now he’ll never leave them alone. The ex taunts them, reveling in his power over them, things get violent, and next-door neighbor Ishigami, hearing the ruckus, comes to offer help.
With Ishigami’s assistance the body is disposed of. The police suspect Yasuko but her alibi is pretty tight. The lead investigator enlists the help of his genius friend Yukawa, who had gone to school and greatly admired the equally brilliant Ishigami. Yukawa begins to suspect Ishigami’s involvement. It’s clear someone is hiding something.
The author deftly creates such sympathetic characters that you want the criminals to escape punishment and the investigators to solve the murder. The plot is far more complicated than it first appears, and, as indicated above, the ending is both shocking and wrenching.
Highly recommended. In fact, I just found out this was made into a movie so I’m going to watch it. There’s no way it’ll be as good as the book, though.
Wow. Gradual buildup to a walloping ending. A contemporary Tokyo mystery about friendship, loyalty, and obsession, this story starts with a sad tale of domestic abuse. Divorced Yasuko and her teenage daughter are horrified when the abusive ex-husband shows up, claiming to want to get back together (but looking for money, too). They thought they’d successfully hidden their tracks - Yasuko is in a new job and a new apartment, the daughter in a new school - but somehow he found them and now he’ll never leave them alone. The ex taunts them, reveling in his power over them, things get violent, and next-door neighbor Ishigami, hearing the ruckus, comes to offer help.
With Ishigami’s assistance the body is disposed of. The police suspect Yasuko but her alibi is pretty tight. The lead investigator enlists the help of his genius friend Yukawa, who had gone to school and greatly admired the equally brilliant Ishigami. Yukawa begins to suspect Ishigami’s involvement. It’s clear someone is hiding something.
The author deftly creates such sympathetic characters that you want the criminals to escape punishment and the investigators to solve the murder. The plot is far more complicated than it first appears, and, as indicated above, the ending is both shocking and wrenching.
Highly recommended. In fact, I just found out this was made into a movie so I’m going to watch it. There’s no way it’ll be as good as the book, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, and Stalking
jourdanicus's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This one is definitely a bit out of my wheelhouse but I'm glad to have read it. I heard it recommended on the Currently Reading podcast and was sold by their presentation of it. The first two chapters caught my attention immediately, but I did feel like most of the middle of the book dragged. Maybe that was just me (or maybe a translation issue?) because I've heard another reader say the first two chapters were actually harder for them to get through and then they loved the rest of the book. The twist(s) at the end were worth the price of admission in my opinion. The plot was paced well enough that I was almost able to put the pieces together myself by the end, which I love in a mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
bethanyann97's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Alcoholism
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