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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
A long but fascinating book. Predictable at places but nicely written.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
a compelling read but i'm not so sure about its thematics
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Props to Higashino for creating such a thorough and exciting journey. After reading this I felt kinda empty...
My first Keigo Higashino book, which came highly recommended by a friend.
Every character in this book has a background story, which initially makes you wonder how it's all related, but insanely thrilling when they fall into place with the rest of the story and it's characters.
The POVs of the characters, makes the story much more interesting.
The most difficult part for me, was keeping the characters straight, as new characters were also introduced in the last chapter, which is why I switched to the kindle version, 2 chapters into the book, to help keep track of the names, and even look them up if necessary.
I did however, enjoy the journey that the story took me on, than the destination at the end of the book.
It's more of a thriller than a mystery, in my opinion, however it will keep you guessing til literally the last page....
Every character in this book has a background story, which initially makes you wonder how it's all related, but insanely thrilling when they fall into place with the rest of the story and it's characters.
The POVs of the characters, makes the story much more interesting.
The most difficult part for me, was keeping the characters straight, as new characters were also introduced in the last chapter, which is why I switched to the kindle version, 2 chapters into the book, to help keep track of the names, and even look them up if necessary.
I did however, enjoy the journey that the story took me on, than the destination at the end of the book.
It's more of a thriller than a mystery, in my opinion, however it will keep you guessing til literally the last page....
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Keigo Higashino really said, “What if I write a murder mystery where you never actually hear from the two central figures, stretch it over two decades, toss in a maze of characters, and make it so impossibly good you’ll forget to blink?” And somehow—somehow—he pulls it off.
On paper, following a murder case over the course of 20 years sounds like a recipe for literary eye strain. I thought, “Surely this’ll drag, right?” Wrong. So wrong. This book reads like watching dominoes fall, except the dominoes are people and secrets and life choices with devastating ripple effects. Every chapter is a gentle nudge, another pendulum in motion, slowly setting the entire structure into beautifully orchestrated chaos.
The plot? Sharp. So sharp you might not realise you’ve been emotionally stabbed until the last page. You begin with a dead man in an abandoned building, and what follows is not a whodunnit in the traditional sense—it’s a psychological kaleidoscope. It’s not about solving the crime; it’s about watching it mutate, evolve, and ripple through lives like a virus.
What makes this book sing is the structure. We’re never given the inner workings of Yukiho Nishimoto or Ryoji (Ryo) Kirihara directly—instead, we piece them together from the people orbiting around them. Minor characters, side glances, brief interactions—they all act like puzzle pieces, and you, dear reader, are the sleuth. Detective Junzo Sasagaki is technically on the case, but in truth, you are just as much a part of the investigation. There’s something thrilling and voyeuristic about building someone’s life from the outside in.
And the characters—oh, the characters. Yukiho Nishimoto is elegance and enigma, an ice sculpture of ambition with a glint of something much darker underneath. Ryo Kirihara? A ghost with grit. Their connection is never quite made explicit, which somehow makes it all the more disturbing. The tragedy of this book isn’t just in what they do—but in how they become what they are.
Is it perfect? Not quite. The one thing that nags slightly is the lack of clarity around why one particular character—the “Midnight Sun” himself—is so unfathomably devoted. Love? Guilt? Obsession? Maybe all three. Maybe none. And maybe that’s the point—some darkness isn’t meant to be understood. It’s meant to unsettle you and linger.
This book isn’t just a murder mystery. It’s a slow-burning psychological epic. It’s bleak, it’s clever, and it asks you to work for your satisfaction. But if you love complex stories with a long game, morally grey characters, and a plot that coils around your brain like smoke—you’ll love it. Just be warned: you might finish it with more questions than answers… and a strong urge to reread it immediately.
On paper, following a murder case over the course of 20 years sounds like a recipe for literary eye strain. I thought, “Surely this’ll drag, right?” Wrong. So wrong. This book reads like watching dominoes fall, except the dominoes are people and secrets and life choices with devastating ripple effects. Every chapter is a gentle nudge, another pendulum in motion, slowly setting the entire structure into beautifully orchestrated chaos.
The plot? Sharp. So sharp you might not realise you’ve been emotionally stabbed until the last page. You begin with a dead man in an abandoned building, and what follows is not a whodunnit in the traditional sense—it’s a psychological kaleidoscope. It’s not about solving the crime; it’s about watching it mutate, evolve, and ripple through lives like a virus.
What makes this book sing is the structure. We’re never given the inner workings of Yukiho Nishimoto or Ryoji (Ryo) Kirihara directly—instead, we piece them together from the people orbiting around them. Minor characters, side glances, brief interactions—they all act like puzzle pieces, and you, dear reader, are the sleuth. Detective Junzo Sasagaki is technically on the case, but in truth, you are just as much a part of the investigation. There’s something thrilling and voyeuristic about building someone’s life from the outside in.
And the characters—oh, the characters. Yukiho Nishimoto is elegance and enigma, an ice sculpture of ambition with a glint of something much darker underneath. Ryo Kirihara? A ghost with grit. Their connection is never quite made explicit, which somehow makes it all the more disturbing. The tragedy of this book isn’t just in what they do—but in how they become what they are.
Is it perfect? Not quite. The one thing that nags slightly is the lack of clarity around why one particular character—the “Midnight Sun” himself—is so unfathomably devoted. Love? Guilt? Obsession? Maybe all three. Maybe none. And maybe that’s the point—some darkness isn’t meant to be understood. It’s meant to unsettle you and linger.
This book isn’t just a murder mystery. It’s a slow-burning psychological epic. It’s bleak, it’s clever, and it asks you to work for your satisfaction. But if you love complex stories with a long game, morally grey characters, and a plot that coils around your brain like smoke—you’ll love it. Just be warned: you might finish it with more questions than answers… and a strong urge to reread it immediately.
emotional
mysterious
medium-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