A review by halfextinguishedthoughts
Out by Natsuo Kirino

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

The book is a slow, relentless mess. It’s filled with the smallest details that at first are inconsequential until they collide with others and later on, even more to create a strange anticipation. 

The book itself is long and the pace meanders along. The story lingers on scenes and small moments. For a murder mystery, it takes time to get to each step of the plot. For me, I like that about this book. I felt truly immersed in the story. Masako, the leader of our characters, showed strength in adversity and vulnerability in her courage. 

The ending (no spoilers here) just didn’t live up to the rest of the novel. It felt rushed and didn’t pay off like I thought it would. In saying that, I think this novel is still worth reading. The characters are unique and complex, their relationships change and grow over the story, and the commentary on what it means to be a woman and the violence forced on them creates a dark, gritty story. 

If you want something fast-paced with a killer end, this may not be your pick. But, if you’re looking for a languid, immersive thriller about gender and economic inequality, this is your book.

Check out halfextinguishedthoughts.com for my full review.