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lilis_land 's review for:
The Tokyo Zodiac Murders
by Sōji Shimada
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Recommended For: Fans of locked room mysteries and readers who like to solve the crime/mystery before the big reveal (i.e. fans of Honkaku mysteries).
My Thoughts: The Prologue works as a litmus test of sorts - if you can make it past that then the rest of the book will be a breeze. Shimada explores some uncomfortable topics (think Earthlings by Sayaka Murata) via an introspective detective homage to Sherlock and Watson. There is no ‘action’ per se as this is replaced by self-reflection and analysis of the various crime scenes which I enjoyed. If you read quite a bit of Japanese literature then you’re likely click with the ‘vibe’ I see a lot of reviewers complain about.
Quotes Underlined: 8
“We have knelt at different graves and walked through different gardens. Our lives are but a burst of stardust, or a passing cloud.”
My Thoughts: The Prologue works as a litmus test of sorts - if you can make it past that then the rest of the book will be a breeze. Shimada explores some uncomfortable topics (think Earthlings by Sayaka Murata) via an introspective detective homage to Sherlock and Watson. There is no ‘action’ per se as this is replaced by self-reflection and analysis of the various crime scenes which I enjoyed. If you read quite a bit of Japanese literature then you’re likely click with the ‘vibe’ I see a lot of reviewers complain about.
Quotes Underlined: 8
“We have knelt at different graves and walked through different gardens. Our lives are but a burst of stardust, or a passing cloud.”