Masayuki Shuno’s “ハサミ男” (Scissor Man) invites readers on a labyrinthine journey into the twisted psyche of a psychopathic murderer. The narrative begins deceptively simple, within the mind of an ostensibly ordinary individual caught in the drudgery of daily life. Yet this facade quickly crumbles as they reveal themselves to be the Scissor Man—a serial killer whose mundane existence belies their sinister predilections.
The plot thickens when, during their ritualistic hunt, they discover that their intended prey has been brutally slain, a pair of scissors callously embedded in the neck—a grotesque signature that mirrors their own. In a heart-stopping moment of realization, they know they must vanish from the crime scene, but fate has other plans. Eyes meet theirs, branding them a witness in a crime they had no hand in creating. Now, they’re pursued relentlessly—not only by law enforcement but also by a shadowy figure whose ferocity rivals their own. Each twist plunges us deeper into the mystery, a war between two formidable forces, each as ruthless as the other, and it’s a war that can only end in bloodshed—one must perish so that the other may continue their reign of terror.
As the narrative unfolds, Shuno slows the pace to delve into profound philosophical musings. While this reflective pause may test some readers’ patience, it sets the stage for a gripping plot twist that propels the story towards a startling finale.
Shuno wields the unreliable narrator with unparalleled finesse. Unlike other books, where deceit is often woven through multiple perspectives, here we have a solitary voice that never lies, yet manages to deceive masterfully. The Scissor Man’s narrative voice is a blend of cold calculation and desperate longing, a dichotomy that Shuno exploits to craft a character who is both repellant and fascinating.
The novel’s exploration of suicide intertwines morbidity with wry introspection, offering insight into a mind that courts death with the same fervor it inflicts it. This juxtaposition of life and death, of the desire to kill and the impulse to die, adds a rich layer of complexity to the character study.
“ハサミ男” (Scissor Man) weaves a tapestry of psychological intrigue, existential musings, and a profound dissection of malevolence. Masayuki Shuno has not only penned a narrative that ensnares the mind but also one that echoes in the soul, long after the final page is turned. It is a work that challenges and chills to the core, illuminating the darkest recesses and the most profound truths of our collective human experience.