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The Beast in the Shadows by Edogawa Rampo was… well, a ride. Imagine sitting down for a mystery that promises blackmail, murder, secret pen names, and a femme fatale who might just be too clever for her own good—and then realizing halfway through that the “detective” you’re following is maybe the least reliable guy ever. 😂
The book is short (you can knock it out in an evening), and it kept me entertained with its twists, red herrings, and Rampo’s signature “is this crime or is this literature about crime?” vibe. The atmosphere is moody, Tokyo feels shadowy and dangerous, and the meta touches about mystery writing were clever.
But… it’s also a little messy. The pacing jumps around, the narrator is more lovestruck than logical, and some of the reveals feel a bit too conveniently theatrical. By the end, I was like: “Wait, what just happened?!”—in both a good and slightly frustrated way.
Overall: a fun, pulpy read with a noirish vibe and a mischievous final twist. Not Rampo at his absolute best, but if you like vintage mysteries with a touch of melodrama, it’s worth the couple of hours.