See also 宮部 みゆき (Japanese language profile) and 宮部美幸 (Chinese language profile).
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction. Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.
Miyabe Miyuki has done it again: even if it is just lots of talking, little advancing of the plot and basically what looks like a script for a series, this fifth volume of the series delivers: lots of people looking intensely to each other, a couple of big surprises, in particular the developments close to the end of the volume and a pace and characters’ arc that makes for a really fun read. Without having read the last volume (I hope this year) I have to say that for something as ridiculous as this school trial with police, journalists, and all types of characters, Miyabe has a knack for keeping the reader’s attention.
The best: it is fun; the last part of the volume is really good
The worst: there is the feeling that if you cut the whole volume out (as with previous ones) nothing much would be lost; too many pages for what is being told
Alternatives: just start with the beginning; other Miyabe’s works could be an option