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Puppet Master #4
Puppet Master, vol.4
In volume 4 of Miyuki Miyabe’s blockbuster mystery, the police investigation into the serial killings focuses on identifying the women depicted in a stash of horrific photos and videos found in Hiromi Kurihashi’s Tokyo apartment, and locating the killers’ hideout. Meanwhile, Shigeko Maehata’s journalistic career takes off with her in-depth reports on the serial killings. A stroke of good fortune brings her into contact with Yumiko Takai as well as Koichi Amikawa, also known as Peace, who has taken Yumiko under his wing and is supporting her claims that her brother was innocent.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2016
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Miyuki Miyabe
308 books554 followersSee 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 8, 2019
’More than being angry, more than lamenting the foolishness of humanity, what made Shinichi feel sad were the victims’ families. They must be blaming themselves now, suffering from guilt, tormented by the fact they couldn’t turn back the hands of time.’
This volume returns to the cast of characters from the first book and focuses on the families and those who are investigating the case. This is a relief because I don’t like reading books from the perspective of a killer. Of course Peace is still there, manipulating people and inching closer to the investigation, but at least I didn’t have to get inside his twisted mind. The tension is kept high by having him interact with the characters, who at this point don’t suspect who he really is at all. Yumiko Takai’s chapters were particularly well done.
The theme of misogyny is still very much at the forefront, and I’m glad this book discusses the portrayal of women as sex objects, and how society creates the violence that is committed against them. Miyuki Miyabe has previously brought up the advertisements, but she also points the finger at the anime and manga industry for reducing female characters to the sexy love interest/plaything. This also applies to Western media that is voraciously consumed on a daily basis.
I leave you with this closing line...
‘Some said that even if artwork did inspire crime, the problem wasn’t in the artwork itself but in the person who viewed it, while others questioned where was the art in movies, novels, and manga that were little more than an excuse for graphic portrayals of sex and violence.’
This volume returns to the cast of characters from the first book and focuses on the families and those who are investigating the case. This is a relief because I don’t like reading books from the perspective of a killer. Of course Peace is still there, manipulating people and inching closer to the investigation, but at least I didn’t have to get inside his twisted mind. The tension is kept high by having him interact with the characters, who at this point don’t suspect who he really is at all. Yumiko Takai’s chapters were particularly well done.
The theme of misogyny is still very much at the forefront, and I’m glad this book discusses the portrayal of women as sex objects, and how society creates the violence that is committed against them. Miyuki Miyabe has previously brought up the advertisements, but she also points the finger at the anime and manga industry for reducing female characters to the sexy love interest/plaything. This also applies to Western media that is voraciously consumed on a daily basis.
I leave you with this closing line...
‘Some said that even if artwork did inspire crime, the problem wasn’t in the artwork itself but in the person who viewed it, while others questioned where was the art in movies, novels, and manga that were little more than an excuse for graphic portrayals of sex and violence.’
December 19, 2025
The writer is a genious
Can't wait to start next book🤩
Can't wait to start next book🤩
March 10, 2023
I'm not sure why this is rated lower on Goodreads than the first three volumes. Miyabe starts pulling all of the threads tighter, drawing all the characters to the centre of the intricate web that they have created. The end, as with all the others, is the weakest element, but this is a series that has to be read in one hit. It feels like a full novel split into five parts rather than a planned series. Loving it so much.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews