First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kodansha for providing and giving me the chance to read the e-ARC of this interesting book.
Disclaimer: This is an honest review from me as a reader, and it is not because of receiving the ARC or so on. Also, this review is not influenced by my mood before reading, as I read this out of the blue and not forced by anyone/anything (need to clarify this because I am a mood reader most of the time).
Summary:
Seven members of a university's mystery club go for a week-long vacation on Tsunojima Island where the owner of the island was brutally murdered alongside his wife and housekeepers. Soon, they find out that someone, maybe from their own group of friends, is intending to kill them. But who is that person, and for what reason?
Meanwhile, a former member of the mystery club, who did not join the vacation receives a letter blaming her for the death of a girl. She realizes that there are a lot of coincidences between the dead girl and the murder that happened on the island. With the help of some acquaintances, she is determined to find out who is behind the secret letters and the motive of that person.
Trigger Warnings: Death, Violence
Ratings:
1. Artstyle: 5/5⭐
I honestly love the art style! This manga has the art style that I really like and that is the first thing that hooked me on the story. Sometimes, I am a bit picky when it comes to reading a manga because the art style does not really suits my preference, but this one just clicked with me. At the first sight of the cover, I was already in love and I could not stop adoring the illustration. It really suits the mystery vibe and all the characters are beautifully drawn, with such details that are also mentioned in the book as an extra information. The panels are also neat and clean which make the experience of reading the story feels even better.
2. Mystery: 4/5⭐
As this is the first volume of the series, the mystery is still at the introduction part where the problem arises in the story. Questions are still vague and the characters are still trying to figure out what will happen during their vacation on the island. From this volume, we have a rough idea on where the story is heading, and the connection between these characters with the murdered family. I really like how this volume was ended because it has the suspense that will build your curiosity to continue reading, and to see whether the theories that you had in mind is correct or not in the next volume.
3. Characters: 5/5⭐
We have variation of characters in this story that can be found in most books with a group of friends. Each of them has their own personality that is shown to the reader. There are a narcissist, an introvert, a hot-headed guy and a cheerful one. This variety of characters is also important because we can see how each characters approach the problem, and what they are actually hiding among themselves. After all, everyone has their own secrets, so I would love to know more about these characters. Also, I love how all members of the mystery club inherited the name of the mystery writers such as Agatha Christie and Edgar Allen Poe. It reminds me of the manga, 'Bungo Stray Dogs' which makes me even more interested in this story.
Overall rating: 4.7/5⭐
I have not read the novel yet but so far, the story in this manga is progressing really good and everything is so smoothly narrated. I am a fan of mystery manga and I will gladly recommend this to my friends. This one is going into my wishlist for physical copy and I am looking forward to the next volume. Hopefully it will be as exciting and mysterious as this one!