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Kyoichiro Kaga #9
A Death in Tokyo
In the latest from international bestselling author Keigo Higashino, Tokyo Police Detective Kaga is faced with a very public murder that doesn't quite add up, a prime suspect unable to defend himself, and pressure from the highest levels for a quick solution.
In the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo an unusual statue of a Japanese mythic beast - a kirin - stands guard over the district from the classic Nihonbashi bridge. In the evening, a man who appears to be very drunk staggers onto the bridge and collapses right under the statue of the winged beast. The patrolman who sees this scene unfold, goes to rouse the man, only to discover that the man was not passed out, he was dead; that he was not drunk, he was stabbed in the chest. However, where he died was not where the crime was committed - the key to solving the crime is to find out where he was attacked and why he made such a super human effort to carry himself to the Nihonbashi Bridge. That same night, a young man named Yashima is injured in a car accident while attempting to flee from the police. Found on him is the wallet of the murdered man.
Tokyo Police Detective Kyoichiro Kaga is assigned to the team investigating the murder - and must bring his skills to bear to uncover what actually happened that night on the Nihonbashi bridge. What, if any, connection is there between the murdered man and Yashima, the young man caught with his wallet? Kaga's investigation takes him down dark roads and into the unknown past to uncover what really happened and why.
A Death in Tokyo is another mind-bending mystery from the modern master of classic crime, finalist for both an Edgar Award and a CWA Dagger, the internationally bestselling Keigo Higashino.
In the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo an unusual statue of a Japanese mythic beast - a kirin - stands guard over the district from the classic Nihonbashi bridge. In the evening, a man who appears to be very drunk staggers onto the bridge and collapses right under the statue of the winged beast. The patrolman who sees this scene unfold, goes to rouse the man, only to discover that the man was not passed out, he was dead; that he was not drunk, he was stabbed in the chest. However, where he died was not where the crime was committed - the key to solving the crime is to find out where he was attacked and why he made such a super human effort to carry himself to the Nihonbashi Bridge. That same night, a young man named Yashima is injured in a car accident while attempting to flee from the police. Found on him is the wallet of the murdered man.
Tokyo Police Detective Kyoichiro Kaga is assigned to the team investigating the murder - and must bring his skills to bear to uncover what actually happened that night on the Nihonbashi bridge. What, if any, connection is there between the murdered man and Yashima, the young man caught with his wallet? Kaga's investigation takes him down dark roads and into the unknown past to uncover what really happened and why.
A Death in Tokyo is another mind-bending mystery from the modern master of classic crime, finalist for both an Edgar Award and a CWA Dagger, the internationally bestselling Keigo Higashino.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2011
431 people are currently reading
9315 people want to read
About the author
Keigo Higashino
191 books8,206 followersAssociated Names:
* Keigo Higashino
* 東野 圭吾 (Japanese)
* 東野圭吾 (Traditional Chinese)
* ฮิงาชิโนะ เคโงะ (Thai)
Keigo Higashino (東野 圭吾) is one of the most popular and biggest selling fiction authors in Japan—as well known as James Patterson, Dean Koontz or Tom Clancy are in the USA.
Born in Osaka, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. (presently DENSO). He won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago (After School) at age 27. Subsequently, he quit his job and started a career as a writer in Tokyo.
In 1999, he won the Mystery Writers of Japan Inc award for the novel Himitsu (The Secret), which was translated into English by Kerim Yasar and published by Vertical under the title of Naoko in 2004. In 2006, he won the 134th Naoki Prize for Yōgisha X no Kenshin. His novels had been nominated five times before winning with this novel.
The Devotion of Suspect X was the second highest selling book in all of Japan— fiction or nonfiction—the year it was published, with over 800,000 copies sold. It won the prestigious Naoki Prize for Best Novel— the Japanese equivalent of the National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize. Made into a motion picture in Japan, The Devotion of Suspect X spent 4 weeks at the top of the box office and was the third highest‐grossing film of the year.
Higashino’s novels have more movie and TV series adaptations than Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum, and as many as Michael Crichton.
* Keigo Higashino
* 東野 圭吾 (Japanese)
* 東野圭吾 (Traditional Chinese)
* ฮิงาชิโนะ เคโงะ (Thai)
Keigo Higashino (東野 圭吾) is one of the most popular and biggest selling fiction authors in Japan—as well known as James Patterson, Dean Koontz or Tom Clancy are in the USA.
Born in Osaka, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. (presently DENSO). He won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago (After School) at age 27. Subsequently, he quit his job and started a career as a writer in Tokyo.
In 1999, he won the Mystery Writers of Japan Inc award for the novel Himitsu (The Secret), which was translated into English by Kerim Yasar and published by Vertical under the title of Naoko in 2004. In 2006, he won the 134th Naoki Prize for Yōgisha X no Kenshin. His novels had been nominated five times before winning with this novel.
The Devotion of Suspect X was the second highest selling book in all of Japan— fiction or nonfiction—the year it was published, with over 800,000 copies sold. It won the prestigious Naoki Prize for Best Novel— the Japanese equivalent of the National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize. Made into a motion picture in Japan, The Devotion of Suspect X spent 4 weeks at the top of the box office and was the third highest‐grossing film of the year.
Higashino’s novels have more movie and TV series adaptations than Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum, and as many as Michael Crichton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,022 reviews
November 23, 2023
Another international bestseller book by Keigo Higashino.
I am trying to read all the English versions of his books.
It is a mystery novel that revolves around the death of a prominent businessman in Tokyo.
The story mentioned the Seven Lucky Gods circuit and the culture of folding 1,000 paper cranes to pray for health.
The murder was in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district, which is named for the bridge, which also serves as the kilometer-zero marker for Japan’s national highway network.
I am currently searching for this movie "The Wings of the Kirin" 2011.
I am trying to read all the English versions of his books.
It is a mystery novel that revolves around the death of a prominent businessman in Tokyo.
The story mentioned the Seven Lucky Gods circuit and the culture of folding 1,000 paper cranes to pray for health.
The murder was in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district, which is named for the bridge, which also serves as the kilometer-zero marker for Japan’s national highway network.
I am currently searching for this movie "The Wings of the Kirin" 2011.
August 27, 2023
I like Keigo Higashino books. And this one wasn't an exception.
As you can understand from the title, the plot is set in Tokyo and we can consider the city itself as one of the main characters.
A man is killed in the Centre of the city. Another one was hit by a car and is in a coma. He had on him some killed man's things. Did he kill the first man? And why?
The book is about police procedures, but not only about it. Relationships between fathers and sons, honesty, courage and responsibility for your actions are a very important part of the plot.
This is a book that it is worth reading and thinking afterwords.
As you can understand from the title, the plot is set in Tokyo and we can consider the city itself as one of the main characters.
A man is killed in the Centre of the city. Another one was hit by a car and is in a coma. He had on him some killed man's things. Did he kill the first man? And why?
The book is about police procedures, but not only about it. Relationships between fathers and sons, honesty, courage and responsibility for your actions are a very important part of the plot.
This is a book that it is worth reading and thinking afterwords.
Read
January 26, 2023Delighted that we have another from this author translated into English (pretty well here, with a workaday but not clunky style and a sensible decision not to spoon feed absolutely everything Japanese to the Western reader). This is an excellent twisty mystery. The author is a master of using literary form and themes as red herrings in a way I don't think I've seen elsewhere, and it never fails to fool the crap out of me.
Also, a master of giving detective novels meaningful heft. This is really a book about the ripple effect of crime or, rather, of cruelty. Some forms of cruelty are illegal and some are just shitty, but all of them spread damage like cancer, and this book is very much about the importance of cutting it out, not covering it up.
I hope his entire oeuvre gets translated, absolutely top notch.
Also, a master of giving detective novels meaningful heft. This is really a book about the ripple effect of crime or, rather, of cruelty. Some forms of cruelty are illegal and some are just shitty, but all of them spread damage like cancer, and this book is very much about the importance of cutting it out, not covering it up.
I hope his entire oeuvre gets translated, absolutely top notch.
July 8, 2024
The more fool's errands you go on, the more cases you solve.Once more we are back in Nihonbashi with my new favourite detective Kyoichiro Kaga. This time we are investigating the death of a man who was stabbed in one location but managed to walk, dagger in chest to a kirin statue at the famous Edobashi Bridge-Kilometre Zero.
Edobashi Bridge from Nippon
We also get to dig a little deeper into Kaga's life. He's being pressured by his father's former nurse to organise a memorial for his father's death anniversary. Now, I can't be certain but I think that maybe this relationship is explored in the other books not yet translated to English because while the book does explain Kaga's reticence, it felt like being dropped in the middle of an episode. While at the dinner with the nurse, Kaga spots an elderly woman about to make a horrible mistake. He walks up to her, tall, handsome, gently demanding attention and asks her to make a confirmation before doing something a caller had asked her to do. When she does as Kaga recommended, he ends up saving her a great deal of grief. It allows us a glimpse into how Kaga's mind works. Tokiko, the nurse, even comments, "You've got a real nose for crime," to which Kaga responds,
"It's what they call professional deformation—a condition for which, sadly, there is no cure."The French call it déformation professionnelle, where people look at the world with the point of view of expertise rather than a humane perspective. The detective's greatest curse, crime's worst nightmare.
Thankfully, depending on who you ask, Kaga is rescued from the painful meeting with a call about the death. It's not a straightforward death though. The victim, Takeake Aoyagi, was found sans wallet. And a young man who had worked for his company and recently retrenched following a company conspiracy is found with Aoyagi's belongings. Could he be the killer? The police want it to be him but Kaga's gut tells him there's a lot more to the story. He refuses to settle for the simplest explanation. Occam's razor didn't fit the shoe.
We also meet Kaga's cousin, another detective Matsumiya. He wasn't in Newcomer so I assume he joins the force in the books that haven't been translated yet. But he and Kaga bounce off each other delightfully. Often a time Matsumiya would think he's gotten a breakthrough and Kaga would just smile and affably show him that he already did the thing. We see Kaga from the view of other police officers, seeing how they react to him. Kaga has a distant relationship with his fellow detectives. Some of them respect his deductive reasoning but also resent it because his gut always leads them to more work.
One other thing I really appreciated was an in-depth look at day-to-day Japanese culture. It's just such a privilege to get a glimpse to a way of life thousands of kilometres away from me without the dramatised filter of the Western gaze. Now more than ever it's important for readers to step outside of their bubbles and find a more global canon to better empathise with the world rather than constantly seeking relatability and representation. While these things are important and will always have their place in literature, there needs to be a much bigger investment in translated literature and Macmillan need to get off their asses and—
Kaga does eventually join the dots, helping repair the relationship between some characters and their bereaved. Imperfect though they were, they needed more grace, more time to be listened to perhaps. There is a deeply disturbing tragedy within these pages that broke my heart and Kaga's work helps start a journey to reformation. Or at least, as much reformation that can be done with such damage having already been done. There is also commentary on Japan's societal worship of capitalism and how companies will take the most ridiculous shortcuts for a pointless bottom line. This book is rich, has heart, compelling characters and a mystery that kept me guessing.
Find my review for Book 1 here
Find my review for Book 2 here
December 2, 2022
The latest instalment in acclaimed author Keigo Higashino’s mystery (honkaku) series centred on Inspector Kyoichiro Kaga, the former schoolteacher who’s reinvented himself as a homicide detective. Similar in style to the previous book featuring Kaga, this is set in the central Tokyo district of Nihonbashi, a place that Higashino’s translator points out has significance for Higashino’s Japanese readership with its long history symbolic of Japan’s past and more “innocent” times. Kaga’s part of a squad investigating the brutal murder of a middle-aged man. A man who, for inexplicable reasons, stayed alive long enough to drag himself to the famous Nihonbashi Bridge, in order to die at the foot of the statues of mythological kirin adorning it.
Higashino’s narrative’s a fairly conventional one but tightly crafted and laced with unexpected twists and turns. In this intriguing mix of puzzle piece, police procedural and psychological crime, the tall, handsome but taciturn, Kaga’s at odds with his superior, not convinced their prime suspect is the most likely culprit. Higashino moves between Kaga’s investigation and the impact the crime has had on the suspect’s partner and the victim’s family. Set in 2011, it’s a restrained, almost austere piece but it’s also an insightful commentary on Japanese society. Tokyo is reeling from a growing recession and Kaga’s explorations lead to revelations about corporate corruption, intrusive media, the scapegoating of the "mushoku" (unemployed, marginal figures), and the conflict between traditional Japanese beliefs and values and a more pragmatic contemporary culture. There are some formulaic aspects but mostly I found this taut and gripping, and I really responded to Higashino’s understated approach. Translated by Giles Murray.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Little Brown Book Group/Abacus
Rating: 3.5
Higashino’s narrative’s a fairly conventional one but tightly crafted and laced with unexpected twists and turns. In this intriguing mix of puzzle piece, police procedural and psychological crime, the tall, handsome but taciturn, Kaga’s at odds with his superior, not convinced their prime suspect is the most likely culprit. Higashino moves between Kaga’s investigation and the impact the crime has had on the suspect’s partner and the victim’s family. Set in 2011, it’s a restrained, almost austere piece but it’s also an insightful commentary on Japanese society. Tokyo is reeling from a growing recession and Kaga’s explorations lead to revelations about corporate corruption, intrusive media, the scapegoating of the "mushoku" (unemployed, marginal figures), and the conflict between traditional Japanese beliefs and values and a more pragmatic contemporary culture. There are some formulaic aspects but mostly I found this taut and gripping, and I really responded to Higashino’s understated approach. Translated by Giles Murray.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Little Brown Book Group/Abacus
Rating: 3.5
January 9, 2023
A businessman is stabbed on a public street and manages to get to a famous shrine before dying. A suspect is soon apprehended with the victim’s belongings in his possession. However, Tokyo Police Detective Kaga doesn’t accept the simple answer and keeps digging deeper into the reasons why the victim and suspect were both in that area of Tokyo. The investigation is complicated by the fact that the suspect can’t speak for himself.
This is a conventional police procedural (not at all “mind-bending” as the blurb states) in which Kaga and his fellow detective/cousin follow the clues. It is the third book in the series to be translated into English, but can be read as a standalone. There is an unnecessary side plot about Kaga arranging a memorial service for his late father. The author may have been trying to say something about father/son relationships, but I think the main plot covered that topic pretty well. I don’t find Kaga at all intriguing, but the investigation held my interest. The resolution sort of came out of left field.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a conventional police procedural (not at all “mind-bending” as the blurb states) in which Kaga and his fellow detective/cousin follow the clues. It is the third book in the series to be translated into English, but can be read as a standalone. There is an unnecessary side plot about Kaga arranging a memorial service for his late father. The author may have been trying to say something about father/son relationships, but I think the main plot covered that topic pretty well. I don’t find Kaga at all intriguing, but the investigation held my interest. The resolution sort of came out of left field.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 21, 2022
I love Higashino but this one was just okay. I suppose we were due after the last two novels of his to be translated (NEWCOMER and SILENT PARADE) were two of the best so far. There is nothing all that wrong with this book! It's a reliable procedural. It slowly puts the pieces together. But I am picky and I know how good Higashino can be and I expect better! This feels like a good procedural by any old author, but just an okay one from him.
July 8, 2023
এ ডেথ ইন টোকিও ডিটেকটিভ কাগা সিরিজের সর্বশেষ সংযোজন। জাপানে প্রকাশনার ক্রমানুযায়ী সিরিজের নবম এবং ইংরেজিতে প্রকাশনার ক্রমানুযায়ী তৃতীয় । কিয়োচিরো কাগা হিগাশিনোর সবচেয়ে বিখ্যাত চরিত্রগুলোর একটি৷ বইটা পড়ার পর আবারো মনে হলো এই সময়ে এসে কেউ যদি গোল্ডেন এজ ক্রাইম ফিকশনের কথা মনে করিয়ে দেয়, তাহলে সেটা হিগাশিনো। স্বল্পভাষী কিন্তু দারুণ অবজারভ্যান্ট এই গোয়েন্দা প্রশ্ন করে সবকিছুকে৷ আপাত সাধারণ রহস্যগুলোও তখন হয়ে ওঠে জটিল।
বইয়ের শুরুতেই এক ব্যবসায়ীকে টলতে টলতে হেটে আসতে দেখা যায় নিহোনবাশি ব্রিজে৷ খানিক বাদে ব্রিজের মাঝ বরাবর অবস্থিত টোকিওর বিখ্যাত কিরিন ভাস্কর্যের সামনে পড়ে যায় সে। এক প্যাট্রোল পুলিশ দেখতে পায় তার বুকে ছুরি গাঁথা৷ অবশ্য কিছুক্ষণের মধ্যেই খানিক দূরে এক যুবককে খুঁজে পায় পুলিশের লোকেরা, যার কাছে মেলে সেই ব্যবসায়ীর ওয়ালেট এবং স্যুটকেস৷ সমস্যাটা হচ্ছে পুলিশ তাকে ডাকা মাত্র ব্যস্ত রাস্তা ধরে ছুটতে গিয়ে চলন্ত ট্রাকের সাথে সংঘর্ষ ঘটে তার৷ কোমায় চলে যায়৷ যাকে বলে একদম ওপেন অ্যান্ড শাট কেস। কিন্তু ঘটনা কি আসলেও তাই? কাগা এবং তার সঙ্গী মাতসুমিয়া তদন্ত শুরু করে কিছু অসামঞ্জস্যতা দেখতে পায়৷ ক্রমশ ঘোলাটে হতে থাকে পরিস্থিতি৷ খুন কি আসলে সেই যুবক করেছিল? নাকি অন্য কেউ?
ক্লাসিক মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি এবং পুলিশ প্রোসিডিউরাল থ্রিলারের একদম সুষম মিশ্রন এ ডেথ ইন টোকিও। রহস্য সমাধানের পাশাপাশি জাপানের বর্তমান সমাজ, অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থা এবং ঐতিহ্যের সাথে পরিচয় ঘটে পাঠকদের৷ প্লটে এমনভাবে সবকিছু মেশানো হয়েছে যে বাড়তি মনে হয় না কিছুই৷ আর হিগাশিনোর বইয়ের প্রতিটি ডিটেইল দরকারি।
তবে হ্যাঁ, কাগার বাবার মৃত্যুবার্ষিকীর অনুষ্ঠান নিয়ে একটা সাবপ্লট আছে, যেটা অপ্রয়োজনীয় ঠেকতে পারে। অনেক পাঠক এটার সাথে কানেক্টও হয়তো করতে পারবেন না, যদি সিরিজের সপ্তম বই দ্য রেড ফিঙ্গার পড়া থাকে৷ ওখানে কাগার পারিবারিক ইতিহাস সম্পর্কে বিস্তারিত জানা যায়৷ ম্যালিসের পর রেড ফিঙ্গার এবং নিউকামার পড়ে এ ডেথ ইন টোকিও পড়লে বুঝতে সুবিধা হবে, যদিও প্রতিটা কাহিনীই স্বতন্ত্র৷
সব মিলিয়ে দারুণ কিছু সময় কাটলো কাগার সাথে।
বইয়ের শুরুতেই এক ব্যবসায়ীকে টলতে টলতে হেটে আসতে দেখা যায় নিহোনবাশি ব্রিজে৷ খানিক বাদে ব্রিজের মাঝ বরাবর অবস্থিত টোকিওর বিখ্যাত কিরিন ভাস্কর্যের সামনে পড়ে যায় সে। এক প্যাট্রোল পুলিশ দেখতে পায় তার বুকে ছুরি গাঁথা৷ অবশ্য কিছুক্ষণের মধ্যেই খানিক দূরে এক যুবককে খুঁজে পায় পুলিশের লোকেরা, যার কাছে মেলে সেই ব্যবসায়ীর ওয়ালেট এবং স্যুটকেস৷ সমস্যাটা হচ্ছে পুলিশ তাকে ডাকা মাত্র ব্যস্ত রাস্তা ধরে ছুটতে গিয়ে চলন্ত ট্রাকের সাথে সংঘর্ষ ঘটে তার৷ কোমায় চলে যায়৷ যাকে বলে একদম ওপেন অ্যান্ড শাট কেস। কিন্তু ঘটনা কি আসলেও তাই? কাগা এবং তার সঙ্গী মাতসুমিয়া তদন্ত শুরু করে কিছু অসামঞ্জস্যতা দেখতে পায়৷ ক্রমশ ঘোলাটে হতে থাকে পরিস্থিতি৷ খুন কি আসলে সেই যুবক করেছিল? নাকি অন্য কেউ?
ক্লাসিক মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি এবং পুলিশ প্রোসিডিউরাল থ্রিলারের একদম সুষম মিশ্রন এ ডেথ ইন টোকিও। রহস্য সমাধানের পাশাপাশি জাপানের বর্তমান সমাজ, অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থা এবং ঐতিহ্যের সাথে পরিচয় ঘটে পাঠকদের৷ প্লটে এমনভাবে সবকিছু মেশানো হয়েছে যে বাড়তি মনে হয় না কিছুই৷ আর হিগাশিনোর বইয়ের প্রতিটি ডিটেইল দরকারি।
তবে হ্যাঁ, কাগার বাবার মৃত্যুবার্ষিকীর অনুষ্ঠান নিয়ে একটা সাবপ্লট আছে, যেটা অপ্রয়োজনীয় ঠেকতে পারে। অনেক পাঠক এটার সাথে কানেক্টও হয়তো করতে পারবেন না, যদি সিরিজের সপ্তম বই দ্য রেড ফিঙ্গার পড়া থাকে৷ ওখানে কাগার পারিবারিক ইতিহাস সম্পর্কে বিস্তারিত জানা যায়৷ ম্যালিসের পর রেড ফিঙ্গার এবং নিউকামার পড়ে এ ডেথ ইন টোকিও পড়লে বুঝতে সুবিধা হবে, যদিও প্রতিটা কাহিনীই স্বতন্ত্র৷
সব মিলিয়ে দারুণ কিছু সময় কাটলো কাগার সাথে।
February 1, 2024
After finishing Newcomer I still felt in the need of distraction reading, so I moved on to this, the next in the Detective Kaga series.
Once again Kaga applies his imagination and intuition toward uncovering the "who" and "why" of a murder, but the tone is decidedly different from the previous books. As always, Higashino is gentle and respectful when describing Japanese culture (I love all that I'm learning from these books), but in this one he really unloads on the economy and business practices. There are multiple threads to the story, and the pursuit of one ends up with an indictment of a system that fails to properly protect the individuals at the bottom of the food chain.
I'm guessing that those who have characterized this series as "cozy", with Kaga a sort of Miss Marple, would adjust their opinions after this one. The societal commentary was more reminiscent of Nordic Noir author Henning Mankell than Agatha Christie.
That aside, it's still fun to follow Kaga as he works through the logical explanations for seemingly inexplicable events, sorting through those threads to determine which leads to both the "who" and the "why". There was an element to the ending that left me dissatisfied, but overall, a good read.
Once again Kaga applies his imagination and intuition toward uncovering the "who" and "why" of a murder, but the tone is decidedly different from the previous books. As always, Higashino is gentle and respectful when describing Japanese culture (I love all that I'm learning from these books), but in this one he really unloads on the economy and business practices. There are multiple threads to the story, and the pursuit of one ends up with an indictment of a system that fails to properly protect the individuals at the bottom of the food chain.
I'm guessing that those who have characterized this series as "cozy", with Kaga a sort of Miss Marple, would adjust their opinions after this one. The societal commentary was more reminiscent of Nordic Noir author Henning Mankell than Agatha Christie.
That aside, it's still fun to follow Kaga as he works through the logical explanations for seemingly inexplicable events, sorting through those threads to determine which leads to both the "who" and the "why". There was an element to the ending that left me dissatisfied, but overall, a good read.
November 8, 2023
ক্লাসিক মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি জনরার বইগুলো আমার সবসময়ই ভালো লাগে। কিয়েগো হিগাশিনোর বিখ্যাত চরিত্র কিয়োচিরো কাগা সিরিজের নবম বই এ ডেথ ইন টোকিও।
যেকোন খুন কে শুধুমাত্র একটা মৃত্যু হিসেবে বিবেচনা না করে, ভিক্টিম সংশ্লিষ্ট সবকিছু বিচার-বিশ্লেষণ করে দারুণ এক তদন্ত প্রক্রিয়ার উদাহরণ এই বইটি। বইয়ের কোন চরিত্র কিংবা কাহিনী অপ্রাসঙ্গিক লাগেনি। এই সিরিজের যতগুলো বই পড়া হয়েছে, এই বইটা বেশি ভালো লাগার দিকেই থাকবে। ক্লাসিক মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি কিংবা পুলিশ প্রসিডিওরাল থ্রিলার বা ডিটেকটিভ থ্রিলার যাই বলিনা কেন, এই জনরাগুলোর পারফেক্ট উদাহরণ এই বইটি৷ শুধু কে খুন করল, এটা কোন বইয়ের মূখ্য কারণ হলে সেই বই আহামরি মনে হয়না কিন্তু সামান্য সেই খুন সংশ্লিষ্ট সূক্ষ্মতর ব্যাপারগুলোও যখন তদন্তের আওতায় চলে আসে তখন সেই বইগুলো একদম শেষ পর্যন্ত পাঠক ধরে রাখতে বাধ্য৷ এই বইটাও ঠিক তেমন।
সবমিলিয়ে আমার কাছে বইটা দারুণ এবং গতিশীল মনে হয়েছে, যদিও এই ধরনের বইগুলো সাধারণত কিছুটা স্লো হয়ে থাকে প্রয়োজনের খাতিরেই।
হিগাশিনোর গল্পগুলো ভালো লাগার অন্যতম কারণ উনার প্লট, আমার কাছে বেশ ইউনিক লাগে+ উনার গল্প বলার ধরন।
অনুবাদক হিসেবে ছিলেন হিগাশিনোর বইয়ের অনুবাদ যার মাধ্যমে শুরু হয়েছিল সেই সালমান হক এবং আরেকজন জনপ্রিয় অনুবাদক ইশরাক অর্ণব, সুতরাং অনুবাদ নিয়ে আলাদা বলার কিছু নেই। অনুবাদ বরাবরের মতই দারুন।
মূল বই এবং অনুবাদ সবকিছুর মিশেলে দারুণ একটা বই।
যেকোন খুন কে শুধুমাত্র একটা মৃত্যু হিসেবে বিবেচনা না করে, ভিক্টিম সংশ্লিষ্ট সবকিছু বিচার-বিশ্লেষণ করে দারুণ এক তদন্ত প্রক্রিয়ার উদাহরণ এই বইটি। বইয়ের কোন চরিত্র কিংবা কাহিনী অপ্রাসঙ্গিক লাগেনি। এই সিরিজের যতগুলো বই পড়া হয়েছে, এই বইটা বেশি ভালো লাগার দিকেই থাকবে। ক্লাসিক মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি কিংবা পুলিশ প্রসিডিওরাল থ্রিলার বা ডিটেকটিভ থ্রিলার যাই বলিনা কেন, এই জনরাগুলোর পারফেক্ট উদাহরণ এই বইটি৷ শুধু কে খুন করল, এটা কোন বইয়ের মূখ্য কারণ হলে সেই বই আহামরি মনে হয়না কিন্তু সামান্য সেই খুন সংশ্লিষ্ট সূক্ষ্মতর ব্যাপারগুলোও যখন তদন্তের আওতায় চলে আসে তখন সেই বইগুলো একদম শেষ পর্যন্ত পাঠক ধরে রাখতে বাধ্য৷ এই বইটাও ঠিক তেমন।
সবমিলিয়ে আমার কাছে বইটা দারুণ এবং গতিশীল মনে হয়েছে, যদিও এই ধরনের বইগুলো সাধারণত কিছুটা স্লো হয়ে থাকে প্রয়োজনের খাতিরেই।
হিগাশিনোর গল্পগুলো ভালো লাগার অন্যতম কারণ উনার প্লট, আমার কাছে বেশ ইউনিক লাগে+ উনার গল্প বলার ধরন।
অনুবাদক হিসেবে ছিলেন হিগাশিনোর বইয়ের অনুবাদ যার মাধ্যমে শুরু হয়েছিল সেই সালমান হক এবং আরেকজন জনপ্রিয় অনুবাদক ইশরাক অর্ণব, সুতরাং অনুবাদ নিয়ে আলাদা বলার কিছু নেই। অনুবাদ বরাবরের মতই দারুন।
মূল বই এবং অনুবাদ সবকিছুর মিশেলে দারুণ একটা বই।
January 31, 2023
দিস ইজ সামথিং মাইন্ডব্লোয়িং। ডিটেকটিভ কাগার প্রেমে পড়তে বাধ্য সত্যিকারের রহস্য প্রেমীরা। আপনি যদি হুটহাট রকেট গতির গল্প চান তবে হিগাশিনো বা কাগা কেউই আপনার জন্য নয়। তবে আপনি যদি চান গল্পের ডিটেকটিভ এর সাথে ধাপে ধাপে অতি সূক্ষ্ম ভাবে তদন্তপ্রক্রিয়ার অংশ হতে তবে আপনার জন্য অপেক্ষা করছে নতুন একটা দুনিয়া। গল্পের কাহিনী সামান্য একটা খুন নিয়ে। সেটাও সলভড, কারণ অপরাধী সাথে সাথেই ধরা পড়ে। তবে অপরাধী কিভাবে অপরাধ করেছে সেটার উত্তর খুঁজতে গিয়ে কাগা ও তার কাজিন ঢুকে পড়ে আরও রহস্যের মধ্যে। পেঁয়াজের খোসার মত অল্প অল্প করে উন্মুক্ত হতে থাকে রহস্য। আর শেষটা চমকে দেয়ার মত। ডিটেকটিভ কাগার কর্মপদ্ধতি আপনাকে মনে করিয়ে দেবে এরকুল পোয়ারোকে, সেইসাথে তার পার্টনার কাম কাজিন মাতসুমিয়া হচ্ছে হালের ক্যাপ্টেন হেস্টিংস। পুরাতনটার মত মডার্ন ডে পোয়ারোও আসলে বিশেষ কিছু।
November 5, 2024
This is my very first Keigo Higashino novel. It’s the ninth entry in Higashino’s series featuring Kyochiro Kaga, but only the third to be translated into English. (Thank you, translator Giles Murray!) Even so, I never felt lost, and, by the translation pattern — or lack thereof — it’s pretty clear that you don’t have to read these books in order to enjoy this fine police procedural.
At the heart of this story is a kirin — no, not the beer, but a mythical horned, scaly beast that looks like a horse sporting a Chinese lion’s head. For Westerners, it looks like this:
At the heart of this story is a kirin — no, not the beer, but a mythical horned, scaly beast that looks like a horse sporting a Chinese lion’s head. For Westerners, it looks like this:
July 8, 2023
Cánh Kỳ Lân mở đầu bằng việc một người đàn ông được phát hiện đang dựa vào bức tương kỳ lân ở cầu Nihonbashi - trong tình trạng bị đâm bởi một con dao. Tuy nhiên, một chàng trai được cho là nghi phạm đã gặp tai nạn và rơi vào tình trạng hôn mê.
Điều mình thích ở đây là cách điều tra của Cánh Kỳ Lân tương tự như Tập 8 Newcomer . Người đọc cùng thám tử Kaga hay lần này cùng với Matsumiya (em họ của Kaga) điều tra qua từng nơi mà nạn nhân, nghi phạm từng đến - những manh mối nhỏ bé nhưng lại mang đến mấu chốt quan trọng trong vụ án.
Bên cạnh quá trình điều tra hơi dài dòng, mình thích cách cuốn sách xen kẽ giữa hai POV người thân của nạn nhân lẫn nghi phạm, họ đều có những vấn đề tồi tệ mà không ai muốn nó xảy ra cả. Và mình thương cho Kaori.
"Án mạng cũng giống như tế bào ung thư, từ chỗ nhiễm ban đầu sẽ loang dần ra xung quanh. Dù bắt được hung thủ, khép lại hồ sơ, cũng không dễ gì chặn đứng lây lan."
Mình bất ngờ với lý giải sự thật đằng sau vụ án, đưa đến sự thật mình không ngờ được. Dù mình có bất ngờ về hung thủ nhưng vẫn cảm thấy hụt hẫng chút. Kể cả vấn đề của những người lao động được đề cập chưa thực sự thỏa mãn mình. Nếu ai đã đọc qua nhiều về series Kaga (như mình) sẽ thấy việc tác giả cài cắm về ý nghĩa gia đình hơi bị ngán. Vẫn rate quyển này 4☆ vì nhịp truyện nhanh, cách ứng xử của Kaga quá trời là khéo léo và tuyệt vời.
September 3, 2019
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เปิดเรื่องด้วยความตายของชายผู้เป็นพ่อถูกมีดปักกลางอก แต่ซมซานไปทิ้ง dying message ไว้ใต้ปีกรูปปั้นกิเลน
ผู้ต้องสงสัยในคดี ก็ดันมามีอันเป็นไปซะอีก
เบาะแสที่ตำรวจสุด cool อย่าง “คางะ” ใช้ในการคนหาคำตอบคือใบเสร็จร้านโซบะ!
หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือในซีรีย์ตำรวจสุด cool “คางะ”
ปูเรื่องด้วยการตายที่ไม่สมเหตุสมผล ผู้ต้องสงสัยที่แก้ต่างให้ตัวเองไม่ได้ และดราม่าครอบครัวที่บีบคั้นอารมณ์
แน่นอนว่าตามสไตล์เราจะได้อ่านหนังสือที่ดำเนินอย่างเนิบๆ นุ่มๆ ไปจนถึงกลางเล่ม แล้วก็เริ่มปล่อยของตอนกลางเล่ม และเคี่ยนอัตราการเต้นของหัวใจคนอ่านท้ายเล่ม
คนอ่านจะถูกทำให้ไขว้เขวว่าจริงๆ แล้วเป็นการฆาตกรรมชิงทรัพย์ดาดๆ หรือเป็นฆาตกรรมที่บรรจุความแค้นเอาไว้เต็มเปี่ยมของลูกจ้างที่มีต่อนายจ้าง
หรือแท้จริงแล้ว อุบัติเหตุของชมรม���่ายน้ำมัธยมต้นของลูกชายผู้ตาย มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับการฆาตกรรมผู้เป็นพ่อกันแน่
แต่ละช่วงที่อ่านมันจะมีความสงสัยต่างๆ กันไป
และในที่สุดก็ได้รับคำเฉลยแบบคาดไม่ถึงท้ายเล่ม
สะพานนิฮอมบาชิ เป็นหลักกิโลเมตรที่ศูนย์ ที่ใช้สำหรับวัดระยะทางไปจังหวัดต่างๆ ทั่วญี่ปุ่น
เป็นทั้งจุดเริ่มต้นของตัวละครที่เดินทางจากต่างจังหวัดเข้ามาสู่โตเกียว และก็เป็นจุดเดียวกันที่เกิดเหตุฆาตกรรมในเรื่องนี้
Keigo เอาพื้นที่บริเวณนี้มาเดินเรื่องจนอยากเก็บกระเป๋า บินไปตามรอยที่ญี่ปุ่นเลยทีเดียว (แต่ตอนนี้เปิด google street view ดูแก้ขัดไปก่อน)
นอกจากการถ่ายทอดความรักของพ่อออกมาได้อย่างละเอียดอ่อนแล้ว ยังชอบตรงที่ Keigo ทำให้เห็นเกียรติศักดิ์ศรีของการรับผิดชอบในการกระทำ ไม่ใช่ซุกความผิด วิ่งหนีความจริงไปตลอด แถมยังถ่ายทอดด้วยการเล่าผ่านนิยายได้อย่างยอดเยี่ยม
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทิ้งความรู้สึกชื่นชมให้กับ “ความรับผิดชอบชั่วดี” ไว้ได้ดีจริงๆ
เป็นหนังสือสืบสวนสอบสวนที่ทิ้งประโยค “เรื่องนี้สอนให้รู้ว่า...” เอาไว้ในหัวใจและสมอง
มันเป็นการสืบสวนคดีฆาตกรรมที่จบได้ซึ้งกินใจ
เปิดเรื่องด้วยความตายของชายผู้เป็นพ่อถูกมีดปักกลางอก แต่ซมซานไปทิ้ง dying message ไว้ใต้ปีกรูปปั้นกิเลน
ผู้ต้องสงสัยในคดี ก็ดันมามีอันเป็นไปซะอีก
เบาะแสที่ตำรวจสุด cool อย่าง “คางะ” ใช้ในการคนหาคำตอบคือใบเสร็จร้านโซบะ!
หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือในซีรีย์ตำรวจสุด cool “คางะ”
ปูเรื่องด้วยการตายที่ไม่สมเหตุสมผล ผู้ต้องสงสัยที่แก้ต่างให้ตัวเองไม่ได้ และดราม่าครอบครัวที่บีบคั้นอารมณ์
แน่นอนว่าตามสไตล์เราจะได้อ่านหนังสือที่ดำเนินอย่างเนิบๆ นุ่มๆ ไปจนถึงกลางเล่ม แล้วก็เริ่มปล่อยของตอนกลางเล่ม และเคี่ยนอัตราการเต้นของหัวใจคนอ่านท้ายเล่ม
คนอ่านจะถูกทำให้ไขว้เขวว่าจริงๆ แล้วเป็นการฆาตกรรมชิงทรัพย์ดาดๆ หรือเป็นฆาตกรรมที่บรรจุความแค้นเอาไว้เต็มเปี่ยมของลูกจ้างที่มีต่อนายจ้าง
หรือแท้จริงแล้ว อุบัติเหตุของชมรม���่ายน้ำมัธยมต้นของลูกชายผู้ตาย มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับการฆาตกรรมผู้เป็นพ่อกันแน่
แต่ละช่วงที่อ่านมันจะมีความสงสัยต่างๆ กันไป
และในที่สุดก็ได้รับคำเฉลยแบบคาดไม่ถึงท้ายเล่ม
สะพานนิฮอมบาชิ เป็นหลักกิโลเมตรที่ศูนย์ ที่ใช้สำหรับวัดระยะทางไปจังหวัดต่างๆ ทั่วญี่ปุ่น
เป็นทั้งจุดเริ่มต้นของตัวละครที่เดินทางจากต่างจังหวัดเข้ามาสู่โตเกียว และก็เป็นจุดเดียวกันที่เกิดเหตุฆาตกรรมในเรื่องนี้
Keigo เอาพื้นที่บริเวณนี้มาเดินเรื่องจนอยากเก็บกระเป๋า บินไปตามรอยที่ญี่ปุ่นเลยทีเดียว (แต่ตอนนี้เปิด google street view ดูแก้ขัดไปก่อน)
นอกจากการถ่ายทอดความรักของพ่อออกมาได้อย่างละเอียดอ่อนแล้ว ยังชอบตรงที่ Keigo ทำให้เห็นเกียรติศักดิ์ศรีของการรับผิดชอบในการกระทำ ไม่ใช่ซุกความผิด วิ่งหนีความจริงไปตลอด แถมยังถ่ายทอดด้วยการเล่าผ่านนิยายได้อย่างยอดเยี่ยม
หนังสือเล่มนี้ทิ้งความรู้สึกชื่นชมให้กับ “ความรับผิดชอบชั่วดี” ไว้ได้ดีจริงๆ
September 27, 2025
یه کتاب دیگه از نویسنده ژاپنی محبوبم از ادبیات جنایی ژاپن که میتونم بگم از قشنگترین مجموعههای کارآگاهیه که خوندم.
در داستانهای این نویسنده قتلی رخ داده و به نظر میاد قاتل مشخصه. اما این بار توی هویت مظنون شک وجود داره و چون مظنون در حین فرار میمیره، راز سربهمهری باقی میمونه که انگیزه، انتساب آلت قتل به مظنون و قتل به مظنون متوفی رو سخت میکنه. اما کارآگاه باهوشمون که به همهچی شک میکنه، تهوتوی ماجرا رو درمیاره.
مقتول یه دختر و پسر نوجوون داشته و مظنون متوفی هم همخونهای باردار. تاثیرات این جنایت بر این دو خانواده و ارتباطشون به هم که هم قاتل هم مظنون در یه کارخونه کار میکردن، ارتباط قتل با مدرسه بچهها و اتفاقات گذشته، همه و همه ریزبهریز بررسی میشه و هویت قاتل شناسایی میشه.
توی کتابای این نویسنده اصلا دنبال این نباشید که بتونید قاتل رو حدس بزنید چون امکان نداره تشخیص بدین. ژاپنیها جوری همهچی رو به هم ربط میدن که به ذهن ماها نمیرسه و همین هوشمندی و ریزبینیشونه که دوست دارم.
در داستانهای این نویسنده قتلی رخ داده و به نظر میاد قاتل مشخصه. اما این بار توی هویت مظنون شک وجود داره و چون مظنون در حین فرار میمیره، راز سربهمهری باقی میمونه که انگیزه، انتساب آلت قتل به مظنون و قتل به مظنون متوفی رو سخت میکنه. اما کارآگاه باهوشمون که به همهچی شک میکنه، تهوتوی ماجرا رو درمیاره.
مقتول یه دختر و پسر نوجوون داشته و مظنون متوفی هم همخونهای باردار. تاثیرات این جنایت بر این دو خانواده و ارتباطشون به هم که هم قاتل هم مظنون در یه کارخونه کار میکردن، ارتباط قتل با مدرسه بچهها و اتفاقات گذشته، همه و همه ریزبهریز بررسی میشه و هویت قاتل شناسایی میشه.
توی کتابای این نویسنده اصلا دنبال این نباشید که بتونید قاتل رو حدس بزنید چون امکان نداره تشخیص بدین. ژاپنیها جوری همهچی رو به هم ربط میدن که به ذهن ماها نمیرسه و همین هوشمندی و ریزبینیشونه که دوست دارم.
August 8, 2021
Có vẻ năm nay fan của tác giả Higashino Keigo có một mùa vụ bội thu, khi liên tiếp từ đầu năm đến giờ đã có 3 cuốn sách của bác được xuất bản ở Việt Nam rồi. Trong đó có 2 cuốn do Nhã Nam phát hành, còn cuốn “Cánh kỳ lân" là của IPM.
Một lần nữa, tác giả lại cho chúng ta gặp lại thanh tra Kaga- nhân vật mẫn cán đã từng xuất hiện trong tác phẩm “Ác ý". Câu chuyện lần này bắt đầu khi cảnh sát phát hiện ra một người đàn ông bị đâm trọng thương tại cây cầu Nihonbashi nổi tiếng ở Tokyo. Dù đã được đưa đi cấp cứu ngay lập tức nhưng các bác sĩ đã không thể cứu được người đàn ông xấu số. Cũng ngay trong đêm đó, cảnh sát đã bắt được nghi phạm nhưng trong quá trình chạy trốn hắn lại bị tai nạn giao thông rồi cũng qua đời. Mọi chứng cứ đều chỉ về hướng nghi phạm và các lãnh đạo cũng rất nóng lòng muốn kết thúc vụ án giết người cướp của này.
Thế nhưng, Kaga, bằng óc quan sát nhạy bén, khả năng suy luận tài tình cũng như quyết tâm tìm ra chân tướng sự việc của mình đã quyết định điều tra độc lập. Ta sẽ lại thấy quá trình anh tìm ra lời giải cho từng hành động của cả nạn nhân và hung thủ, ráp nối xâu chuỗi lại những dữ kiện rồi đưa ra suy luận và chứng minh những suy luận ấy như thế nào.
Có thể thấy Keigo dành rất nhiều tâm huyết để cố gắng xây dựng nhân vật và tạo nên những câu chuyện ẩn sau những nhân vật ấy. Ông luôn cố gắng truyền tải một thông điệp, một vấn đề còn tồn đọng trong xã hội Nhật Bản thông qua những câu chuyện của mình. Tuy lần này vấn đề không mới và bản thân vụ án cũng như câu chuyện đằng sau không có quá nhiều điểm bất ngờ hay đặc biệt, nhưng vẫn phải ghi nhận sự cố gắng của tác giả. Từ bầu không khí, cách kể chuyện, diễn biến phá án, mọi thứ tuy vẫn ở tốc độ vừa phải nhưng vẫn đủ lôi cuốn độc giả lật tiếp những trang sau.
Một tác phẩm trinh thám mình đánh giá ở mức độ vừa phải, không quá xuất sắc cũng không máu me, rùng rợn, kinh dị. Ai mới bắt đầu đọc trinh thám có thể bắt đầu từ cuốn này cũng rất oke. Mọi thứ đều dễ chịu.
Đánh giá: ⅗
Một lần nữa, tác giả lại cho chúng ta gặp lại thanh tra Kaga- nhân vật mẫn cán đã từng xuất hiện trong tác phẩm “Ác ý". Câu chuyện lần này bắt đầu khi cảnh sát phát hiện ra một người đàn ông bị đâm trọng thương tại cây cầu Nihonbashi nổi tiếng ở Tokyo. Dù đã được đưa đi cấp cứu ngay lập tức nhưng các bác sĩ đã không thể cứu được người đàn ông xấu số. Cũng ngay trong đêm đó, cảnh sát đã bắt được nghi phạm nhưng trong quá trình chạy trốn hắn lại bị tai nạn giao thông rồi cũng qua đời. Mọi chứng cứ đều chỉ về hướng nghi phạm và các lãnh đạo cũng rất nóng lòng muốn kết thúc vụ án giết người cướp của này.
Thế nhưng, Kaga, bằng óc quan sát nhạy bén, khả năng suy luận tài tình cũng như quyết tâm tìm ra chân tướng sự việc của mình đã quyết định điều tra độc lập. Ta sẽ lại thấy quá trình anh tìm ra lời giải cho từng hành động của cả nạn nhân và hung thủ, ráp nối xâu chuỗi lại những dữ kiện rồi đưa ra suy luận và chứng minh những suy luận ấy như thế nào.
Có thể thấy Keigo dành rất nhiều tâm huyết để cố gắng xây dựng nhân vật và tạo nên những câu chuyện ẩn sau những nhân vật ấy. Ông luôn cố gắng truyền tải một thông điệp, một vấn đề còn tồn đọng trong xã hội Nhật Bản thông qua những câu chuyện của mình. Tuy lần này vấn đề không mới và bản thân vụ án cũng như câu chuyện đằng sau không có quá nhiều điểm bất ngờ hay đặc biệt, nhưng vẫn phải ghi nhận sự cố gắng của tác giả. Từ bầu không khí, cách kể chuyện, diễn biến phá án, mọi thứ tuy vẫn ở tốc độ vừa phải nhưng vẫn đủ lôi cuốn độc giả lật tiếp những trang sau.
Một tác phẩm trinh thám mình đánh giá ở mức độ vừa phải, không quá xuất sắc cũng không máu me, rùng rợn, kinh dị. Ai mới bắt đầu đọc trinh thám có thể bắt đầu từ cuốn này cũng rất oke. Mọi thứ đều dễ chịu.
Đánh giá: ⅗
November 25, 2022
Keigo Higashino is a recent arrival on my radar, and I'm ready to devour everything he writes. He's primarily a mystery writer, writing in Japanese, whose works are readily available in translation. This is the third of his Detective Kaga mysteries, though it's the first in the series I've read. Kaga falls somewhere on the Holmesian detective spectrum. He notices details and finds more meaning in them than most. He doesn't settle for simple solutions and is dogged in his pursuit of the full truth. He lacks Holmes' flash and disdain for other detectives, but makes for an excellent bookish companion nonetheless.
The book opens as a wealthy businessman staggers onto a bridge and collapses. The police officer who sees him collapse assumes he's drunk, but then discovers a knife sticking out of his chest. The businessman dies on route to the hospital. Not long after, an unemployed young man who obce temped for the company employing this businessman is found with the businessman's wallet and briefcase in his possession. Before police can question him, he dashes away, runs into traffic, is hit by a truck, and lapses into a coma.
That's our set-up. Almost everyone is happy to call the young man a murderer and to walk away from the case's complications, but not Kaga, who spends days on foot exploring the area where the businessman was killed. Complications abound, but none that fully exonerate the young man. Meanwhile, a different set of accusations begins to pile up against the businessman.
Higashino masterfully keeps the narrative ambiguous, which keeps the reader turning pages.
If you enjoy international mysteries with well-developed, original characters and deft plotting, you're in for a treat with A Death in Tokyo.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the opinions are my own.
The book opens as a wealthy businessman staggers onto a bridge and collapses. The police officer who sees him collapse assumes he's drunk, but then discovers a knife sticking out of his chest. The businessman dies on route to the hospital. Not long after, an unemployed young man who obce temped for the company employing this businessman is found with the businessman's wallet and briefcase in his possession. Before police can question him, he dashes away, runs into traffic, is hit by a truck, and lapses into a coma.
That's our set-up. Almost everyone is happy to call the young man a murderer and to walk away from the case's complications, but not Kaga, who spends days on foot exploring the area where the businessman was killed. Complications abound, but none that fully exonerate the young man. Meanwhile, a different set of accusations begins to pile up against the businessman.
Higashino masterfully keeps the narrative ambiguous, which keeps the reader turning pages.
If you enjoy international mysteries with well-developed, original characters and deft plotting, you're in for a treat with A Death in Tokyo.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the opinions are my own.
July 16, 2024
It did not quite work as fully for me as the previous detective Kaga novels. I even checked the name of the translator, I was sure it was a different one, but no, it was the same.
As usual, it is full of place and a sense of culture. I kept googling locations (and flights and daydreaming travel plans...). With this series, there are more books written in Japanese than the ones that have been translated into English (or any other language I can read), so this is #3 of the English-translated books but number 9 of the original series, and there is a lot of background here into Kaga's life (his relationship with his father and mother, he has a cousin who provides us with his POV on Kaga's brilliancy), which was not mentioned in previous English-translated books and feels somewhat heavy.
The main mystery is interesting, and Higashino really is a master of the clue. It felt very Japanese, too culturally dependent for an outsider to make guesses, and it managed to surprise me at several turns. But I also think it was slightly underserved in some small details I wanted to know more of or thought better developed, like .
Still really interesting, even if not a favourite of his books for me.
As usual, it is full of place and a sense of culture. I kept googling locations (and flights and daydreaming travel plans...). With this series, there are more books written in Japanese than the ones that have been translated into English (or any other language I can read), so this is #3 of the English-translated books but number 9 of the original series, and there is a lot of background here into Kaga's life (his relationship with his father and mother, he has a cousin who provides us with his POV on Kaga's brilliancy), which was not mentioned in previous English-translated books and feels somewhat heavy.
The main mystery is interesting, and Higashino really is a master of the clue. It felt very Japanese, too culturally dependent for an outsider to make guesses, and it managed to surprise me at several turns. But I also think it was slightly underserved in some small details I wanted to know more of or thought better developed, like .
Still really interesting, even if not a favourite of his books for me.
August 25, 2023
3.5 stars
The Detective Kaga series never hits as much as the Detective Galileo series, but I really do love the way that Keigo Higashino writes his mysteries. He scratches that Agatha Christie itch that I have. And I will say, I definitely did not see this ending coming.
Watch my full thoughts in my June wrap up: https://youtu.be/5O9H-dys13U
The Detective Kaga series never hits as much as the Detective Galileo series, but I really do love the way that Keigo Higashino writes his mysteries. He scratches that Agatha Christie itch that I have. And I will say, I definitely did not see this ending coming.
Watch my full thoughts in my June wrap up: https://youtu.be/5O9H-dys13U
May 21, 2024
Another really good book in this series! I think that Kaga is an awesome character, and I love the way he goes about solving a case! He finds the little things, that seemingly aren't relevant, and puts it all together like a jigsaw puzzle. Be it shrines, cocoa, or even the type of paper used to make origami cranes, nothing gets by Kaga! I sure hope more of his books are coming my way!
Thanks to Salman & Ishraque Arnob bro for this brilliant translation.
Thanks to Salman & Ishraque Arnob bro for this brilliant translation.
June 5, 2023
বইটা হার্টব্রেকিং। অবশ্য হিগাশিনোর অনেক বই-ই তাই। রহস্য যতটা, ঠিক ততটাই সামাজিক পরিবেশ আর মানুষের নিত্যদিনকার সুখদুঃখের কথা। হিগাশিনোর ভক্তদের জন্য আরেকটা অবশ্যপাঠ্য উপন্যাস।
August 8, 2025
Fuyuki Yashima এবং তার সঙ্গী Kaori Nakahara ভাগ্য পরিবর্তনের জন্য টোকিওতে এসেছিল কিন্তু
Fuyuki কোন চাকরি খুজৈ না পেলেও Kaori চাকরি পায় একটি কফি শপে। একদিন Kaori কে Fuyuki ফোনে জানায় অদ্ভুত কিছু ঘটেছে এরপর ফোন কেটে দেয় এবং কিছু সময় পরে একজন পুলিশ পরিচয়ে তাকে ফোনে জানায��� এক্সিডেন্ট করে হাসপাতালে আছে Fuyuki।
টহল পুলিশ মাতাল মনে করলেও, টোকিওর নিহনবাসি ব্রিজের উপর একটি "কিরিন" এর মুর্তির নিচে ছুরিকাঘাতে মারা যান Takeaki Aoyagi। ইন্সপেক্টর কাইয়োইচিরো কাগা ও ডিটেকটিভ শুহেই মাতসোমিয়ার তদন্ত থেকে জানা যায় দুই সন্তানের জনক Takeaki Aoyagi নিয়মিত টোকিওতে আসতেন বিভিন্ন মন্দিরে ৭ ভাগ্য দেবতাদের উদ্দেশ্যে পূজা দিতেন অথচ আওয়াগি'র পরিবার তাকে নাস্তিক বলেই জানতো।
Fuyuki Yashima পুলিশ দেখে পালানোর চেষ্টা কালে সড়ক দুর্ঘটনায় কোমায় চলে যায় এবং তার কাছ থেকে Takeaki Aoyagi এর মানিব্যাগ ও ব্রিফকেস পাওয়ায় পুলিশ সহজ উপসংহারে উপনীত হয় যে Takeaki Aoyagi টোকিওতে পূজা দিতে এসে Fuyuki Yashima এর দ্বারা ছিনতাই এবং ছুরিকাঘাতের শিকার হন। কিন্তু ইন্সপেক্টর কাগা এই ডিডাকশন মানতে নারাজ এবং তিনি এই রহস্যের সঠিক কারণ খুঁজে বের করতে শপথ নেন।
ইন্সপেক্টর কাগার ধৈর্য ও পরিশ্রমী তদন্তে উঠে আসা নিম্নবিত্ত মানুষ জীবন ও ভাগ্যের সাথে অবিরাম সংগ্রাম; অপরাধ অভিযুক্ত ব্যক্তির পরিবারের উপর পারিবারিক ও সামাজিক চাপ এবং আধুনিক পরিবারের সদস্যদের মধ্যে সম্পর্কের জটিলতা নিয়ে কেইগো হিগাশিনো'র আরেকটি অসাধারণ সৃষ্টি A death in Tokyo।
Fuyuki কোন চাকরি খুজৈ না পেলেও Kaori চাকরি পায় একটি কফি শপে। একদিন Kaori কে Fuyuki ফোনে জানায় অদ্ভুত কিছু ঘটেছে এরপর ফোন কেটে দেয় এবং কিছু সময় পরে একজন পুলিশ পরিচয়ে তাকে ফোনে জানায��� এক্সিডেন্ট করে হাসপাতালে আছে Fuyuki।
টহল পুলিশ মাতাল মনে করলেও, টোকিওর নিহনবাসি ব্রিজের উপর একটি "কিরিন" এর মুর্তির নিচে ছুরিকাঘাতে মারা যান Takeaki Aoyagi। ইন্সপেক্টর কাইয়োইচিরো কাগা ও ডিটেকটিভ শুহেই মাতসোমিয়ার তদন্ত থেকে জানা যায় দুই সন্তানের জনক Takeaki Aoyagi নিয়মিত টোকিওতে আসতেন বিভিন্ন মন্দিরে ৭ ভাগ্য দেবতাদের উদ্দেশ্যে পূজা দিতেন অথচ আওয়াগি'র পরিবার তাকে নাস্তিক বলেই জানতো।
Fuyuki Yashima পুলিশ দেখে পালানোর চেষ্টা কালে সড়ক দুর্ঘটনায় কোমায় চলে যায় এবং তার কাছ থেকে Takeaki Aoyagi এর মানিব্যাগ ও ব্রিফকেস পাওয়ায় পুলিশ সহজ উপসংহারে উপনীত হয় যে Takeaki Aoyagi টোকিওতে পূজা দিতে এসে Fuyuki Yashima এর দ্বারা ছিনতাই এবং ছুরিকাঘাতের শিকার হন। কিন্তু ইন্সপেক্টর কাগা এই ডিডাকশন মানতে নারাজ এবং তিনি এই রহস্যের সঠিক কারণ খুঁজে বের করতে শপথ নেন।
ইন্সপেক্টর কাগার ধৈর্য ও পরিশ্রমী তদন্তে উঠে আসা নিম্নবিত্ত মানুষ জীবন ও ভাগ্যের সাথে অবিরাম সংগ্রাম; অপরাধ অভিযুক্ত ব্যক্তির পরিবারের উপর পারিবারিক ও সামাজিক চাপ এবং আধুনিক পরিবারের সদস্যদের মধ্যে সম্পর্কের জটিলতা নিয়ে কেইগো হিগাশিনো'র আরেকটি অসাধারণ সৃষ্টি A death in Tokyo।
December 19, 2022
Who writes things like this, Man?
I mean... just think about it. It's a murder mystery with lots of loose ends, trauma on all sides, and hints that very bad, very unfortunate things have happened, apart from that one murder. So it was OK for all of us to have our brains twisted around the plot and characters.
But a story that ties up all loose ends and brings tears to our eyes!
Who... how...?
Higashino, obviously! Who else could have even thought of such a story, and executed it with such elan?
Read up, Man! They don't produce things like this on wholesale basis. This is exclusive.
Highly recommended.
I mean... just think about it. It's a murder mystery with lots of loose ends, trauma on all sides, and hints that very bad, very unfortunate things have happened, apart from that one murder. So it was OK for all of us to have our brains twisted around the plot and characters.
But a story that ties up all loose ends and brings tears to our eyes!
Who... how...?
Higashino, obviously! Who else could have even thought of such a story, and executed it with such elan?
Read up, Man! They don't produce things like this on wholesale basis. This is exclusive.
Highly recommended.
November 9, 2023
I can't believe I didn't post this to my "currently reading" shelf! I guess I've been too busy to spend my time on GR.
This was a fun read. So far, I've enjoyed everything I've read of Higashino.
This story concerns a business man who is found murdered on a famous bridge in the heart of Tokyo. There is a very strong suspect for the murder but motives are fuzzy and revelations are many.
Totally captured my interest (I am usually much more scattered in my reading). I'm working my way through all of Higashino's mysteries. It's fun to have so much to look forward to.
This was a fun read. So far, I've enjoyed everything I've read of Higashino.
This story concerns a business man who is found murdered on a famous bridge in the heart of Tokyo. There is a very strong suspect for the murder but motives are fuzzy and revelations are many.
Totally captured my interest (I am usually much more scattered in my reading). I'm working my way through all of Higashino's mysteries. It's fun to have so much to look forward to.
December 10, 2022
“Blood dotted the sidewalk!”
A case of a seemingly cut and dried murder turns out to be way more than first thought. Kyoichiro Kaga—detective, Nihonbashi Precinct, and his cousin Shuhei Matsumiya—detective, Homicide Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Police are part of a task force to investigate the murder of Takeai Aoyagi, a CEO of a small parts business.
It seems an ex-contract employee might be involved. Nothing adds up for Kaga however. The murder takes place on Nihonbashi Bridge.
Kaga’s investigation leads the reader through a set of circumstances that come together to make final sense of what’s happened.
Along the way we learn of cultural practices like the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Shrines pilgrimage, the making of oragami paper cranes to be burnt offerings, health and safety coverups in factories.
A solid detective story one part a flash of intuition and three parts thorough investigative work.
I’m very excited to add Higashino to my growing list of Asian mystery authors I admire.
A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
A case of a seemingly cut and dried murder turns out to be way more than first thought. Kyoichiro Kaga—detective, Nihonbashi Precinct, and his cousin Shuhei Matsumiya—detective, Homicide Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Police are part of a task force to investigate the murder of Takeai Aoyagi, a CEO of a small parts business.
It seems an ex-contract employee might be involved. Nothing adds up for Kaga however. The murder takes place on Nihonbashi Bridge.
Kaga’s investigation leads the reader through a set of circumstances that come together to make final sense of what’s happened.
Along the way we learn of cultural practices like the Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Shrines pilgrimage, the making of oragami paper cranes to be burnt offerings, health and safety coverups in factories.
A solid detective story one part a flash of intuition and three parts thorough investigative work.
I’m very excited to add Higashino to my growing list of Asian mystery authors I admire.
A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
August 25, 2019
สนุกตามมาตรฐาน ส่วนตัวถ้าไม่นับภาพยนตร์ ถือเป็นเล่มแรกที่เราเห็นบรรยากาศความหนักอึ้งอบอวลอยู่ในงานชุดคางะ เคียวอิจิโร่
ฆาตกรรมเป็นเหมือนมะเร็งร้าย ความเศร้าก็คล้ายโรคติดต่อ ยิ่งสืบค้นก็ยิ่งเหมือนจมลงในบ่อน้ำไร้ก้น ที่น่าสนใจไม่ใช่ว่าเรื่องจบลงอย่างไร ใครทำ แต่คนข้างตัวพวกเขาเหล่านั้น จะใช้ชีวิตต่อไปจากนี้อย่างไรต่างหาก
สุดท้าย นอกจากอ่านสนุกแล้ว ซีรีย์คางะยังทำให้เกิดความคุ้นเคยกับย่านนิฮงบาชิมากขึ้นไปอีก เดินกันทั้งเรื่องขนาดนี้ คนอ่านอย่างนี่คงไม่ต้องพึ่งกูเกิ้ลแมพแล้วมั้ง
ปล. อยากอ่านเรื่องต่อของเจ้าลูกชายลูกสาวทางฝั่งบ้านผู้เคราะห์ร้ายที่กระแสตีกลับจัง เด็กที่กำลังจะเกิดอีก พวกเขาเหล่านั้นจะเติบโตไปเป็นผู้ใหญ่อย่างไรกันนะ
ฆาตกรรมเป็นเหมือนมะเร็งร้าย ความเศร้าก็คล้ายโรคติดต่อ ยิ่งสืบค้นก็ยิ่งเหมือนจมลงในบ่อน้ำไร้ก้น ที่น่าสนใจไม่ใช่ว่าเรื่องจบลงอย่างไร ใครทำ แต่คนข้างตัวพวกเขาเหล่านั้น จะใช้ชีวิตต่อไปจากนี้อย่างไรต่างหาก
สุดท้าย นอกจากอ่านสนุกแล้ว ซีรีย์คางะยังทำให้เกิดความคุ้นเคยกับย่านนิฮงบาชิมากขึ้นไปอีก เดินกันทั้งเรื่องขนาดนี้ คนอ่านอย่างนี่คงไม่ต้องพึ่งกูเกิ้ลแมพแล้วมั้ง
ปล. อยากอ่านเรื่องต่อของเจ้าลูกชายลูกสาวทางฝั่งบ้านผู้เคราะห์ร้ายที่กระแสตีกลับจัง เด็กที่กำลังจะเกิดอีก พวกเขาเหล่านั้นจะเติบโตไปเป็นผู้ใหญ่อย่างไรกันนะ
December 19, 2022
I loved Malice,Newcomer not so much,and this is the weakest. Flimsy and slow.
February 22, 2023
Deep Breaths because ... I WILL BE GUSHING ON HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS AND HOW KEIGO DID IT. AGAIN
Disclaimers: This is NOT a spoilery review and I advise to go into the book blind. Like just pick it up and blame me if its not good. But I can assure you, you won't regret reading this.
Third english instalment of the Detective Kaga series, and I loved this book most out of the three.
Malice was incredible. It set the tone and the differences from the Detective Gallileo series.
Then Newcomer came in bringing something TOTALLY different and unexpected. This one showed Kaga as a character and as a detective and how it will eventually benefit him in the next book, which is well, the current book now.
Death in Tokyo, is something else.
There is a nuance to how Keigo writes his stories;(and yes I might be biased) which makes the plot and how everything turned out to be .. well... very unexpected at the end. For me, the case for this book took another turn and I almost teared up. Everything came together to form a story that not only addresses the cases in hand, it also addresses a lot of social issues , especially on how Keigo highlighted
the importance of closure to the victim's families and anyone involved
.
Since I don't want to spoil anything about the book, I will write down some takeaways that Keigo highlighted that made this book one that I will remember for a very long time.
1) The Significance of Kaga as a Character
I liked that Keigo brought something new to the table with Kaga, and his character showed a significance that made him so endearing despite being the oddball that he is. Whilst Yukawa in the Gallileo series highlights the significance of looking through the perspectives of the murderer and the blurred lines of the crimes as well as using STEM as a form to bring another angle and perspective in solving a crime, Kaga highlights the significance of empathy and the importance of closure for the people affected by the victims' murder .
This fact can be missed a lot of times as , once a case is solved, there's nothing much that can be done; and I liked what Keigo did in this series in showing how we need someone like Kaga who is not only emphatic but very persistent in giving closure to the families and solving the case and finding REASONS behind the crime. Yes, its a pretty unconventional way to solve a crime as a detective; and he's doing a sort of profiler's job in a sense, but, I liked how each book showed the impacts of the families that had been affected by the crime. Often, getting closure is a way for families to grief their loved ones, and I liked that Keigo had highlighted that very much in the series; as the case seemed so simple in the surface, and YET, there are so many layers needed to unveil.
(also please Kaga was so endearing in here I want to give him a huge hug)
2) Social Issues
This book highlighted a lot of social issues that are we can often observe in the real world as well. Some of them like,
❌ Corruption in workplace
❌ Exploitation of temporary workers
❌ Exploitation of the dead
❌ Unethical journalism (wow this one really made me want to slap someone)
Keigo brought forward that humans are fickle beings that, at the end of the day, resort to only protect themselves when they're in harm, and it really showed in this book.
Honestly, I can write more about this book, but it will be very spoilery so I will leave my thoughts only up till here. Please, please read this book. It was straightforward, left me heartbroken, tugged my heartstrings and above all, made me realize that there is nothing more in life than to appreciate the ones that you love. This book really shone Kaga as a character and I highly highly recommend everyone to read this. Its that good.
4.75🌟 for this gem
Biggest thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy <3 I truly appreciate it.
"Do what you know to be right."
Disclaimers: This is NOT a spoilery review and I advise to go into the book blind. Like just pick it up and blame me if its not good. But I can assure you, you won't regret reading this.
Third english instalment of the Detective Kaga series, and I loved this book most out of the three.
Malice was incredible. It set the tone and the differences from the Detective Gallileo series.
Then Newcomer came in bringing something TOTALLY different and unexpected. This one showed Kaga as a character and as a detective and how it will eventually benefit him in the next book, which is well, the current book now.
Death in Tokyo, is something else.
There is a nuance to how Keigo writes his stories;(
Since I don't want to spoil anything about the book, I will write down some takeaways that Keigo highlighted that made this book one that I will remember for a very long time.
1) The Significance of Kaga as a Character
I liked that Keigo brought something new to the table with Kaga, and his character showed a significance that made him so endearing despite being the oddball that he is. Whilst Yukawa in the Gallileo series highlights the significance of looking through the perspectives of the murderer and the blurred lines of the crimes as well as using STEM as a form to bring another angle and perspective in solving a crime, Kaga highlights the significance of empathy and the importance of closure for the people affected by the victims' murder .
This fact can be missed a lot of times as , once a case is solved, there's nothing much that can be done; and I liked what Keigo did in this series in showing how we need someone like Kaga who is not only emphatic but very persistent in giving closure to the families and solving the case and finding REASONS behind the crime. Yes, its a pretty unconventional way to solve a crime as a detective; and he's doing a sort of profiler's job in a sense, but, I liked how each book showed the impacts of the families that had been affected by the crime. Often, getting closure is a way for families to grief their loved ones, and I liked that Keigo had highlighted that very much in the series; as the case seemed so simple in the surface, and YET, there are so many layers needed to unveil.
(also please Kaga was so endearing in here I want to give him a huge hug)
2) Social Issues
This book highlighted a lot of social issues that are we can often observe in the real world as well. Some of them like,
❌ Corruption in workplace
❌ Exploitation of temporary workers
❌ Exploitation of the dead
❌ Unethical journalism (wow this one really made me want to slap someone)
Keigo brought forward that humans are fickle beings that, at the end of the day, resort to only protect themselves when they're in harm, and it really showed in this book.
Honestly, I can write more about this book, but it will be very spoilery so I will leave my thoughts only up till here. Please, please read this book. It was straightforward, left me heartbroken, tugged my heartstrings and above all, made me realize that there is nothing more in life than to appreciate the ones that you love. This book really shone Kaga as a character and I highly highly recommend everyone to read this. Its that good.
4.75🌟 for this gem
Biggest thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy <3 I truly appreciate it.
January 20, 2023
My third outing with the Detective Kaga series set in Tokyo.
I just love the methodical and detailed plotting that accompanies these crime mysteries. Keigo Higashino is a great writer within this genre but their accessibility must also be down to the talented translation of Giles Murray.
Kaga is a local cop who is meticulous in his questioning and thorough in his desire to understand motive within any murder enquiry.
The beauty of Japan, it’s culture and customs. It’s place and people lift from these pages and Kaga’s desire to feel and breathe the crime scene and it’s environs brings the location to the fore, stimulating the senses, so full of life and colour.
A businessman is seemingly the victim of a mugging that goes deadly wrong. But this wasn’t his neighbourhood. What was he doing there? And why did he get to his feet and stagger like a drunken man to the middle of Nihonbashi bridge?
Are these factors significant to anyone other than Detective Kaga especially when an unemployed man close to the scene is disturbed by the police and gets run over avoiding arrest? Perhaps even less so, when where he was hiding the victim’s briefcase was found and when the suspect had taken the dead man’s wallet.
All makes for an intelligent and progressive investigation which brings insight into police procedures in Japan and a glimpse into another country’s culture.
Furthermore through the story I understood more the capital city’s expansion from perhaps when it was award the 1964 Olympic Games, how neighbourhoods try to hold on to their past despite incursions by expressways and high rise, while amid the development and progress older Tokyo clings on in religious shrines and tradition shops.
The crime story is tragic but full of human endeavour. Good and bad are seen and lessons learnt without recourse to sleight of hand, criminal psychology and graphic horror. Just the telling of mystery wrapped up in a well told story. This is why I love whodunits. Not cos they are clever and the authors are spendthrift with the clues. Simply when they bare the human soul and psyche and when you can identify with the characters.
I just love the methodical and detailed plotting that accompanies these crime mysteries. Keigo Higashino is a great writer within this genre but their accessibility must also be down to the talented translation of Giles Murray.
Kaga is a local cop who is meticulous in his questioning and thorough in his desire to understand motive within any murder enquiry.
The beauty of Japan, it’s culture and customs. It’s place and people lift from these pages and Kaga’s desire to feel and breathe the crime scene and it’s environs brings the location to the fore, stimulating the senses, so full of life and colour.
A businessman is seemingly the victim of a mugging that goes deadly wrong. But this wasn’t his neighbourhood. What was he doing there? And why did he get to his feet and stagger like a drunken man to the middle of Nihonbashi bridge?
Are these factors significant to anyone other than Detective Kaga especially when an unemployed man close to the scene is disturbed by the police and gets run over avoiding arrest? Perhaps even less so, when where he was hiding the victim’s briefcase was found and when the suspect had taken the dead man’s wallet.
All makes for an intelligent and progressive investigation which brings insight into police procedures in Japan and a glimpse into another country’s culture.
Furthermore through the story I understood more the capital city’s expansion from perhaps when it was award the 1964 Olympic Games, how neighbourhoods try to hold on to their past despite incursions by expressways and high rise, while amid the development and progress older Tokyo clings on in religious shrines and tradition shops.
The crime story is tragic but full of human endeavour. Good and bad are seen and lessons learnt without recourse to sleight of hand, criminal psychology and graphic horror. Just the telling of mystery wrapped up in a well told story. This is why I love whodunits. Not cos they are clever and the authors are spendthrift with the clues. Simply when they bare the human soul and psyche and when you can identify with the characters.
January 4, 2023
Meeting Detective Kyoichiro Kaga again in this new translated instalment following his thrilling investigation journey to unravel the truth behind a murder case that was happened on Nihonbashi Bridge after a man was found stabbed and bleeding to death under a winged kirin statue. It was quite a decent and straightforward murder plot to me yet it turns complicated when the prime suspect who was seen hiding nearby died (after days in coma) when he was hit by a truck while trying to flee from the crime scene.
It was so intense and totally a page-turner to me, love the teamwork between Detective Kaga and his cousin, Detective Matsumiya (he’s a charm, I love his character so much!)— they went pursuing the investigation even with not much hints and I like how both their chief and leader being quite supportive with Kaga’s personal hunch about the case. Bit of red herring but so rivetingly executed that it leads to another gripping incident from years ago and Kaga did so well in disentangling the secrets and linking both cases with a solid motive from the killer.
The subplots were intriguing much as it highlighted on social inequality and power harassment also the family and friendship parts were quite emotionally driven to me; love to see Kaga’s interactions with both the victim’s son and the suspect’s girlfriend. I appreciate the morality aspect it tries to explore and it ends well too with a good and heartwarming lesson.
Might be easy to guess on the plotline or less twisty compared to Newcomer or Malice yet still in love with Higashino’s way in developing Kaga’s dynamic and characterization; I get anxious few times following his POV when he goes beyond the case trails but fancy the thrills nevertheless; still loving his style of suddenly popped up, asked few questions and vanished in a puff of smoke. 4.7 stars to this!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me a copy to review :)
ps: I wonder why they did not follow the literal translation from the Japanese title; love it more, honestly
It was so intense and totally a page-turner to me, love the teamwork between Detective Kaga and his cousin, Detective Matsumiya (he’s a charm, I love his character so much!)— they went pursuing the investigation even with not much hints and I like how both their chief and leader being quite supportive with Kaga’s personal hunch about the case. Bit of red herring but so rivetingly executed that it leads to another gripping incident from years ago and Kaga did so well in disentangling the secrets and linking both cases with a solid motive from the killer.
The subplots were intriguing much as it highlighted on social inequality and power harassment also the family and friendship parts were quite emotionally driven to me; love to see Kaga’s interactions with both the victim’s son and the suspect’s girlfriend. I appreciate the morality aspect it tries to explore and it ends well too with a good and heartwarming lesson.
Might be easy to guess on the plotline or less twisty compared to Newcomer or Malice yet still in love with Higashino’s way in developing Kaga’s dynamic and characterization; I get anxious few times following his POV when he goes beyond the case trails but fancy the thrills nevertheless; still loving his style of suddenly popped up, asked few questions and vanished in a puff of smoke. 4.7 stars to this!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me a copy to review :)
ps: I wonder why they did not follow the literal translation from the Japanese title; love it more, honestly
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