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Manner of Death (Comic) #1
Manner of Death, Vol. 1
When skilled coroner Dr. Bunnakit is called upon to examine the body of a woman who allegedly hanged herself, he soon finds that all evidence points to foul play. That night, a mysterious stranger breaks into his home and demands that he rule the death a suicide―and after he confides in his prosecutor friend about the incident, that friend suddenly goes missing. Dr. Bunnakit pins all his suspicions on a man named Tan, but not only does Tan have a rock-solid alibi, he also volunteers to help uncover the real murderer…
274 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2023
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492 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 8, 2023
I loved the TV show a lot (even though I can't remember the finer details), but I feel like the manga missed some things. Bun and Tan's relationship came out almost from nowhere, and there were so many things crammed into this first volume (but also there was not much on Tan here).
May 16, 2023
3.5 stars
I'm still a bit unsure of my overall feelings regarding this one. I had originally thought this would be a darker romance, and was slightly disappointed when the reveals happened in how little toxicity there was, lol. But for what it truly intends to be, it mostly works. It's more mystery/thriller (a mystery that is quickly solved) than romance, but still relies on the reader being invested in that romance to sustain the thrills. I found the romance, while fast, generally believable. I especially love Tan's devotion, as we see his motivations as the story moves along. Bun is a bit harder to connect with; hiding his true self has left him cold and unable to trust, which is why at the end, I'm still a little uncertain of the extent to which he returns Tan's love. Nevertheless, I wish them a happy ending, and will definitely be back for more.
I'm still a bit unsure of my overall feelings regarding this one. I had originally thought this would be a darker romance, and was slightly disappointed when the reveals happened in how little toxicity there was, lol. But for what it truly intends to be, it mostly works. It's more mystery/thriller (a mystery that is quickly solved) than romance, but still relies on the reader being invested in that romance to sustain the thrills. I found the romance, while fast, generally believable. I especially love Tan's devotion, as we see his motivations as the story moves along. Bun is a bit harder to connect with; hiding his true self has left him cold and unable to trust, which is why at the end, I'm still a little uncertain of the extent to which he returns Tan's love. Nevertheless, I wish them a happy ending, and will definitely be back for more.
July 12, 2023
So many plot twists! DUN DUN!,
June 18, 2023
rep - gay thai main characters
tw - murder, mention of suicides, foul play, gun assault, assault, death, dead bodies, mention of rape
the drawing style is very pleasing and neat. the story is interesting. though, the flow of the story feels unnatural and very fast-paced.
i have to say, i prefer the drama, where the story was much more developed. (need to give a try to the novel as well to compare everything).
the manga is still nice to read, i will definitely wait for the 2nd book.
tw - murder, mention of suicides, foul play, gun assault, assault, death, dead bodies, mention of rape
the drawing style is very pleasing and neat. the story is interesting. though, the flow of the story feels unnatural and very fast-paced.
i have to say, i prefer the drama, where the story was much more developed. (need to give a try to the novel as well to compare everything).
the manga is still nice to read, i will definitely wait for the 2nd book.
May 28, 2023
An entertaining blend of mystery, soap opera and romance. Not sure I’ll read any more in the series, but this opener kept me turning the pages.
February 18, 2024
gimme more NEOWWW
April 22, 2025
A little rushed near the end, but I loved this most of the way through. Our main character, Bun, is a fiercely independent, deeply closeted, and unfortunately perceptive coroner - with a couple important pieces to his backstory.
One: Two years previously, he'd rashly ruled an incident as a suicide. He hasn't let go of the guilt over that decision; it'd led to another death, and threats from a son who'd lost both his parents as a result. That helps to explain some of why Bun is so much more cautious about double-checking his work now - and ensuring the same thing doesn't happen again.
Two: He's gay. And he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Not even his best friend, a playboy named Pued who frankly seems to have very little in common with Bun, but who seems (more or less?) devoted to him nonetheless.
When Bun rules a staged suicide as a murder, his carefully arranged life begins to fall to pieces. He's threatened by a note, then by a masked man who slams his head against the floor then calls an ambulance to check on him. His friends start disappearing: Pued, and a female coworker he'd been debating using as his next beard. Then a new man enters his life: the boyfriend of the girl who'd been murdered, who is uncomfortably attractive, Bun's prime suspect, and much more than he seems.
I loved a lot of the relationship development here, and how we gradually got to know more about Tan as some of Bun's reservations began to melt away. The mystery itself gets a little tangled at times - for instance, I'm not sure I understand the point of the injured boy and his clues, or why a coroner would be doing that type of medical examination on a very much alive person? But for the most part, the plot unfolds at a good pace, with Bun's stubborn resilience and Tan's gentle heart providing a beautiful counterbalance.
There's a lot I want from the second volume (is that the end of the series? it's always hard to tell). I'd like to know, for one, how much of Tan's stories are true. His mother was more or less the truth, and Bun pulled the curtain aside to get to the heart of that matter. What was really going on with Jane - was the way he described their relationship accurate? His love for Bun is undeniable, but I understand Bun's hesitation. You can't fully trust someone who's lied that heavily to you, unless you've worked out all the details of those lies and ensured you've uncovered all the truth. I hope more of that is coming.
There's definitely going to be a lot more family drama, and I am completely at a loss as to how Bun's older brother is going to impact the plot...but the second volume is coming out soon, so I'll find out then. I hope it stays as intriguing and emotional as this one; if so, it'll line up with some of my favorites. I really enjoy the setting and the mystery/crime-based plotline, with a realistic love story mixed in.
One: Two years previously, he'd rashly ruled an incident as a suicide. He hasn't let go of the guilt over that decision; it'd led to another death, and threats from a son who'd lost both his parents as a result. That helps to explain some of why Bun is so much more cautious about double-checking his work now - and ensuring the same thing doesn't happen again.
Two: He's gay. And he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Not even his best friend, a playboy named Pued who frankly seems to have very little in common with Bun, but who seems (more or less?) devoted to him nonetheless.
When Bun rules a staged suicide as a murder, his carefully arranged life begins to fall to pieces. He's threatened by a note, then by a masked man who slams his head against the floor then calls an ambulance to check on him. His friends start disappearing: Pued, and a female coworker he'd been debating using as his next beard. Then a new man enters his life: the boyfriend of the girl who'd been murdered, who is uncomfortably attractive, Bun's prime suspect, and much more than he seems.
I loved a lot of the relationship development here, and how we gradually got to know more about Tan as some of Bun's reservations began to melt away. The mystery itself gets a little tangled at times - for instance, I'm not sure I understand the point of the injured boy and his clues, or why a coroner would be doing that type of medical examination on a very much alive person? But for the most part, the plot unfolds at a good pace, with Bun's stubborn resilience and Tan's gentle heart providing a beautiful counterbalance.
There's a lot I want from the second volume (is that the end of the series? it's always hard to tell). I'd like to know, for one, how much of Tan's stories are true. His mother was more or less the truth, and Bun pulled the curtain aside to get to the heart of that matter. What was really going on with Jane - was the way he described their relationship accurate? His love for Bun is undeniable, but I understand Bun's hesitation. You can't fully trust someone who's lied that heavily to you, unless you've worked out all the details of those lies and ensured you've uncovered all the truth. I hope more of that is coming.
There's definitely going to be a lot more family drama, and I am completely at a loss as to how Bun's older brother is going to impact the plot...but the second volume is coming out soon, so I'll find out then. I hope it stays as intriguing and emotional as this one; if so, it'll line up with some of my favorites. I really enjoy the setting and the mystery/crime-based plotline, with a realistic love story mixed in.
August 23, 2023
They sure did say the L word right real quick....mystery was good if not predictable. Interested in seeing where it goes. Might just watch the drama, though, because apparently there's one!?
November 26, 2023
[rating = B-]
September 18, 2024
⭐️ 3.5/5! fun!
April 5, 2023
Manner of Death is a manga adaptation by Yukari Umemoto of an original story and Thai TV series by Sammon. It’s set in a small town in Thailand, where Dr Bun works as a forensic examiner. An apparent suicide of a woman turns out to be a murder, but before he can rule it as one, he’s attacked in his home and ordered to make sure it’s considered a suicide.
Dr Bun won’t let the matter be and people he cares about start disappearing, so he begins his own investigation. His best suspect is Tan, the victim’s boyfriend, who claims he’s innocent and has an alibi. The two team up to investigate, even though Bun doesn’t trust Tan. Despite that, the two end up in bed together. Dr Bun is very much in the closet, which adds to tension between the men.
This was an interesting murder mystery involving mafia. Bun doesn’t know who to trust, and every time he does, he’s betrayed. The reader is taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride with him, with plenty of twists and turns. Things soon get out of his hands, but the volume ends before matters are solved. The story was long as it was, so I didn’t believe it could be stretched to another volume, but I was wrong. At least we know who the killer is, just not how to get Dr Bun out safely.
Dr Bun was an interesting but reserved character, mostly due to having to guard his secret of being gay. Tan was more open and a bit flaky, despite being the dominant in their odd relationship. Even though the two ended up in bed together a bit fast, the relationship with the secrecy and anger felt real. I hope there’s a happy ending for the two, but this was more a murder mystery than a romance, so it can go either way.
The art was black and white and beautiful. Since it’s done by a Japanese artist, it looks and feels Japanese, and only the character names point at Thailand. It makes the story feel more familiar, but I wouldn’t have minded more authentic imagery.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Dr Bun won’t let the matter be and people he cares about start disappearing, so he begins his own investigation. His best suspect is Tan, the victim’s boyfriend, who claims he’s innocent and has an alibi. The two team up to investigate, even though Bun doesn’t trust Tan. Despite that, the two end up in bed together. Dr Bun is very much in the closet, which adds to tension between the men.
This was an interesting murder mystery involving mafia. Bun doesn’t know who to trust, and every time he does, he’s betrayed. The reader is taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride with him, with plenty of twists and turns. Things soon get out of his hands, but the volume ends before matters are solved. The story was long as it was, so I didn’t believe it could be stretched to another volume, but I was wrong. At least we know who the killer is, just not how to get Dr Bun out safely.
Dr Bun was an interesting but reserved character, mostly due to having to guard his secret of being gay. Tan was more open and a bit flaky, despite being the dominant in their odd relationship. Even though the two ended up in bed together a bit fast, the relationship with the secrecy and anger felt real. I hope there’s a happy ending for the two, but this was more a murder mystery than a romance, so it can go either way.
The art was black and white and beautiful. Since it’s done by a Japanese artist, it looks and feels Japanese, and only the character names point at Thailand. It makes the story feel more familiar, but I wouldn’t have minded more authentic imagery.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2025
3,5* this was fun. Exactly the trop i enjoy so much :D
August 8, 2023
I wanted to like this manga, I really did. I’m a sucker for two people teaming up to solve a mystery and expose corruption while falling in love. There was way too much happening in this first volume for me to enjoy it though. The pacing should have been slowed down a bit so every major plot beat was given a decent amount of time. As it is, the entire plot as a whole feels rushed. Situations would escalate out of nowhere giving the story a very stilted feeling.
Knowing that this is based off of a novel might explain the weird pacing. Maybe the artist felt the need to follow everything in the novel to a T and that didn’t translate well to manga format. Or maybe the novels are also paced terribly so the manga is too. Who can say for sure? Definitely not me since I never read the novels. Just throwing possibilities out there.
There were other issues I had with this story beyond the pacing though. I didn’t like the main character for one. He made so many stupid decisions. Now I know everyone can’t be perfect and characters need to make mistakes to keep things interesting, but Bun was just too much. I don’t know how many times I threw my head back in frustration as I was reading this because of the choices he was making. And this guy is a coroner! He shouldn’t be this dumb!
I also didn’t like the romance between him and Tan, the guy he suspects of being a killer. I wanted to like Tan. He’s a very puppy-dog-like character who is obviously head over heels for Bun, but the issue is that he’s also very manipulative. The actions he commits at the end of the manga do not sit well with me. Add to that the fact that the romance had very little build up equals to me not enjoying it. How am I supposed to believe that Bun and Tan are in love when they’ve only known each other for a short amount of time, of which most of that time Bun does not trust Tan. Make it make sense.
The art also wasn’t to my liking. It wasn’t terrible, but I noticed many panels where the body proportions seemed off. I wasn’t a fan of the character designs. Bun’s in particular really bothered me because with all the X’s along his scalp to indicate his undercut it looked like he was wearing a hair net.
One last complaint is that the dialogue was bad. The conversations between the characters seemed awkward or over dramatic half the time. There were some conversations that had me full on cringing with how unnatural it seemed. It was like the characters had never interacted with anyone before and were still learning how to naturally converse with people.
I’m not sure what more I could say. This isn’t the worst manga I’ve read—which is why it’s getting two stars instead of one—but I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. While this manga seems to have all the makings of being right up my alley it missed the mark by quite a bit. I’m unsure if I’ll continue reading this. It’ll all depend on how many volumes it is.
Knowing that this is based off of a novel might explain the weird pacing. Maybe the artist felt the need to follow everything in the novel to a T and that didn’t translate well to manga format. Or maybe the novels are also paced terribly so the manga is too. Who can say for sure? Definitely not me since I never read the novels. Just throwing possibilities out there.
There were other issues I had with this story beyond the pacing though. I didn’t like the main character for one. He made so many stupid decisions. Now I know everyone can’t be perfect and characters need to make mistakes to keep things interesting, but Bun was just too much. I don’t know how many times I threw my head back in frustration as I was reading this because of the choices he was making. And this guy is a coroner! He shouldn’t be this dumb!
I also didn’t like the romance between him and Tan, the guy he suspects of being a killer. I wanted to like Tan. He’s a very puppy-dog-like character who is obviously head over heels for Bun, but the issue is that he’s also very manipulative. The actions he commits at the end of the manga do not sit well with me. Add to that the fact that the romance had very little build up equals to me not enjoying it. How am I supposed to believe that Bun and Tan are in love when they’ve only known each other for a short amount of time, of which most of that time Bun does not trust Tan. Make it make sense.
The art also wasn’t to my liking. It wasn’t terrible, but I noticed many panels where the body proportions seemed off. I wasn’t a fan of the character designs. Bun’s in particular really bothered me because with all the X’s along his scalp to indicate his undercut it looked like he was wearing a hair net.
One last complaint is that the dialogue was bad. The conversations between the characters seemed awkward or over dramatic half the time. There were some conversations that had me full on cringing with how unnatural it seemed. It was like the characters had never interacted with anyone before and were still learning how to naturally converse with people.
I’m not sure what more I could say. This isn’t the worst manga I’ve read—which is why it’s getting two stars instead of one—but I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. While this manga seems to have all the makings of being right up my alley it missed the mark by quite a bit. I’m unsure if I’ll continue reading this. It’ll all depend on how many volumes it is.
June 23, 2023
This review is mainly going to be me comparing the manga from the Thai drama, so if that's not what you're looking for, keep scrolling! For anyone who has heard about this series but isn't familiar with what came first, I'll begin with a quick rundown. Sammon first wrote a novel in 2017 called Manner of Death, which has since been turned into a drama that came out in 2020. And now we are getting a manga of the same story!
I've only seen the drama at this point and didn't have any knowledge of the novel it was based on. So upon reading this manga, I'm now curious to know if this adaptation is more true to the novel because there are quite a few distinct differences from how things play out in the drama, and I think it's not really for the better.
Firstly, I want to bring up our main characters Dr. Bun and Tan.
I may just be biased because I have an attachment to the actor who played Tan (Tul Pakorn) but he seemed far more relatable and fleshed out in the drama. Manga Bun was kind of a jerk for no real reason other than he was born that way or some lame excuse. It made him a very difficult character to relate to. Drama Bun still had that stubborn-streak that got him into trouble, but he had a lot of compassion for the people around him and he really trusted the people that were close to him (like Tan) and that drove him to keep trying to solve the murder cases he was encountering. I think whoever did the screenwriting for the drama had a better understanding of Tan as a person, rather than as a character. Manga-Bun just didn't trust anyone and did things recklessly with little regard to other people's feelings and that bothered me.
Tan, ugh. I didn't like Manga Tan either. He was far too forward and creepy at the beginning with Bun to make me feel like this could EVER be a good relationship. The lies he told felt unnecessary whereas I feel like Drama Tan was better at handling the balance between truth and lies and came off very genuine to Tan - which built better trust between them early-on for them to be able to work together. I didn't like that both of them lied about their sexuality for a good portion of the story, and in Tan's case it really made him look bad because he was pretending that the murder victim was his girlfriend which made him look like the highest suspect. My dude, if you had just told Dr. Bun that you were gay BEFORE you started flirting with him when he suspected you for murder, maybe we'd be having more fun with this story.
I think what it really comes down to is the manga is more focused on creating tension around the pairing of Bun and Tan and whether or not they can trust one another versus the drama that was more focused on Bun and Tan working together to solve corrupt police officers who were trafficking women in their community. And I kind of wish that the manga worried more about the plot just a little more.
I'll keep reading this manga just because I'm curious to see how they end it. I also want to give at least two of my stars to the artwork because it is very nicely done, those lines be so crisp and Tan and Bun are both handsome dudes. So good for them. *one big asexual thumbs up*
I think to cleanse myself I'll just rewatch the drama where I know I'll have a good time with Max and Tul playing my favorite gay crime-solving duo.
I've only seen the drama at this point and didn't have any knowledge of the novel it was based on. So upon reading this manga, I'm now curious to know if this adaptation is more true to the novel because there are quite a few distinct differences from how things play out in the drama, and I think it's not really for the better.
Firstly, I want to bring up our main characters Dr. Bun and Tan.
I may just be biased because I have an attachment to the actor who played Tan (Tul Pakorn) but he seemed far more relatable and fleshed out in the drama. Manga Bun was kind of a jerk for no real reason other than he was born that way or some lame excuse. It made him a very difficult character to relate to. Drama Bun still had that stubborn-streak that got him into trouble, but he had a lot of compassion for the people around him and he really trusted the people that were close to him (like Tan) and that drove him to keep trying to solve the murder cases he was encountering. I think whoever did the screenwriting for the drama had a better understanding of Tan as a person, rather than as a character. Manga-Bun just didn't trust anyone and did things recklessly with little regard to other people's feelings and that bothered me.
Tan, ugh. I didn't like Manga Tan either. He was far too forward and creepy at the beginning with Bun to make me feel like this could EVER be a good relationship. The lies he told felt unnecessary whereas I feel like Drama Tan was better at handling the balance between truth and lies and came off very genuine to Tan - which built better trust between them early-on for them to be able to work together. I didn't like that both of them lied about their sexuality for a good portion of the story, and in Tan's case it really made him look bad because he was pretending that the murder victim was his girlfriend which made him look like the highest suspect. My dude, if you had just told Dr. Bun that you were gay BEFORE you started flirting with him when he suspected you for murder, maybe we'd be having more fun with this story.
I think what it really comes down to is the manga is more focused on creating tension around the pairing of Bun and Tan and whether or not they can trust one another versus the drama that was more focused on Bun and Tan working together to solve corrupt police officers who were trafficking women in their community. And I kind of wish that the manga worried more about the plot just a little more.
I'll keep reading this manga just because I'm curious to see how they end it. I also want to give at least two of my stars to the artwork because it is very nicely done, those lines be so crisp and Tan and Bun are both handsome dudes. So good for them. *one big asexual thumbs up*
I think to cleanse myself I'll just rewatch the drama where I know I'll have a good time with Max and Tul playing my favorite gay crime-solving duo.
July 10, 2023
Reading the author's note at the end and learning that this manga is an adaption of a novel makes a lot of things make so much sense. Because this does read like a novel adaption -- just not a good one.
My biggest complaint with this manga is that the story is unbelievably jumpy. It jumps from scene to scene without any real flow or logic; often there isn't even a visual or spoken transition to alert the reader that we are moving to a new scene (the jump cut between page 177-178 [estimation] literally gave me whiplash; you can't even tell how much time has passed, because it looks, visually, like no time should have passed). Jumping from major scene to major scene doesn't allow the suspense, that I assume the original story had, to build properly either. We aren't given time to process the information we're given before something new happens, and none of the mysteries really sit long enough to be mysteries. There is a very complex web of relationships and truth going on here, but we don't get to enjoy it at the fast pace we are shoved through it.
I also was not fond of Bun - he is set up as a character who is very rational, logical, and intelligent, yet a good majority of his actions seem to be driven by emotion and impulse, not planning and logic. Yes, other characters talk about how smart he is, but that can't carry a character's characterization too far when he doesn't act accordingly. That isn't to say that he isn't smart, he is just not the character that he is set up to be.
I wish Bun and Tan's relationship was also... explained more, though when I come across this in manga, I am always willing to give the writer the benefit of the doubt -- maybe for allosexual people, their relationship makes sense. However, to an asexual, there is not nearly enough connection or reason for them to be interested in each other. Why does Tan love Bun? I have no idea. He just does. Which is something I think can be done well in stories, and something I do like in stories because often, while the character says they are just in love with no reason, there is a connection or a reason that is made clear to the reader. That is not the case here, outside of both Tan and Bun mentioning that they felt something that drew them to each other, which isn't enough for me. This could also be a problem with the pacing of the story, however, as we were just not given the time to get to know them and see their relationship develop.
Overall, this manga had a ton of potential. The story line is really, really interesting, especially with the complex web of characters. However, it is executed poorly -- to the point where I can't even be interested in the story because the pacing won't let me.
My biggest complaint with this manga is that the story is unbelievably jumpy. It jumps from scene to scene without any real flow or logic; often there isn't even a visual or spoken transition to alert the reader that we are moving to a new scene (the jump cut between page 177-178 [estimation] literally gave me whiplash; you can't even tell how much time has passed, because it looks, visually, like no time should have passed). Jumping from major scene to major scene doesn't allow the suspense, that I assume the original story had, to build properly either. We aren't given time to process the information we're given before something new happens, and none of the mysteries really sit long enough to be mysteries. There is a very complex web of relationships and truth going on here, but we don't get to enjoy it at the fast pace we are shoved through it.
I also was not fond of Bun - he is set up as a character who is very rational, logical, and intelligent, yet a good majority of his actions seem to be driven by emotion and impulse, not planning and logic. Yes, other characters talk about how smart he is, but that can't carry a character's characterization too far when he doesn't act accordingly. That isn't to say that he isn't smart, he is just not the character that he is set up to be.
I wish Bun and Tan's relationship was also... explained more, though when I come across this in manga, I am always willing to give the writer the benefit of the doubt -- maybe for allosexual people, their relationship makes sense. However, to an asexual, there is not nearly enough connection or reason for them to be interested in each other. Why does Tan love Bun? I have no idea. He just does. Which is something I think can be done well in stories, and something I do like in stories because often, while the character says they are just in love with no reason, there is a connection or a reason that is made clear to the reader. That is not the case here, outside of both Tan and Bun mentioning that they felt something that drew them to each other, which isn't enough for me. This could also be a problem with the pacing of the story, however, as we were just not given the time to get to know them and see their relationship develop.
Overall, this manga had a ton of potential. The story line is really, really interesting, especially with the complex web of characters. However, it is executed poorly -- to the point where I can't even be interested in the story because the pacing won't let me.
November 10, 2023
So much is packed into this one manga.
The main characters Tan and Bun are really so fun. Bun follows the tropes of stoic, serious, quiet, and intelligent, while Tan follows more silly, protective, and determined. Their relationship developed quiet quickly and I think this is probably the one major flaw of the story. The pacing is very fast, especially when it comes to Tan and Bun's romance. That being said, I feel like so many yaoi/BL is fast paced. Obviously, there are some exceptions to that, but there's so many BLs out there with unreasonable fast pacing that it probably shouldn't matter at this point lol.
The mystery is really fun to follow, but I would say I don't think it's possible to follow the mystery and solve it for yourself. There's a lot of twists in this story, which are fun, but they definitely come out of nowhere. I suppose that's the point of a twist isn't it? XD
All the same, the twists are fun and turn this mystery/thriller into a full on soap opera lol! I know this is a TV show and, while I haven't watched the show, I actually expect this story would translate and BETTER as a drama. I'll definitely be moving forward with the manga and heading off to find somewhere to watch this drama <3
Oh and for my smut-loving friends out there in the ether, there isn't much here. Sorry. They mostly lead up then fade to black. Sorry for the bad news. Maybe we'll get more in the second manga!
The main characters Tan and Bun are really so fun. Bun follows the tropes of stoic, serious, quiet, and intelligent, while Tan follows more silly, protective, and determined. Their relationship developed quiet quickly and I think this is probably the one major flaw of the story. The pacing is very fast, especially when it comes to Tan and Bun's romance. That being said, I feel like so many yaoi/BL is fast paced. Obviously, there are some exceptions to that, but there's so many BLs out there with unreasonable fast pacing that it probably shouldn't matter at this point lol.
The mystery is really fun to follow, but I would say I don't think it's possible to follow the mystery and solve it for yourself. There's a lot of twists in this story, which are fun, but they definitely come out of nowhere. I suppose that's the point of a twist isn't it? XD
All the same, the twists are fun and turn this mystery/thriller into a full on soap opera lol! I know this is a TV show and, while I haven't watched the show, I actually expect this story would translate and BETTER as a drama. I'll definitely be moving forward with the manga and heading off to find somewhere to watch this drama <3
Oh and for my smut-loving friends out there in the ether, there isn't much here. Sorry. They mostly lead up then fade to black. Sorry for the bad news. Maybe we'll get more in the second manga!
August 10, 2023
I have listened to the novel and watched the drama, both I loved. When I heard there was going to be manga for it, I could not wait to read it.
I forgot how in the closet, Dr. Bun is. Where his girlfriend broke up with him, not long before thstory starts. She heard he was gay and ended the relationship.
For the most part, the events happen the same. I remembered that Pued had something to do with Jane's murder, and that Tan was the person that was sent by Pued to scare Bun into ruling it a sucide.
What I did not expect was for him, to tell Tan to rape Bun if it was necessary. Like WTF! That is your friend. But then get mad when Tan is ordered to kill Bun by their brother Por. So rape is okay but murder is going to far?
I do wish there was more on the man named Dam. How there were gangs around the prefecture that answered to him. Dam was really mysterious cause no one knew who he was. Feels like Tan admitted he was Dam pretty quickly. Like go to the club that Dam owns like they did in the movie and show. I remember seeing the gun in the drawer was a clue to Bun on who Tan was.
We do get a history and backstory on Tan and his relationship with his father and brothers.
I am looking forward to the next volume. I heart this manga series is on going. I think with the way the pace is going, it could probably be done by volume 3.
I forgot how in the closet, Dr. Bun is. Where his girlfriend broke up with him, not long before thstory starts. She heard he was gay and ended the relationship.
For the most part, the events happen the same. I remembered that Pued had something to do with Jane's murder, and that Tan was the person that was sent by Pued to scare Bun into ruling it a sucide.
What I did not expect was for him, to tell Tan to rape Bun if it was necessary. Like WTF! That is your friend. But then get mad when Tan is ordered to kill Bun by their brother Por. So rape is okay but murder is going to far?
I do wish there was more on the man named Dam. How there were gangs around the prefecture that answered to him. Dam was really mysterious cause no one knew who he was. Feels like Tan admitted he was Dam pretty quickly. Like go to the club that Dam owns like they did in the movie and show. I remember seeing the gun in the drawer was a clue to Bun on who Tan was.
We do get a history and backstory on Tan and his relationship with his father and brothers.
I am looking forward to the next volume. I heart this manga series is on going. I think with the way the pace is going, it could probably be done by volume 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
Manner of Death is a bit different from most of the manga I have read as it isn’t set in Japan, but instead in Thailand. This is actually a manga adaption by Yukari Umemoto of an original story and Thai TV series by Sammon.
Here is the description from Amazon: When skilled coroner Dr. Bunnakit is called upon to examine the body of a woman who allegedly hanged herself, he soon finds that all evidence points to foul play. That night, a mysterious stranger breaks into his home and demands that he rule the death a suicide—and after he confides in his prosecutor friend about the incident, that friend suddenly goes missing. Dr. Bunnakit pins all his suspicions on a man named Tan, but not only does Tan have a rock-solid alibi, he also volunteers to help uncover the real murderer…
The situation is complicated further by Bun’s attraction to Tan and the fact that Bun has been trying to deny his sexuality—even to himself. Be aware this one is just a tiny bit spicy. Manner of Death also has a little bit of a soap opera mystery feel to it with a lot of drama going on. The mystery has plenty of twists and turns, and like Bun, you don’t know whom to trust or what is actually going on—leaving us on the edge of our seats with a cliffhanger that has me eagerly awaiting Vol 2, which comes out in September of 2023.
Here is the description from Amazon: When skilled coroner Dr. Bunnakit is called upon to examine the body of a woman who allegedly hanged herself, he soon finds that all evidence points to foul play. That night, a mysterious stranger breaks into his home and demands that he rule the death a suicide—and after he confides in his prosecutor friend about the incident, that friend suddenly goes missing. Dr. Bunnakit pins all his suspicions on a man named Tan, but not only does Tan have a rock-solid alibi, he also volunteers to help uncover the real murderer…
The situation is complicated further by Bun’s attraction to Tan and the fact that Bun has been trying to deny his sexuality—even to himself. Be aware this one is just a tiny bit spicy. Manner of Death also has a little bit of a soap opera mystery feel to it with a lot of drama going on. The mystery has plenty of twists and turns, and like Bun, you don’t know whom to trust or what is actually going on—leaving us on the edge of our seats with a cliffhanger that has me eagerly awaiting Vol 2, which comes out in September of 2023.
Read
December 12, 2023I'm pretty sure this is an adaptation of something, but I'm not sure what. I wasn't aware of that when I started reading. Perhaps I'll spend some time looking into how this story originated, because I don't think it was with this manga series.
I started Manner of Death with very little knowledge on the series. All I knew was it's a murder mystery with a cool cover. And when I read the first chapter, I was not disappointed. It starts with likable characters, and introduces a puzzling case that is almost as cool as the book's cover.
Unfortunately, none of the other chapters meet the level of excitement found in the first. There are intense moments, but they're often too fast-paced, and the characters don't always behave realistically. Perhaps the story is better in its original language, but in English it's a bit awkward. On top of all that, I was correctly able to predict a mystery that isn't revealed until the end, although perhaps I just had a fluke.
Despite all this, I will continue to read the series. I like the main characters as well as the art, and even if I have complaints, I am enjoying the plot. I'm not sure how many more volumes there are, but I only saw one other on Goodreads. It's either unfinished or a short series.
I started Manner of Death with very little knowledge on the series. All I knew was it's a murder mystery with a cool cover. And when I read the first chapter, I was not disappointed. It starts with likable characters, and introduces a puzzling case that is almost as cool as the book's cover.
Unfortunately, none of the other chapters meet the level of excitement found in the first. There are intense moments, but they're often too fast-paced, and the characters don't always behave realistically. Perhaps the story is better in its original language, but in English it's a bit awkward. On top of all that, I was correctly able to predict a mystery that isn't revealed until the end, although perhaps I just had a fluke.
Despite all this, I will continue to read the series. I like the main characters as well as the art, and even if I have complaints, I am enjoying the plot. I'm not sure how many more volumes there are, but I only saw one other on Goodreads. It's either unfinished or a short series.
February 13, 2025
Follow Bum and Tan as they try to uncover a murder case where the spiderweb gets complicated with threats, lies, and deceit!
Gosh, the plot twists! Those revelations! I was so invested in the story, not to mention the romance and the tension between Bun and Tan. The pacing was done pretty well since it was divided into two hefty volumes.
The story wasn’t too predictable (for me, at least), the narrative doesn’t get overshadowed by the romance, and you get closure with everything. Great balance, overall. I wasn’t expecting to find such a lovely romance here. Tan, you sweetie!
If you enjoy shows like Castle and other related police TV shows… this is a story that might catch your attention. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think that this would’ve also been great as a TV show, and according to the back of the manga… it exists!
Who is this manga for
This two-shot is perfect for fans of a dark romance that’s perfectly balanced with a side of action and plot twists. And sweet romance, of course. It also has a live-action adaptation, so you could watch it and read the manga, as well!
Check out the full review on the blog
https://yeolliestorytime.com/manner-o...
Gosh, the plot twists! Those revelations! I was so invested in the story, not to mention the romance and the tension between Bun and Tan. The pacing was done pretty well since it was divided into two hefty volumes.
The story wasn’t too predictable (for me, at least), the narrative doesn’t get overshadowed by the romance, and you get closure with everything. Great balance, overall. I wasn’t expecting to find such a lovely romance here. Tan, you sweetie!
If you enjoy shows like Castle and other related police TV shows… this is a story that might catch your attention. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think that this would’ve also been great as a TV show, and according to the back of the manga… it exists!
Who is this manga for
This two-shot is perfect for fans of a dark romance that’s perfectly balanced with a side of action and plot twists. And sweet romance, of course. It also has a live-action adaptation, so you could watch it and read the manga, as well!
Check out the full review on the blog
https://yeolliestorytime.com/manner-o...
December 20, 2023
This one was hard to rate, honestly. Plot wise, this is a mystery/thriller over a romance. There was a little bit of a twist once some of the secrets were revealed, but it wasn't one that was difficult to predict. I mostly enjoyed the more personal relationships, which unfortunately did not include the main characters.
I love a good mafia romance but this...didn't really have any romance? Tan falls in love with Bun instantly and Bun just kinda...goes along with it without displaying any actual feelings towards Tan other than obvious distrust. I was really hoping for more but the romance was pretty bland and based on very little. What there was on-page was very mild.
There were also brief instances of more cutesy art and lighter couple-y moments between the characters but I didn't think they earned those and the otherwise dark plot didn't really make room for them so they were sort of random.
I love a good mafia romance but this...didn't really have any romance? Tan falls in love with Bun instantly and Bun just kinda...goes along with it without displaying any actual feelings towards Tan other than obvious distrust. I was really hoping for more but the romance was pretty bland and based on very little. What there was on-page was very mild.
There were also brief instances of more cutesy art and lighter couple-y moments between the characters but I didn't think they earned those and the otherwise dark plot didn't really make room for them so they were sort of random.
August 6, 2024
My library only has volume one of this and I think I’m okay with that.
This reads like a recap rather than an adaption. I haven’t even read the original or watched the drama but I had heard of them and figured there was no harm in checking this out.
Unfortunately, it has reduced my interest in the other versions of this story. It’s too rushed, the cast too small to have any real mystery, and the relationship dynamic is interesting on paper but utterly dull in execution. This is a story that relies on a lot of handwaving which is inherently at odds with a story about solving a crime and being in suspense. There’s no tension.
Maybe if it was grittier it would make up for it but it ultimately feels like this is just feels like a tame recap, like a youtuber summing up the plot of the latest horror film but they use words like “unalive” and “seggs” to get past conjured up censors. It’s just uninteresting.
This reads like a recap rather than an adaption. I haven’t even read the original or watched the drama but I had heard of them and figured there was no harm in checking this out.
Unfortunately, it has reduced my interest in the other versions of this story. It’s too rushed, the cast too small to have any real mystery, and the relationship dynamic is interesting on paper but utterly dull in execution. This is a story that relies on a lot of handwaving which is inherently at odds with a story about solving a crime and being in suspense. There’s no tension.
Maybe if it was grittier it would make up for it but it ultimately feels like this is just feels like a tame recap, like a youtuber summing up the plot of the latest horror film but they use words like “unalive” and “seggs” to get past conjured up censors. It’s just uninteresting.
April 29, 2024
More of a 3.5 than a 3, but rounded down instead of up. I should know better than to hope for non-toxic relationships, but I do actually enjoy reading them all the same even as I cringe the whole time. I am happy that there wasn't a weird age gap or power dynamic like one of them being a student or something. It is kinda nice that the toxicity is just that Well, that and that one of them is pretty much in the closet and cold to the other.
I will say what this comic gets away with showing on the page without getting stamped with an explicit content warning was a bit surprising to me. I wasn't upset or offended (I knew going in what I was going to be reading), just surprised by the difference between what gets labeled explicit versus what doesn't.
I will say what this comic gets away with showing on the page without getting stamped with an explicit content warning was a bit surprising to me. I wasn't upset or offended (I knew going in what I was going to be reading), just surprised by the difference between what gets labeled explicit versus what doesn't.
June 11, 2023
I confess: the cover got my attention. The cover is kind of a lie though. 乁༼☯ ͜͜ ☯✿༽ㄏ But the story is still good and I enjoyed reading it, and the art is beautiful (except for a few weird shadows on Tan now and then). Tan looks like a serious, pensive type on the cover, but he's really very sweet and even cutesy, which is adorable. So...I was expecting a dark romance with a twist of murder, but got a sweet romance with a twist of murder. My overall issue is more with wondering how much investigating a doctor would actually do, and the threat itself seemingly there as a plot device to get these two together. It's very soap opera-ish, which isn't usually what I like, but I'm in for this one.
September 16, 2025
2.5
I'm torn... A part of me wants to give this 3 actual stars because about the first half or maybe even 2/3s this was decent and interesting but then it just takes that predictable stupid obvious route I hoped I wasn't right about. Well honestly speaking I called the bad guy from page 1 and the most likely plot idea... I'm sad because this could have been decent... I can see there are novels and shows apparently, never seen them/read them and I am not going to. So yeah I can see I'm probably missing context for some things. But yeah I went in blind hoping for something and then got something else. And the MC should have been smarter... Red flags a lot of places... I understand this is probably some sort of darker bl but still.... MC should have had more brains.....
I'm torn... A part of me wants to give this 3 actual stars because about the first half or maybe even 2/3s this was decent and interesting but then it just takes that predictable stupid obvious route I hoped I wasn't right about. Well honestly speaking I called the bad guy from page 1 and the most likely plot idea... I'm sad because this could have been decent... I can see there are novels and shows apparently, never seen them/read them and I am not going to. So yeah I can see I'm probably missing context for some things. But yeah I went in blind hoping for something and then got something else. And the MC should have been smarter... Red flags a lot of places... I understand this is probably some sort of darker bl but still.... MC should have had more brains.....
Read
June 29, 2023Yen Press is venturing into Thai novel manga adaptations, and I do enjoy some coroner romance, so I figured I should check this out. As far as gore and body horror goes, Manner of Death does not deliver at all. The main character's role as a coroner serves mostly as a plot introduction, and soon begins to feel irrelevant -- the series turns out to be a mob tale instead of medical drama. A bit disappointing in that respect, and the story setup feels rushed, with the art doing very little to make the tropes feel interesting. But tense family relationships revealed at the very end lead to enough of the messy drama I like to consider picking up the next volume.
-Patron E.M.
-Patron E.M.
September 16, 2023
Yo me vi la serie antes de leerme el libro entonces iba con la idea de la serie y, tengo que decir, que me ha gustado más la serie que el libro.
El libro está muy bien y hay algunas escenas que desearían que estuvieran en la serie (además de que cuenta también lo que pasa después de que se sepa la verdad) y también está el capítulo extra de Sorrawit que en la serie como que te lo entremezclan.
Hay en algunas partes en las que me costaba seguir la historia porque había vocabulario técnico que yo no sabía y entonces me rayaba y tenía que ir a Google y buscar que era.
En general está muy bien, aunque me ha gustado más el segundo porque tiene más escenas de romance
El libro está muy bien y hay algunas escenas que desearían que estuvieran en la serie (además de que cuenta también lo que pasa después de que se sepa la verdad) y también está el capítulo extra de Sorrawit que en la serie como que te lo entremezclan.
Hay en algunas partes en las que me costaba seguir la historia porque había vocabulario técnico que yo no sabía y entonces me rayaba y tenía que ir a Google y buscar que era.
En general está muy bien, aunque me ha gustado más el segundo porque tiene más escenas de romance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2024
Now, I’ll admit, this setup isn’t anything new. The coroner that gets a bit too close to the truth and now must discover it before they become the next victim is a tried and true troupe - especially if you’ve even stumbled across dramatic television or a mystery book. So when I first picked up this manga I was tempted to pass it off, but I decided to give it a chance. Luckily the story and the characters quickly grabbed me and held on until the story started to reveal some of its more interesting twists and turns...
Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...
Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...
January 4, 2024
What in the insta-love is happening here? Hannibal fangirls listen to me, this is not for you. Yes, we have a main character who solves crime by looking at a dead body and another suspicious guy who says he only wants to help, BUT that is where the similarities end! The leaps in logic needed to wrap my head around Bun's decisions (and everything that happened as a result) were wild. I had to flip back pages multiple times just to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped ahead! Enjoy miscommunications, unnecessary plot twists, and flashbacks that are the only conceivable way you can know what is going on. Some spice present, but it can be easily skipped over without missing anything mystery plot wise.
July 4, 2025
WOW! This book was INCREDIBLE! I could NOT put it down-the plot twists, the surprise characters, the surprise BLACKMAIL?! It was amazing, like reading one of my favorite horror movies! Slightly upset at the lack of spice-however the story was so thrilling I didn’t notice too much-the sequel came wrapped so I’m hoping that means the spice is extra spicy this time around. But AH-loved this book, loved the story, loved EVERYTHING-this author is DEFINITELY on the favorites list-and I’m thrilled to start the sequel. Hopefully more comes in the future! Thanks to this author for creating such a great and I mean GREAT book!
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