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crystalisreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcohol
peach0's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual assault
amfuglest's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
arkwen452's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Readers might start this book with expectations in mind, I know I did. Just be prepared for those expectations and theories to be challenged, altered and challenged again.
Malice handles narrative manipulation and deception fairly well overall. The core of the book deals with character development, motivations, creation and interpretation. This may not be that interesting to readers who are not writers, but (as a writer as well) I enjoyed it.
The lead detective wonders through the present, the past and present while investigating the case and for an American used to the detectives who hardly do the bare minimum, I found it impressive.
And at first, I wondered why the topic of sexual assault was being thrown around rather carelessly even if it did happen in the past and there was a current murder investigation underway.
As the book progresses, readers will begin to realize the turn of direction the author has laid down and I imagine being to question their own interpretation of the narrative.
I was going to give this book a lower rating than 4 stars because I was anticipating not liking the direction of the book. But I am glad I didn't give up on the story at the 75% mark. First hand accounts are always askew and bias whether intentional or not.
And the motive behind ever action in this book proves to be more compelling than any might think.
Malice handles narrative manipulation and deception fairly well overall. The core of the book deals with character development, motivations, creation and interpretation. This may not be that interesting to readers who are not writers, but (as a writer as well) I enjoyed it.
The lead detective wonders through the present, the past and present while investigating the case and for an American used to the detectives who hardly do the bare minimum, I found it impressive.
And at first, I wondered why the topic of sexual assault was being thrown around rather carelessly even if it did happen in the past and there was a current murder investigation underway.
As the book progresses, readers will begin to realize the turn of direction the author has laid down and I imagine being to question their own interpretation of the narrative.
I was going to give this book a lower rating than 4 stars because I was anticipating not liking the direction of the book. But I am glad I didn't give up on the story at the 75% mark. First hand accounts are always askew and bias whether intentional or not.
And the motive behind ever action in this book proves to be more compelling than any might think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Animal death and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
hsieh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After every chapter, I thought I'd know what to expect. And every chapter absolutely upended my expectations. Its ending left me feeling uneasy but satisfied.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
rarasreads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
When attempting to write this review, I had to remind myself of the different elements that make up Japanese detective fiction vs Western crime fiction. It is through this lens I found this story to be relatively engaging and unique in that it focuses on the motive for the murder rather than on the killer (whose identity is immediately known) or the method.
In listening to the audiobook, I appreciated the distinct styles with which Detective Kaga and Osamu are portrayed and narrate their POVs. The Detective is clever and thorough with his investigation, although I did find it a bit convenient that he relied on his hunches that always ended up being correct. However, I still enjoyed the process by which Kaga conducted his interviews and procedures to connect the dots between the past and present. Osamu was all the over place, crafting stories to throw the Detective and readers off.
I liked how the Detective pieced the motive together at the end with a bit of a twist. Nevertheless, the ending still left me wanting a bit more clarity. I certainly want to try more Japanese crime fiction but I don’t think I will be continuing this particular series.
In listening to the audiobook, I appreciated the distinct styles with which Detective Kaga and Osamu are portrayed and narrate their POVs. The Detective is clever and thorough with his investigation, although I did find it a bit convenient that he relied on his hunches that always ended up being correct. However, I still enjoyed the process by which Kaga conducted his interviews and procedures to connect the dots between the past and present. Osamu was all the over place, crafting stories to throw the Detective and readers off.
I liked how the Detective pieced the motive together at the end with a bit of a twist. Nevertheless, the ending still left me wanting a bit more clarity. I certainly want to try more Japanese crime fiction but I don’t think I will be continuing this particular series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Osamu Nonoguchi visits his friend, bestselling novelist Kunihiko Hidaka, the day before Hidaka is due to emigrate to Canada with his new wife. Later that evening, Nonoguchi receives a telephone call from Hidaka asking him to return to his home as he needs to see him again urgently. When Nonoguchi reaches the house, all the lights are off & Hidaka doesn't answer the door. Nonoguchi raises the alarm & Police Detective Kyochiro Kaga is given the case. The police find Hidaka dead on the floor of his office, with both the door to the office & the front door to the house locked from the inside. Both Nonoguchi & Hidaka's wife have alibis for the time of death. Who killed the author & why?
The reader is kept at arms length from the investigation & the characters really as the murder & circumstances are told from written confessions, notes, or interview transcriptions. It is a writing style that takes a little getting used to. The story starts off slowly but as the twists & turns of the case started to reveal themselves, I found myself needing to know what happened next. There's no gore & most of the trigger warnings below are not dealt with in a graphic way. I think I would read the next one in the series just to see how the character of Kaga develops.
The reader is kept at arms length from the investigation & the characters really as the murder & circumstances are told from written confessions, notes, or interview transcriptions. It is a writing style that takes a little getting used to. The story starts off slowly but as the twists & turns of the case started to reveal themselves, I found myself needing to know what happened next. There's no gore & most of the trigger warnings below are not dealt with in a graphic way. I think I would read the next one in the series just to see how the character of Kaga develops.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Murder
bookishdiya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Sexual assault
corar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
emiliaphrodite's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved this book! It's my first experience within the genre, and it did not disappoint. I can't wait to read more from this author. There was a bit of irony because the detective interacted with writers, and that made me laugh.
Some Interesting Quotes:
"Parents these days don't read books themselves, but they feel they should make their children read.Since they aren't readers, however, they have no idea what to give their children. That's why they cling to the recommendations from the Ministry of Education. Those books are all insufferably boring, and as a result, the kids learn to hate books. It's a vicious cycle, with no end in sight."
"Everyone has secrets. And everyone has the right to keep them. Even if they're dead." In context, this quote feels misplaced, to put it simply.
"What was most frightening was not the violence itself, but the negative energy emitted by those other boys who hated him. He had never imagined that such malice existed in the world."
"Friendship is a child's greatest ally...And a friend who lets his friend get bullied isn't a friend at all."
This book was so good it made me realize that criminal defense is not a career I could manage.
Some Interesting Quotes:
"Parents these days don't read books themselves, but they feel they should make their children read.Since they aren't readers, however, they have no idea what to give their children. That's why they cling to the recommendations from the Ministry of Education. Those books are all insufferably boring, and as a result, the kids learn to hate books. It's a vicious cycle, with no end in sight."
"Everyone has secrets. And everyone has the right to keep them. Even if they're dead." In context, this quote feels misplaced, to put it simply.
"What was most frightening was not the violence itself, but the negative energy emitted by those other boys who hated him. He had never imagined that such malice existed in the world."
"Friendship is a child's greatest ally...And a friend who lets his friend get bullied isn't a friend at all."
This book was so good it made me realize that criminal defense is not a career I could manage.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault