The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
a1exander's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Rape, Murder, Car accident, Death, Terminal illness, and Animal death
Minor: Suicide and Infidelity
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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
3.75
I really like all the Kiego Higashino books Iâve read, especially The Devotion of Suspect X. The ending was shocking; I felt like Iâd been punched. Higashino is a master of the plot twist. However, I feel Suspect X is the pinnacle of his work and nothing Iâve read since has been quite as powerful. Of course when the bar is set so high, itâs difficult to surpass whatâs already the best.Â
Malice is the first of a different series. It focuses more on plot than character. The man arrested for murder is such an unreliable narrator that itâs hard to see what heâs truly like. We learn more about Detective Kaga, and his guilt and remorse at failing a student who was being bullied back in his teacher days, but we donât know anything else about him. We know nothing about his private life, his friends and family, his likes and dislikes - his character isnât developed at all.Â
The plot, which is explained early on, changes repeatedly. The readers arenât sure whatâs true, and I found it confusing to have to keep rearranging my idea of what had happened. In the end I felt it was more of an overly complicated annoyance than a plot twist. That said, Iâm about to start reading the second in the series to see what happens next.Â
Overall the book was complex and convoluted and, as such, was quite a feat. But I didnât find it completely satisfying.Â
Malice is the first of a different series. It focuses more on plot than character. The man arrested for murder is such an unreliable narrator that itâs hard to see what heâs truly like. We learn more about Detective Kaga, and his guilt and remorse at failing a student who was being bullied back in his teacher days, but we donât know anything else about him. We know nothing about his private life, his friends and family, his likes and dislikes - his character isnât developed at all.Â
The plot, which is explained early on, changes repeatedly. The readers arenât sure whatâs true, and I found it confusing to have to keep rearranging my idea of what had happened. In the end I felt it was more of an overly complicated annoyance than a plot twist. That said, Iâm about to start reading the second in the series to see what happens next.Â
Overall the book was complex and convoluted and, as such, was quite a feat. But I didnât find it completely satisfying.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Cancer, Murder, Rape, and Gaslighting
mtnest's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Suicide, Animal death, Bullying, and Murder
fraise's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Animal death, and Cancer
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Car accident, and Death
ajediprincess's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Holy smokes, what a book! I love murder mysteries. This is my first time reading a Japanese murder mystery and I must say, I think I'm hooked. Malice by Keigo Higashino was unlike anything I've ever read. The entire story had me guessing and questioning the truth from start to finish. I was amazed at the journey on which this story took me. I don't want to spoil anything, but the book was masterfully crafted, so brilliant in every single detail. I will definitely be adding this one to my personal library.
This is the story of how an author is murdered. The killer is caught and arrested fairly early on into the story, which immediately threw me for a loop. But while the "who dunnit" is quickly solved, it's the motive that remains unclear. The truth of everything is something I'm still reeling from. On a more personal note, I loved the way the author wove in details pertaining to writing as a craft. I was amazed, while reading this book, how precisely accurate the descriptions and depictions of writers who love their craft were, and how much I agreed and could relate to the passion described with regard to telling stories and crafting a narrative. There was something almost transcendent about the way Higashino shared some of the most intimate aspects of writing and storytelling within the context of this story which was obviously so lovingly crafted.
I will remember this book for many years to come, and heartily recommend it with the likes of Sayers and Christie. This book was an intricately crafted, complex and oddly satisfying puzzle, filled with twists and surprises along the way. I can't wait to check out Higashino's other work. This book set my hopes high.Â
This is the story of how an author is murdered. The killer is caught and arrested fairly early on into the story, which immediately threw me for a loop. But while the "who dunnit" is quickly solved, it's the motive that remains unclear. The truth of everything is something I'm still reeling from. On a more personal note, I loved the way the author wove in details pertaining to writing as a craft. I was amazed, while reading this book, how precisely accurate the descriptions and depictions of writers who love their craft were, and how much I agreed and could relate to the passion described with regard to telling stories and crafting a narrative. There was something almost transcendent about the way Higashino shared some of the most intimate aspects of writing and storytelling within the context of this story which was obviously so lovingly crafted.
I will remember this book for many years to come, and heartily recommend it with the likes of Sayers and Christie. This book was an intricately crafted, complex and oddly satisfying puzzle, filled with twists and surprises along the way. I can't wait to check out Higashino's other work. This book set my hopes high.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Rape, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
serendipity421's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Violence and Toxic friendship
Minor: Car accident
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: Death, Suicide, Sexual assault, Cancer, Terminal illness, Murder, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol and Animal death
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
This book is pure genius. Youâve heard of a whodunnit, and a howdunnit (Higashinoâs âDevotion of Suspect Xâ) this is a whydunnit. The murderer is glaringly obvious and actually revealed within the first 100 pages, but the story is so much more. Itâs a fabulously written book of misdirection, with major themes of bullying. Not everything is as clean cut as it may seem.Â
There are lots of twists, but there is one bit- more misdirection than a twist- that totally got me. I gasped out loud and immediately ran to tell someone the genius of this book. Itâs such an incredible thing, but I absolutely was fooled, and that made this read all the more interesting.Â
Iâve read a lot of crime, and eventually they all start to get boring. You guess the structure, you guess who did it based on stereotypes and build ups and where they are placed in a story. This kept me guessing throughout the whole story. Every time I thought I had something, it was disproved. Keigo Higashino is one of the best crime writers ever. Not even just in Japan, but I believe internationally. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into his other novels. (I loved Suspect X)
Spoilers below!
 The final twist is pure and utter genius. Having the cat, such a small detail only mentioned once, be such a huge defining factor of âHidakaâsâ personality is genius beyond belief. It truly worked on me. I was fooled because every reaction to any interaction, good or bad, from Hidaka hinged on the fact that he had killed this cat. Bad guys kill cats, but Hidaka is described as both a good and bad guy depending. How can a good guy kill an animal? Do these people know he does? I never even once suspected that he doesnât, or wouldnât. Higashino planted that seed of anger and disgust in me and it grew until it blocked my vision. Iâm so amazed at how well it worked, even when I forgot about the cat, I was always thinking of it. Nonoguchi is a great villain, if not a pathetic one. But I suppose the great thing about crime novels is that theyâre sad, no one wins. Definitely not in this one anyway. Not even Kaga. Â
There are lots of twists, but there is one bit- more misdirection than a twist- that totally got me. I gasped out loud and immediately ran to tell someone the genius of this book. Itâs such an incredible thing, but I absolutely was fooled, and that made this read all the more interesting.Â
Iâve read a lot of crime, and eventually they all start to get boring. You guess the structure, you guess who did it based on stereotypes and build ups and where they are placed in a story. This kept me guessing throughout the whole story. Every time I thought I had something, it was disproved. Keigo Higashino is one of the best crime writers ever. Not even just in Japan, but I believe internationally. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into his other novels. (I loved Suspect X)
Spoilers below!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Animal death, Cancer, Death, and Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
kaelcozoro's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Wow! This was so good. I couldnât put it down. Not quite as clever as Newcomer, but perhaps more engaging. Would recommend to any mystery fan.Â
Love Detective Kaga, I hope more of the series are translated into English!Â
Love Detective Kaga, I hope more of the series are translated into English!Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Animal death
bethsiekierawalker's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault, and Bullying