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infi85's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
liinukka's review
3.0
It was okay. I liked the setting but the atmosphere, characterizations, motivations, and the mystery itself felt somewhat unauthentic.
For a mystery, it lacked much intrigue.
For a mystery, it lacked much intrigue.
elliansu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
trin's review
2.0
A mystery I read because it’s set in Japan. There are some mildly interesting insights into Japanese culture, but as a mystery it’s pretty run of the mill and boring. The murderer is easily identifiable both by being the only character with a blatantly obvious false alibi, and through the “who’s the only character without any other role in the narrative?” method. All right, it’s true that the latter would be impossible for Rei, the progagonist, to use as a crime-solving tool, but I think the former might have given her a clue. Instead she “solves” the mystery when the murder tries to kill her. Brilliant deduction, Holmes!
Despite its faults as a truly mysterious mystery, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if Rei had been a more likeable and relatable character. But she seems to have such a negative outlook on everything that it’s not much fun to slump through 400-plus pages at her side. And her love interest was actively unpleasant. So much for reading more in this series; I will have to get my Japan fix elsewhere.
Despite its faults as a truly mysterious mystery, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if Rei had been a more likeable and relatable character. But she seems to have such a negative outlook on everything that it’s not much fun to slump through 400-plus pages at her side. And her love interest was actively unpleasant. So much for reading more in this series; I will have to get my Japan fix elsewhere.
cecile87's review
3.0
Light stuff. Yes, stereotyping. A bit discomforting as I know what it is like to be judged by the body I’m in in our American race caste system.
Women have a hard way to go in so many cultures, including the Japanese culture. Salarymen have a hard way to go in terms of having to conform—even when it damages their health.
Anyway, my book club read this book to escape US woes, which are very many in 2020: the government, the pandemic, race/caste woes, and where I live, climate change fires.
It took us away from these woes for a bit. So I give it three stars for that. Some parts didn’t make sense, some characters I had to refer to the front to remember who they were. A fair amount of implausibility, but this is a book where one shouldn’t think too hard. I figured out the culprit early on—that person stuck out like a sore thumb. Sometimes funny—certainly escapist fare.
Women have a hard way to go in so many cultures, including the Japanese culture. Salarymen have a hard way to go in terms of having to conform—even when it damages their health.
Anyway, my book club read this book to escape US woes, which are very many in 2020: the government, the pandemic, race/caste woes, and where I live, climate change fires.
It took us away from these woes for a bit. So I give it three stars for that. Some parts didn’t make sense, some characters I had to refer to the front to remember who they were. A fair amount of implausibility, but this is a book where one shouldn’t think too hard. I figured out the culprit early on—that person stuck out like a sore thumb. Sometimes funny—certainly escapist fare.
mindyourbalance's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
sjruskin's review
5.0
This is a really intersting book. I read it for a Mystery Book Club and thought that I wouldn't like it at all, but the part about living in Japan is educational. The mystery is a little complicated, but the people are real and dimensional. I would definitely recommend this title even if you don't like mysteries.