A review by simplymegy
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan is the Philippines’ first mystery crime novel. 

The narrative follows two Jesuit priests, Father Gus Saenz and Father Jerome Lucero. One is a forensic anthropologist and one is a psychologist. Together, they assist the NBI in tracking down a serial killer- one who brutally murders small and undernourished boys from the urban poor of Payatas, Manila.

I loved Batacan’s writing style and how she makes this novel distinctly Filipino. The merienda after a long day’s work and the involvement of barangays and politicians are just some of the elements in her story that made me homesick. 

The work is fictional but the realities portrayed here are not. The plight of the poor are so bleak and depressing, and I’m glad Batacan took the time to tell the story of these people through the murder victims’ families. This part from the book was really thought provoking:

 “What makes you think the Philippines is so blessed by God that we would be exempt from this kind of evil? It isn’t. It simply hasn’t developed the necessary frameworks, the physical infrastructure and human skill sets, required to recognize and track down such killers.”

Unfortunately, the story starts to falter towards the end. There wasn’t a big Aha! moment when the killer was finally revealed. There were too many characters that didn’t get a proper resolution. And the ending somehow became too unrealistic that I felt like I was watching a bad filipino soap opera.

Despite these flaws, this is has been a worthwhile read.