Scan barcode
sophieguillas's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't realize how old this book was until the end so some of the misogyny caught me off guard. Other than that I thought it was really fun! The murder was intricate and explained really well. I feel like I have a sense of older murder mysteries from reading Agatha Christie but it was really fun seeing how this book works with the same tropes in the totally different setting of Japan.
elvatikan's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
dil's review against another edition
3.0
A fun retrospective meta- and intertextual locked-room mystery set in a Japanese village in the late 1930s. I found the motivation far-fetched, but that might be just because of cultural differences. And I learned a lot about the koto, a musical instrument I was only vaguely familiar with.
jessa_yes's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.25
aashi123435's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kathryn2's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
storykotori's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
One of the better honkaku (Japanese murder mysteries) books I've read. Cleanly laid out and comfortably translated. Would be a great introduction to the genre for anyone new, and a definite read for those familiar.
zoepmt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
moniounik's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5