Specs
Reviews
(4.12/5)A very different vibe than 赤川's later works
A classic whodunnit mystery, with several smaller mysteries within it. The broad stoke plot is about serial killings at an all girls university.
Content warnings which contains minor spoilers: murder, suicide, sex work
It had some traits of 赤川 stories that I love (tons of messy relationships, lots of shocking deaths) but also wasn't at all what I was expecting. The character development felt simultaneously over and under done. It did not commit to the character traits it laid out in the descriptions, which were then hollowed by the actions of said characters.
Honestly the best part about this book for me was reading it alongside an impromptu book club - I'm not sure I would have been nearly so engaged if not for that. Overall a decent story, complete shockers for some of the unraveled mysteries, and a start to a series if you find you really enjoy it.
From a language learner's perspective this book was harder than the other books by the same author I've read. He used a few expressions repeatedly that I don't recall seeing much before and I suspect a bit of this was a new writer trying to nail down his style. He used a wider range of vocabulary as well. If you're considering this author because you've heard he's an easy read I'd start with one of his lower difficulty rated books on here.
A college student at an all-girls university in the Tokyo suburbs has been murdered. Detective Katayama is sent to investigate, and finds more than he expected. He’s not a cool or hardboiled type, and feels unsuited for the job. Fortunately, he’s given some clues… from a charming little cat. The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of twists and humor. There were a couple of places where I felt like it dragged a little, but overall I found myself pulled along wanting to know what would happen next.
I was surprised by 赤川’s moderation in kanji usage. A Japanese review said they thought middle school students could read this, and if kanji is the deciding factor, then yes, they probably could. This book sticks closely to the most common kanji, and is surprisingly generous with furigana for anything above middle-school range.
For us language students, the challenge here is the range of vocabulary. There are plenty of unique words and I kept using the dictionary until the very end. IMO it would be a good idea to read this after you already have a solid grounding in the most common words used in fiction.