I finished this book earlier this month and just sharing my thoughts. The title probably sounds a bit harsh because overall I enjoyed the book. It had reasonable characters, an interesting enough plot, provided a window into 1960s Japan, but I felt it failed to excel at any of it in a spectacular way.
The plot was complex and intricate, maybe too much so as Inspectors Matsumoto ends up piecing together the history of the victim and preparator. I found it difficult to stay connected at times and just sort of let it unfold. It was interesting but not as gripping as some crime novels I have read.
The setting was nice, it covered everywhere from noodle shops in Tokyo to the isolated countryside but if anything I would have liked it to go in more detail. It gave me a window into these places but didn't quite actually make me feel like I am there, which was a shame because it's a time I don't know much about and would love to have dived In more. I feel that at the time it was written and the audience they probably didn't need as much to feel themselves in the places but for a westerner in 2026 I would have loved a bit more.
The characters were mostly interesting if simple. A classic hardworking detective. Some modern intellectual types. They played the roles well but failed to do much more than that.
My only two real issues were:
A) The dialogue, maybe a bit of the prose, but as I'm reading a translation I always try to be a bit lenient. The characters conversation sometimes felt flat or basic but, again, as a translation it's fine.
B) The woman characters, while maybe fitting for 1960s Japan, all were pretty subservient and focused on men. I don't feel any of them had much depth. I definitely feel they could have been made more nuanced.
Overall it was a fun read but not spectacular. I wanted to know if anyone has read it and has thoughts OR if the description of "all good but nothing great" matches any other books you have read?
by Gemini_zyx