Well, this was a ride.
Malice was one of the most interesting and compelling mysteries I’ve ever read. I love it when authors play with the format of a genre, and that seems to be something Higashino does well.
I really can’t say too much about this one without completely spoiling it, but this book’s plot covers the murder and murder investigation of the famous Japanese novelist, Kunihiko Hidaka. The book is told in alternating POVs from Hidaka’s childhood friend, Osamu—who is writing a chronicle of the murder and investigation, as he was one of the two people to discover the body—and Detective Kaga’s notes, who is investigating the murder.
Something interesting to note going in is that unlike most murder mysteries, you find out whodunnit within the first quarter of the book, but the tension of the story comes from trying to figure out the WHY of the crime, which is extremely twisty and clever.
I am definitely reading all of this author’s books that have been translated into English, and I wish they would translate more of them. It makes complete sense to me that Keigo Higashino is a bestseller in Japan. This book was enormous (dark) fun to read.
Chipping Away at Mt. TBR, July 2022—Book 11/31
CBR BINGO: Minds
I picked this one for the Minds square because the entire book is a mindfuck.
