[Some kindaichi books]I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed a good mystery read until I tried this series. Each book is a stand-alone “fair play” case in which the reader can match wits with the detectives. The series is reminiscent of a grown-up Encyclopedia Brown with an older cast, more serious crimes, greater emotional motivation, and spooky overtones.
Hajime Kindaichi is an under-achieving troublemaker with a gift for deduction and a grandfather who’s a famous detective. His best friend, Miyuki Nanase, is the only one who defends him, even when people directly ask her “why are you wasting time with that loser?”
A model student, Miyuki is also involved with the school drama club, a connection that creates the setting for the first book’s mystery, The Opera House Murders. The club members are going to a camp to prepare for a national drama competition, and Kindaichi tags along to help with sound effects. Some nice character bits on the way there introduce all the participants and their temperaments. The group’s on edge because of an earlier death, the mysterious suicide of one of the student actresses.
The club is staging The Phantom of the Opera, and the camp location, a resort hotel on an isolated island, doesn’t help settle their emotions. One of the other guests turns out to be a police detective, a helpful coincidence when someone starts murdering the drama club members. Of course, a growing storm prevents outside contact or help.
The book’s chapter breaks start with recaps of the story so far and the characters involved. Even if the reader doesn’t get caught up in trying to figure out who’s behind the killings, the characterization propels them through the story. There’s a good range of student types, and the slow revelation of the circumstances behind the original death is gripping, illustrating the horrible consequences of unthinking teenage pranks.
As the story progresses, the chapters get shorter, building the reader’s anticipation. The book includes the traditional map of the location (for those playing along) and the scene where the cast is gathered together so Kindaichi can reveal his deductive logic and thus the murderer. A crossword puzzle provides an additional clue to solving the mystery.
There’s a strong undercurrent of the possibility of the supernatural. When confronted with a locked-room murder, some of the characters seem to seriously consider whether a ghost is involved. That coordinates nicely with the other cultural contrasts. Since Japanese readers may not be familiar with the story of the Phantom, the events of the play are recapped for the reader. It’s fascinating to see how elements from a foreign (to the original manga reader) culture are turned into mystery themes.
A model student, Miyuki is also involved with the school drama club, a connection that creates the setting for the first book’s mystery, The Opera House Murders. The club members are going to a camp to prepare for a national drama competition, and Kindaichi tags along to help with sound effects. Some nice character bits on the way there introduce all the participants and their temperaments. The group’s on edge because of an earlier death, the mysterious suicide of one of the student actresses.
The club is staging The Phantom of the Opera, and the camp location, a resort hotel on an isolated island, doesn’t help settle their emotions. One of the other guests turns out to be a police detective, a helpful coincidence when someone starts murdering the drama club members. Of course, a growing storm prevents outside contact or help.
The book’s chapter breaks start with recaps of the story so far and the characters involved. Even if the reader doesn’t get caught up in trying to figure out who’s behind the killings, the characterization propels them through the story. There’s a good range of student types, and the slow revelation of the circumstances behind the original death is gripping, illustrating the horrible consequences of unthinking teenage pranks.
As the story progresses, the chapters get shorter, building the reader’s anticipation. The book includes the traditional map of the location (for those playing along) and the scene where the cast is gathered together so Kindaichi can reveal his deductive logic and thus the murderer. A crossword puzzle provides an additional clue to solving the mystery.
There’s a strong undercurrent of the possibility of the supernatural. When confronted with a locked-room murder, some of the characters seem to seriously consider whether a ghost is involved. That coordinates nicely with the other cultural contrasts. Since Japanese readers may not be familiar with the story of the Phantom, the events of the play are recapped for the reader. It’s fascinating to see how elements from a foreign (to the original manga reader) culture are turned into mystery themes.
Click here to read the whole review http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/01/20/the-kindaichi-case-files-recommended-series/
1 comment:
I love kindaichi but the only ones i find are old ones from Libraries. The shop near my place keeps none.
REX
Post a Comment