(As of October 2018)
I'll be sharing my thoughts and recommendations on the works of Honobu Yonezawa, one of my favorite mystery writers.
I will try my best to avoid spoilers.
Even so, it's quite difficult to write a review without giving away any spoilers.
I think this is a problem with my writing skills, but I hope you can get at least a little sense of the atmosphere.
The reason I listed four books is because I couldn't narrow it down to just three.
A Feast for Fleeting Sheep
This is the first work by Honobu Yonezawa that I ever held in my hands.
I was drawn to the book by the tagline, "I hope you enjoy the shock of the last line," and picked it up.
Each of the short stories is written in a very careful and understated style.
The protagonist of each episode is a young lady from a good family.
Perhaps because of this, even if there are points that differ from our common sense, their way of speaking makes us unconsciously accept it as "this is how upper-class people are."
If you think about it calmly, it seems somewhat abnormal or even insane, but it doesn't really give off that impression.
The "shock of the last line" isn't in the sense of a plot twist, but rather something that hits you hard and sends chills down your spine.
I have had a death in my family.
"So that leads to this phrase," is the point.
It's a story that sounds like a nasty black joke, but the way it's told prevents it from feeling that way, which is truly impressive.
- The criminals of the northern mansion
At first glance, it seems like a heartwarming story, but the way the culprit is exposed through a certain trick is both striking and chilling.
・Secret stories of the mountain lodge
Despite its careful and thorough writing style, the content is suspenseful, keeping the reader on edge until the very end.
It's a story full of twists and turns, and the ending is open to different interpretations.
When I first read it, I thought, "Oh, so that's how it turned out," but after reading other people's opinions, I realized they had completely different interpretations, and my own bloody interpretation seemed to be wrong.
- The Honor of Tamano Isuzu
This too is structured to bring in a particular line at the end, and it sends chills down your spine when you finish reading it.
The Fleeting Supper of the Sheep
In any case, the phrase "Amirstan sheep" has a strong presence.
While it's fairly clear what it is, the fact that it's not directly mentioned creates a uniquely unsettling atmosphere.
I think this is a common technique used throughout this collection of short stories.
Rakuten Market: 儚い羊たちの祝宴（楽天ブックス）
Fulfillment of Vows
This collection of short stories isn't available in paperback yet, but it's a gem that I highly recommend you read.
This work has a different atmosphere from "The Feast of the Fleeting Sheep."
Basically, Yonezawa's writing has a unique style that is understated and beautiful, yet surprisingly easy to read.
The core of this work lies in the fact that criminal acts such as murder are merely means to an end.
Each character has something they won't compromise on, and the way they treat even murder as merely a means to protect or obtain that something gives the story a sense of obsession and intensity.
The way the protagonist calmly works to fulfill their own desires will surely leave a lasting impression on you even after you finish reading.
Night watch
For now, let's talk about a case that has already been resolved.
What kind of feelings will readers have after finishing the book and learning the truth?
This short story is both astonishing and chilling, revealing the profound depths of human depravity.
- The Inn of the Dead
This story ends with a heartbreaking conclusion.
This isn't a story where the case is solved and everything ends happily ever after; it's a story that makes you realize what kind of place this really is.
Pomegranate
This work depicts the frightening side of women.
The fact that the person he thought was his daughter turned out to be a "woman" is also terrifying.
However, there's no doubt that "he" is the most terrifying of them all.
・Manto
For a short story, there were many scene changes and time jumps, so at first I wondered where the mystery element was.
In the latter half of the investigation, I never imagined that it would lead to the identification of the culprit in this way.
The way the protagonist was written didn't make him seem particularly evil, but upon reflection after finishing the book, I realized he had become someone who would stop at nothing.
I feel that when people cross a line, it's not because of a dramatic trigger, but rather that they cross it without even realizing it.
・Sekimori
There's nothing inherently dangerous about it, yet the work has an unsettling, mysterious atmosphere.
Then the situation gradually takes a turn for the worse, and you feel a sense of dread, as if you're being suddenly thrown off a cliff.
The final line has an indescribable power to it.
・Completion of the vow
This is the title story, by the way.
Throughout this entire volume, one can strongly feel that what is most important is different for each individual.
Rakuten Market: 満願（楽天ブックス）
The King and the Circus
Set in Nepal, the story follows female journalist Machi Tachiarai as she encounters a real-life royal family murder case and confronts a related murder case.
I'm not a detective; I approach the case purely from the perspective of a journalist.
The same goes for the next story, "The Broken Keel," but I really love the way this work is described, which gives off a strong sense of exoticism.
I'm the type of person who, when I read a book, has images of landscapes come to mind.
Just reading this book makes me feel like I've gone on a trip.
Now, let's talk about the content.
In the story, the protagonist is subjected to extremely harsh and merciless questions.
Of course, that question is posed to the protagonist in the story, but I feel that the question has a universal meaning and is also posed to us, the readers.
In the previous work, "Goodbye Fairy," Tachiarai was portrayed as a cool character, but in this work, seeing things from her perspective made her seem more human, and I was able to empathize with her more easily.
More than just a mystery or suspense story, it was a truly wonderful work that conveyed a grander theme.
Rakuten Market: 王とサーカス（楽天ブックス）
Broken keel
This is a mystery set in a world where magic exists, a truly unique setting.
However, the existence of magic doesn't mean anything goes; it's merely positioned as a kind of gimmick.
Conversely, I felt that the very existence of magic was what made the story so fair and rigorous in order to function as a mystery.
It's not a story set in another dimension, but rather on a fictional island in medieval Europe.
Just like "The King and the Circus" mentioned earlier, this work also depicts the city's character, history, culture, and people with a rich sense of exoticism.
Of course, since it's a work of fiction, many of the proper nouns that appear in it don't actually exist, but they are depicted with such meticulous detail that you get the feeling they really did exist.
The characters are also appealing: Falk, the thoughtful detective; Nicola, the boy who acts as his assistant; and Amina, the intelligent and straightforward protagonist.
The other suspects also include characters that seem straight out of an RPG, such as knights, mages, archers, and bards—a truly exciting cast.
The paperback edition is divided into two volumes and is quite long.
However, I think it lives up to the name of a genuine mystery novel.
There's also a manga version, so if you're not used to reading novels, I think you'll get a better understanding of how enjoyable it is (it was completed in 5 volumes in October 2018).
It was an unexpected ending, but it was a satisfying conclusion that felt like the only possible outcome.
This is a wonderful piece of work.
Rakuten Market: 折れた竜骨(上)（楽天ブックス）