I'll be sharing my thoughts and recommendations on the Classic Literature Club series by Honobu Yonezawa, one of my favorite mystery writers.
I will try my best to avoid spoilers.
Classic Literature Club Series
Since it has been adapted into an anime and a manga, it is probably the most well-known.
Other than that, I think the only other example is "Incitemill," which was made into a movie starring Tatsuya Fujiwara.
Actually, I knew that this work had been adapted into an anime, but at that time I didn't know the author, Honobu Yonezawa.
My first encounter with Honobu Yonezawa's work was "The Feast of the Fleeting Sheep," and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to pick up the Classic Literature Club series.
I was very curious to see what kind of story the person who wrote the dark content in "A Fleeting Feast of Sheep" would write in "Hyouka," which has such cute illustrations, so I read it.
Honobu Yonezawa's Top 4 Recommended Works
In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the content.
And I remember thinking, "Ah, this is definitely this person's work."
The setting is a high school, the protagonist is a laid-back type, and the characters have settings straight out of a manga—it has all the usual elements, yet what it does is a solid mystery.
None of the stories end with a "Oh, that's great! Happily ever after" kind of conclusion.
It's not exactly a bad ending, but the characters' somewhat resigned, almost detached way of thinking leaves the reader feeling uneasy.
If you're going to read them, I recommend reading them in this order: "Hyouka," "The Fool's End Roll," "Kudryavka's Order," and "The Detour of the Hina Dolls."
What's great about these series is that they don't just discard characters and settings; they make significant appearances in later works.
It has been adapted into manga and anime, and I think its popularity has increased considerably.
The anime adaptation is also very well done, so I recommend it to those who prefer reading the novels as well.
Ice cream
"Hyouka" is basically a series of self-contained episodes, but it follows a pattern where several small incidents occur in succession, ultimately leading to the resolution of a larger mystery.
The story depicts the encounter between the protagonist Houtarou Oreki and the heroine Eru Chitanda, as well as their interactions with their friends Satoshi Fukube and Mayaka Ibara, as the four main characters tackle a case.
The protagonist, who solves seemingly insignificant "everyday mysteries" with a sigh, is reminiscent of Professor Saikawa from the S&M series (though he's not as dark as Professor Saikawa).
At first glance, it seems like a school-themed story, but it's not all smiles.
When you finish reading it, what kind of impression will you have of the title "Hyouka"?
Rakuten Market: 氷菓（楽天ブックス）
The Fool's End Credits
Personally, I liked this second film, "The Fool's End Roll," the best.
In gaming terms, it's that thrilling, unsettling feeling you get after the credits roll, as if the story is still continuing—it's irresistible.
The initial solution was quite interesting, but the foreshadowing leading to the true solution that followed was also very logical, making it one of my favorite works.
The tragedy lies in the fact that the protagonist, a detective, is so perceptive that he notices things he shouldn't have noticed.
Rakuten Market: 愚者のエンドロール（楽天ブックス）
Kudryavka's order
"Kudryavka's Order" is characterized by its ensemble cast of main characters, reminiscent of the sound novels "The Town" and "428."
The way the clues and information gathered by each character come together for Houtarou, and how the puzzle comes to fruition, is truly vivid.
Since it's set during a school festival, it might seem lighthearted at first glance.
There are many plot developments that seem convenient, but I think it's within an acceptable range.
I doubt even the culprit expected that someone capable of deduction would emerge.
The final deduction scene is exactly like the resolution of a mystery novel.
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A chick taking a roundabout route
"The Detour of the Chicks" is a collection of short stories, and each story basically resolves its own issue.
There are many episodes that evoke the changing seasons, giving a sense of the passage of time since the story began.
Each story revolves around themes of "everyday mysteries," making them pleasant and relaxing reads.
The fact that the distance between Houtarou and Eru seems like it's about to shrink but never quite does might be what makes the Classic Literature Club series so good.
Rakuten Market: 遠まわりする雛（楽天ブックス）