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Death on Gokumon Island (Pushkin Vertigo) (Detective Kindaichi Mysteries): Seishi Yokomizo

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I loved the pacing in Gokumon Island, and the end of the book makes you icky in a sense that doesn't sit by right with you. It transpires that his regiment had become largely forgotten by both sides in the conflict, yet it was decimated by illness and malnutrition.

But when you reach the all-important scene in a whodunnit where the detective reveals all and afterwards you still have absolutely no idea why the crime happened, something is wrong.The well-crafted atmosphere from that previous book seemed missing from Death On Gokumon Island and I didn't feel as though as much care had been taken over the characterisations either.

The translation can't have been easy, with haikus and a muttered comment about something being out of reason playing an important role in the story. Es curioso también que cuanto más leo sobre Japón, más descubro la importancia de la "brujería" o "chamanismo" femeninos.The island eventually stopped being used for exile, and in time, Gokumon became an insular community, descended from pirates and those formerly imprisoned. As Kosuke investigates each crime scene, it becomes clear that the sisters’ killings are being modeled after well-known Japanese haikus. Just as Chimata had warned, the three sisters of the ruling family are picked off one by one, in oddly staged scenes. If your plot is about protecting three young sisters on behalf of their brother's dying wish, then maybe I don't know, talking to those sisters is essential?

I found this useful as it helped me to orientate myself and I also didn’t feel that this earlier mystery was spoilt. Kosuke and the characters populating Gokumon Island are well aware of what was lost during the war — and unlike Americans, they can look to destroyed physical spaces as evidence. As he works out the relationships of the families, the townspeople, local traditions, it happens that his sleuthing skills will be needed.

We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed. With nothing else to do, Kosuke arrives on Gokumon, despite warnings from his benefactor about the dangers of the island. On his deathbed, their grandfather made his three closest friends promise that they would kill his three granddaughters if their older brother did not survive WWII.

Yokomizo was attracted to the literary genre of historical fiction, especially that of the historical detective novel. But unbeknownst to his family, the victim warned Kindaichi with his dying breath that his three step-sisters’ lives would now be in grave danger. Kindaichi was endearing as always, his stammers, his excitedness whenever he got into one of his moods, the constant habit of scratching his head, ahhhhh this man is still cute despite being middle age, probably around 35 years old. Another classic Japanese murder mystery with Kosuke who reminds me a lot of TV detective Columbo is that he is always described as scruffy and those people who are guilty are derisive of his keen mind.Because there is a deeply unpleasant truth I must face in reviewing this book: I love a puzzle so much that, when I'm offered it wrapped in enough sweetly seductive mystery, I will just keep reading and ignore my squicked-out "but this is appalling!

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