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弟・襾鈴（あべる）の失踪と死の謎を追って地図にない異郷の村に潜入した兄・珂允（かいん）。襲いかかる鴉の大群。四つの祭りと薪能。蔵の奥の人形。錬金術。嫉妬と憎悪と偽善。五行思想。足跡なき連続殺害現場。盲点衝く大トリック。支配者・大鏡の正体。再び襲う鴉。そしてメルカトル鮎が導く逆転と驚愕の大結末。一九九七年のＮｏ．１ミステリに輝く神話的最高傑作。
558 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 15, 2018
Title: Crows
Author: Yutaka Maya
Outline of the story:
A young man had gone missing for a period of time before returning home to his mother and older brother, only to be murdered soon afterward. With many questions in his mind, the man's older brother went on a quest to an extremely remote village where his brother had visited and stayed before getting killed, in hope to discover what had attracted his brother into staying and the reason of the younger man's death.
The older brother was attacked by ravens upon arrival to the village, and he soon discovered not only his younger brother had actually stayed in the village (which didn't appear on any map), he had also be renamed and appointed by the 'village's living God' to be the God's close servant before he eventually fleeing the village for unknown reason. And shortly after the older brother's arrival, villagers started getting killed one by one in this supposedly crimeless village (people simply do not kill other people because they fear their God's punishment). Who is the murderer? What is his/her motive? Does the serial murder case have something to do with the dead younger brother? What is the truth of the village and the 'village's living God'?
At the end of the story, tragedies strikes and a mysterious man called himself The Remarkable Detective shows up to reveal the truth, but is the village and everyone in it already beyond saving?
Thoughts after reading:
When I turned the last page, I felt like my mind had been kind of blown away and I also felt I'd been thoroughly mind-fucked by the author and his story.
I can't tell you too much about the ending, I know some readers may not be happy with this ending but I personally am impressed by it. Yes, the author had cheated us all with his wordplay, his writing tricks and the many traps he'd laid out for his readers but in the end, it's a defeat I have no problem to accept. I can only say I love the concept and description of an remote village with a strong cult following for a 'living God' and its strange way of life (although I'd seen similar setting in one of Natsuhiko Kyogoku's short novels before), I like how the story is organized, how the atmosphere and tension is created, how the mystery is thickened and the final plot twists........it simply leaves me breathless.
As to the Remarkable Detective, I had hardly seen any other detective quite like him before. He only shows up briefly in the story and yes, he does reveal the truth at the very end, but is he a heroic and righteous figure like the other classic/traditional private detectives? Not quite. So I suggest you to see for yourself.
Will definitely look forward for more books from this author.
Author: Yutaka Maya
Outline of the story:
A young man had gone missing for a period of time before returning home to his mother and older brother, only to be murdered soon afterward. With many questions in his mind, the man's older brother went on a quest to an extremely remote village where his brother had visited and stayed before getting killed, in hope to discover what had attracted his brother into staying and the reason of the younger man's death.
The older brother was attacked by ravens upon arrival to the village, and he soon discovered not only his younger brother had actually stayed in the village (which didn't appear on any map), he had also be renamed and appointed by the 'village's living God' to be the God's close servant before he eventually fleeing the village for unknown reason. And shortly after the older brother's arrival, villagers started getting killed one by one in this supposedly crimeless village (people simply do not kill other people because they fear their God's punishment). Who is the murderer? What is his/her motive? Does the serial murder case have something to do with the dead younger brother? What is the truth of the village and the 'village's living God'?
At the end of the story, tragedies strikes and a mysterious man called himself The Remarkable Detective shows up to reveal the truth, but is the village and everyone in it already beyond saving?
Thoughts after reading:
When I turned the last page, I felt like my mind had been kind of blown away and I also felt I'd been thoroughly mind-fucked by the author and his story.
I can't tell you too much about the ending, I know some readers may not be happy with this ending but I personally am impressed by it. Yes, the author had cheated us all with his wordplay, his writing tricks and the many traps he'd laid out for his readers but in the end, it's a defeat I have no problem to accept. I can only say I love the concept and description of an remote village with a strong cult following for a 'living God' and its strange way of life (although I'd seen similar setting in one of Natsuhiko Kyogoku's short novels before), I like how the story is organized, how the atmosphere and tension is created, how the mystery is thickened and the final plot twists........it simply leaves me breathless.
As to the Remarkable Detective, I had hardly seen any other detective quite like him before. He only shows up briefly in the story and yes, he does reveal the truth at the very end, but is he a heroic and righteous figure like the other classic/traditional private detectives? Not quite. So I suggest you to see for yourself.
Will definitely look forward for more books from this author.
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September 4, 2023read chin. ver.
September 26, 2022
I started reading this book because it was listed by some groups as the best “Honkaku style” novel.
The isolated village is a miniature of old Japan, hostile to the outside world and enlightenment. It reminds me of some parts in The Golden Bowl. So, that is good.
But I’d say there are a few unnecessary elements that’s dull, sometimes ridiculous.
The isolated village is a miniature of old Japan, hostile to the outside world and enlightenment. It reminds me of some parts in The Golden Bowl. So, that is good.
But I’d say there are a few unnecessary elements that’s dull, sometimes ridiculous.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews