Crossfire
2 journalers for this copy...
Currently reading, and to be included in RABCK US Tag game.
Journal Entry 2 by haahaahaa98 at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 23, 2020
Released 3 yrs ago (7/27/2020 UTC) at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Reserved for Tag game, US
Crossfire by Miyuki Miyabe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm rather impressed with my first encounter with the writings of Miyabe Miyuki, a prominent Japanese mystery / crime novelist. Miyabe's writing is very precise, elucidating; she transports the reader into a noir world, at once realist and supernatural. Junko acts as a Batman-type character who possesses the ability to set anything (including people) on fire. Her acts of vigilante justice elude detective Chikako, who works to solve these most intriguing murders of mobsters - scenes of burned bodies but missing accelerant, for example.
Miyuki's narration is set up so that the reader actually roots for the vigilante Junko. She and others feel that that the police department metes out justice much too lightly, and that gangsters get off with much too light sentences. Later in the book it turns out that (view spoiler)[an underground force called the Guardians to recruit Junko to their cause, but little clue here and there indicate to her that something's amiss. (hide spoiler)]
Meanwhile, Chikako, while trying to solve the case, gets a first-hand glimpse at how cultural mores and departmental politics affects her ability to work through a case. This is revealed especially when she investigates allegations of a young girl who has much of the same fire-creating abilities as Junko has.
A really engaging story that incorporates mystery, the supernatural, and the detective genre, while critiquing the foibles of the over(t)ly regimented, hierarchical Japanese society.
View all my reviews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm rather impressed with my first encounter with the writings of Miyabe Miyuki, a prominent Japanese mystery / crime novelist. Miyabe's writing is very precise, elucidating; she transports the reader into a noir world, at once realist and supernatural. Junko acts as a Batman-type character who possesses the ability to set anything (including people) on fire. Her acts of vigilante justice elude detective Chikako, who works to solve these most intriguing murders of mobsters - scenes of burned bodies but missing accelerant, for example.
Miyuki's narration is set up so that the reader actually roots for the vigilante Junko. She and others feel that that the police department metes out justice much too lightly, and that gangsters get off with much too light sentences. Later in the book it turns out that (view spoiler)[an underground force called the Guardians to recruit Junko to their cause, but little clue here and there indicate to her that something's amiss. (hide spoiler)]
Meanwhile, Chikako, while trying to solve the case, gets a first-hand glimpse at how cultural mores and departmental politics affects her ability to work through a case. This is revealed especially when she investigates allegations of a young girl who has much of the same fire-creating abilities as Junko has.
A really engaging story that incorporates mystery, the supernatural, and the detective genre, while critiquing the foibles of the over(t)ly regimented, hierarchical Japanese society.
View all my reviews
Trade paperback with dust jacket. Received as a wishlist tag; I like the striking cover image.
Sounds like an interesting read: thanks for sharing it with me.
Sounds like an interesting read: thanks for sharing it with me.