I find that some of Jokichi Hikage’s books feel like a blend of literary fiction and mystery, but 孤独の罠 leans more on the side of literary fiction. The story is mainly focused on our protagonist, Shinobu Oogi, and while it starts with an unsettling mystery, it is not central to the book, and the complex..
Book review: 『点と線』by Seicho Matsumoto
点と線 is a short, easy to read novel that centres the plot around train, timetables and alibis.
Book review:『内部の真実』by Jokichi Hikage
Easily one of the best mystery novels I have read in Japanese.
Book review:『七年目の脅迫状』by Futari Okajima
The three horse racing mysteries by Futari Okajima definitely belong to my favourite mystery novels.
Book review: 『応家の人々』by Jokichi Hikage
A mystery novel set in Taiwan under Japanese rule, 応家の人々 belongs to my favourite novels.
Book review: 『焦茶色のパステル』by Futari Okajima
I’m really loving Futari Okajima’s horse racing mysteries, 焦茶色のパステル is as good as あした天気にしておくれ, and I recommend both!
Book review: 『寝台特急殺人事件』by Kyotaro Nishimura
I really love Kyotaro Nishimura’s train series: the nostalgia of old sleeper trains coupled with an engrossing mystery…
Book review: 『仲のいい死体』by Shoji Yuki
Third book in the Sergeant Gohara series, 仲のいい死体 is similar to the first two books but with a more interesting setting in my opinion.
Book review: 『99%の誘拐』by Futari Okajima
The two topics of this novel, kidnapping and computer science, did not manage to trigger my interest, and though the book was good overall, it was not for me.
Book review: 『あした天気にしておくれ』by Futari Okajima
An excellent mystery novel about horse racing. Even though it is not a topic I’m particularly interested in, I was completely engrossed in the novel from beginning to end.
Book review: 『長い長い眠り』by Shoji Yuki
Second book in the Sergeant Gohara series and as good as the first one!
Book review: 『解決まではあと6人』by Futari Okajima
I found the concept of the book really good (6 detectives investigate a part of the case and only the reader gets the whole picture), but it somehow failed to completely trigger my interest.