Published in 2022 by Tokyo Sogensha, this collection contains 9 short stories by Udaru Oshita (大下宇陀児), all published before the war.
Book review: 『日本探偵小説全集 1』
One of my reading projects is to read the entire collection of detective novels called 日本探偵小説全集 and published by Sogensha. There are 12 volumes in total. This first volume contains novels and short stories by three authors: Ruiko Kuroiwa (黒岩涙香): 無惨 (むざん) 血の文字 (ちのもじ) Fuboku Kosakai (小酒井不木): 痴人の復讐 (ちじんのふくしゅう) 恋愛曲線 (れんあいきょくせん) 愚人の毒 (ぐじんのどく) 闘争 (とうそう)..
Book review: 『真赤な子犬』by Jokichi Hikage
This humorous mystery is certainly my least favourite book by Jokichi Hikage but still an entertaining read.
Book review: 『ゼロの焦点』by Seicho Matsumoto
An engrossing mystery with a fast pace and an interesting social background. It is mainly based on dialogues and reads quickly but can feel repetitive at times.
Book review:『孤独の罠』
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: 『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.