Whereas "points and lines" gave an endless regurgitation of one plot line with a whole greater than the one in our ozone layer, this book shows the author highly inspired. Here he adds layer upon layer of clues, dead ends, new venues and a surprising twist at the end. In addition we get an excellent dose of Japanese culture and politics and sublime pacing and drive.

In all this is a great mystery novel that does not feel outdated at all and shows equal rewards to mystery lovers and Japanophiles.

Keep the pages turning!


Persistence Pays Off   August 9, 2000
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is a terrific mystery that requires a bit of patience on the reader's part. Inspector Imanishi is the quintessential salaryman for whom the traditional values of hard work and self sacrifice pay off. Mr. Matsumoto expects no less from his readers. This is a real puzzler and a terrific Japanese slice of life. It's not an easy read, but if you can let yourself be drawn in to the story, it is most rewarding.


A Very Japanese Detective, and a Trip through 1960s Japan   July 25, 2005
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Seicho Matsumoto is apparently extremely well known in Japan, but was unknown to me. The book draws one in slowly, but it becomes worthwhile. In some ways the hero is a Japanese Maigret, but lower in the hierarchy of a then VERY hierarchical society. A psychological detective story, with complex clues and twists like a Sherlock Holmes (but Imanishi gets there by stolid persistence, not drug-fuelled brilliance).
Also a wonderful visit to Japan of the early Sixties, when poverty was still recent, when rural houses were still thatched. When the country was not yet in thrall to Gucci (an incredible percentage of Tokyoites now own at least one Luis Vuitton item..) The translator has for me done a wonderful job of conveying the nature of the original Japanese: I have not read that for this book, but I do know the importance of honorifics, level of formality, depth of bows. Yes in places it can sound a bit stilted to us, but then these people are not, like, Valley Girls and "awesome". As I read this book I could hear the cadence of the Japanese in my mind, envisage the depth of the bows and who was bowing more deeply to whom. Indirectly the book gives a magnificent picture of traditional Japan, its strengths and weaknesses. Although even then there was the love of clever gadgets... I had difficulty getting going, but then I could not put it down.


Too Reliant on Coincidence and Contrivance   April 6, 2000
 5 out of 14 found this review helpful

Originally published in 1961, this rather weak mystery shows its age poorly. The inspector of the title is interesting in how dated he now appears; consistently polite and apologetic in his work, and lord of the manor at home. He is embroiled in what seems like a fairly straightforward murder which turns out to be devilishly confusing--but, alas not that interesting for the reader. Matsumoto switches back and forth between the investigation and a group of young, new intellectuals who are darlings of Tokyo's media. Obviously the twain shall meet, but it's not very satisfying when they do. Matsumoto relies altogether too much on coincidences and unlikely convenient relationships to bring things to a solution. Not a book that will make me seek out others by the author.