- Haruo Yuki is a celebrated Japanese mystery writer. On publication in Japan in 2022 this novel became an instant bestseller. It sold over half a million copies in its first year. It's now been translated into English.
- It's no surprise that it's a bestseller. It's an intriguing and very engaging story about a series of murders that take place in an abandoned three story building in a cave high in the mountains of Japan. Seven former university students and a small family discover it by accident when hiking. It has many bedrooms, and other rooms full of electrical and building equipment. For some strange reason, however, a huge rock lies close to the exit door on the upper floor. The lower floor is also full of water.
- Unfortunately a major earthquake takes place and causes the rock to roll towards the upper floor's door, completely blocking the only exit. The middle floor is also starting to be flooded by the rise in water from the lower floor. The only way the students and family can escape is by winching the rock so it crashes down to the middle floor. However that would mean one of the students or parents would have to volunteer to do that from the middle floor and therefore be trapped and drown. Who would volunteer to do that? According to their estimates they have a week at the most to evacuate.
- But the story is just beginning. One of the male students is found murdered by hanging. Then a popular female one and the father were brutally murdered.
- So we have a classic who-dunnit. The story develops as one student in particular has a detective-like talent for examining all the elements in detail. Mobile phones become key to the resolution. Who is the murderer, and how will they escape? And why are they committing these horrific murders?
- The resolution is surprising in the extreme, right up to the final page. Is it satisfying? Or does the murderer win?
- A thrilling read.
No comments:
Post a Comment