Book 34: Dark Maze (黑暗迷宮)

Title: 三色貓黑暗迷宮

(Dark Maze -- Tricolor Cat)

Who wrote it: 赤川次郎 (Jiro Akagawa)

Whom I borrowed it from: Queens Library (Forest Hills)

What is it about:
A group of policemen has been going after
a criminal who has killed 3 people.
On a fateful night, an almost-retiree fired his gun
in the dark, thinking that he had shot the criminal,
but it turned out to be a young policeman...

The scene was witnessed by the criminal,
and the retiree gave in to the threat of being exposed,
in exchange of helping the criminal escape.

Little did he know, the criminal would
lure his only daughter into a romantic relationship...

What went through my mind:

- Akagawa caught on to an essential trait of mankind:
do anything possible to cover up our mistakes.

If only the retiree was courageous enough
to admit that he shot the wrong person,
his family's life / his health / his dignity...
would all be so dramatically different.

In the same way, when we lie,
we often have to lie some more
to cover up the previous lies.
Sometimes, unnecessary serious consequences
result from what might seem harmless & best
in the beginning.

When will we learn this important lesson,
to tell the truth at all times,
even when the stakes seem high?

- This novel was a typical Akagawa one.

Quick read, fast pace,
an easy past-time entertainment.

What came out of this:

* Reminder: Be courageous in being honest!

Why Should you read it, too?

If you liked the other Akagawa books,
you'd like this one too : )