Book 15: Crime Scene (臨場)

Title: 臨場 (Crime Scene)

Who wrote it: Hideo Yokoyama (橫山秀夫)

Whom I borrowed it from: Fafa

What is it about:
Yet another series of short stories,
this time more focused on crime scene investigations.
The main character throughout is an eccentric investigator,
who refused to be promoted to other officer positions,
and was nicknamed "The Ultimate CSI" by others.
His motto was:
CSI must pick up every single clue left
at the crime scene, or the victim/dead
would be sorrowful in his/her unjust death!

What went through my mind:
- I liked this book better than 'Face.'
The pace of the storytelling is faster,
and the main character more interesting.
- Who knew that plants, dust,
the way you open the door,
how long it takes for blood to dry,
towards which direction & how the body fell......
could all play a part in telling the truth,
as well as what kind of people they are?

Why Should you read it, too?
If you liked watching CSI (Miami/NY),
or just wanna gain some trivial knowledge.

Book 13: Face (顏)

Title: 顏 (Face)

Who wrote it: Hideo Yokoyama (橫山秀夫)

Whom I borrowed it from: Fafa

What is it about:
This book is composed of a series of short stories,
in which a young policewoman is the main character.
Aside from the various crime cases
that she participated in investigating,
power struggles among the reporters/
policemen & -women/
criminals & the public...
were also carefully portrayed.
On top of a suspense/detective kind of fiction,
this also reads like a social case study.

What went through my mind:
- Everybody has some God-given abilities : )
The main character specializes in drawing
portraits of the criminals,
according to the victims' verbal descriptions.
She has a co-worker that's really talented in
gun-shooting, so much so that she was chosen
to take part in trainings for the Olympics.
-> What are my special gifts,
and how am i developing/utilizing them?
- One of the book's focuses was on
gender inequality, esp. in the police force.
I can't help but wonder,
if God designed us men & women to be different,
yet the same (as humans),
then how are we to attain that careful balance?

Why Should you read it, too?
If you're interested in the topics mentioned above,
or just wanna pick up an easy read : )

Book 8: The Self-Sacrifice of Suspect X (嫌疑犯X的獻身)

Title: 嫌疑犯X的獻身 (The Self-Sacrifice of Suspect X )

Who wrote it: 東野圭吾 (Keigo Higashino)

Whom I borrowed it from: Fafa

What is it about:
This is a very well-written suspense/detective novel.
Since the beginning, the author showed us the 'whodunit,'
and the Math Teacher who lived next door to the murderer
offered to help discard the dead body,
because he fell in love with her since the day she moved in.

The story went on, to tell of the little progress the Police made
in investigations, while the Math Teacher's old friend came by,
& figured out some clues that the Police has yet to discover.

What went through my mind:

- The 'howdunit' was well hidden under layers upon layers
of twists & turns, but none of those was forced/illogical.

The author's creativity clearly shines through,
& as a reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel till the very end.

- One of the main ideas the author tried to illustrate
through this story was "the Purest Love of all" --

Ultimately, his point of view somehow coincides with Christianity's,
that Sacrificial & Unselfish Love is by far the most amazing -

when someone lays down his life for another,
without asking for equal compensation nor even comprehension,
it reaches so deep into the core of our souls,

that we can't help but marvel at the precious gift presented to us,
& want to reciprocate in one way or the other --
just like the Murderer at the end of the story.

What came out of this:
* Reminder: Bear in mind that love is unconditional.
& if I were to offer sacrificial love, I'm not supposed to brag,
expect rewards / recognition, or demand others' appreciations.

Why should you read it, too?
Sometimes it takes a great novel to drive home
a deeper understanding of something bigger & more important.
I think this book's got something to offer,
with enjoyment & clever plots along the way : )

Book 6: Switch Circle Murder (人格轉移殺人)

Title: 人格轉移殺人 (Switch Circle Murder )

Who wrote it: 西澤保彥 (Yasuhiro Nishizawa)

Whom I borrowed it from: Fafa

What is it about:
The premise of the story is based on a 'Switch Circle.'
If more than 1 person step into this room at the same time,
an invisible wall would immediately appear to separate them,
then in split second their souls would inhabit in others' bodies.
The cycle will go on and on, until there's only 1 person left...

Due to an earthquake, 6 people escaped into the
'Switch Circle' without knowing what it is.
When the government agents discovered
these people in their contorted state,
they brought the group to a secluded mansion,
which is where the consecutive cases of murder took place...

What went through my mind:
-Modern Japanese suspense novels are quite
different from their American counterparts.
I feel that their plots are more sophisticated,
more variables exist in their stories,
& it's less about story-telling, more about
the readers figuring out the classic:
'whodunit,' 'whydunit,' 'howdunit,'
while the author attempt to trick the readers.
- The plot of this novel heavily relies upon the
'Switch Circle' set up, but it's definitely a clever & creative one.
The 'whydunit' turns out to be not that convincing for me,
but the explanations for the who & how are powerful,
& i am quite pleased with this book in general : )

What came out of this:
* Look out for other suspense novel
recommendations by Fafa!

Why Should you read it, too?
If you enjoy reading suspense novel,
this is one that's worth your time! ; )