Review: The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino

4 stars for The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino.

I read this book for my book club. We meet once every two months to talk books. The librarian who organises and facilitates our club meeting and discussion suggested this novel as our next book for discussion in April. I welcome the idea the moment my eyes landed on the book cover. The cover is not only mesmerising, the picture of the general store seems to be shrouded by magic. This and the word "miracles" in the title make me want to find out more.

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store is a story on family, friendship and life. These are fairly common themes in a story. So what makes this story any different? It is the element of time-travel. The travel back to the past and into the future is what makes the Namiya General Store so special on top of its huge role in affecting the lives of those who seek the advice of the store owner.

At first glance, this seems to be a story about people from all walks of life. But when all the dots are connected, it is revealed that they are related one way or other with the Namiya General Store and one other place. The careful crafting of the characters, the events, their surroundings and how they all add up to be one big picture is amazing.

This is a touching, heartwarming and thought-provoking novel. As with all stories that involve time-travelling, it can get confusing at times when one thinks too deeply on the logic of the past against the future. I think that is why, this is a story about miracles. They defy logic.

Review: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot #1) by Agatha Christie

4 stars for The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Hercule Poirot book 1) by Agatha Christie.

I have finally read a book written by the Queen of Crime. It is not just any of her detective novels or short story collections, but the very first book of the Hercule Poirot mystery series where she created the most notable Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, who goes on to be one of her most famous and long-running characters.

I have never been much of a fan of mystery crime novels. Needless of say, since young, I have no interest in any of Agatha Christie's books even when her books are so readily available in school libraries and national libraries. But that was in the past, before I read the Magpie Murders series. I will say the Magpie Murders books open my eyes and make me look at mystery crime novels in a different light. Since then, I have learnt to appreciate whodunnits.

The story of The Mysterious Affair at Styles is told from first person viewpoint by a Mr Hastings. Even though Poirot is a central character to the entire affair, the author chooses another character as the protagonist. As we read on, it soon becomes apparent why this is so. Detective Poirot is an astute observer of human behaviour and criminal mind. His intelligence at solving difficult puzzles of crimes earns him the respect and admiration of police forces across countries. But to prop up the clever Poirot, there will be need for another to come across as being dense. And who else but the protagonist is the best choice?

The first 15% of the story is spent on getting readers up to speed on the background and development of what is to come. Characters are introduced by name and profession and how they relate to one another. As with most mystery cases, the obvious deduction is usually and most likely to be the incorrect one. There are twists and turns, ups and downs and so many suspects that it is hard to guess who the perpetrator is.

This is a book I enjoy reading. My only grievance is the French words and phrases scattered throughout the book which I do not understand. I dislike having to interrupt my reading just so to do a Google translate but I dislike even more not knowing the meaning - no matter it is a word or two or a short sentence - of what I am reading.

As a debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles may not be Agatha Christie's best, but it definitely is a story well-thought-out and well researched at a time of war (towards the end of War War I). It is also one that clearly demonstrates a lot of potential in the author's writing style and thought processes, and hint of more good stories to come.

It is hard to believe that I have finished reading a book that was first published more than one hundred years ago, in 1920, and way before I am born. It is even harder to believe that it has taken me so long to read an Agatha Christie's book. What is not hard to believe is I will want to manage my reading time to include more mystery crime cases solved by the fictional Poirot.

Review: In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn

4 stars for In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn.

After I emerge from the depth of the Mappie Murders series, I thought I will have difficulty getting into the next book. Luckily, my worry is unfounded. I manage to choose the next book well and In an Instant steps up to fill the empty void left by the whodunnits much better than I expect.

The book is about a sudden accident that causes great damage and suffering. The story is not so much about the mishap itself, but rather the revelation of a base instinct for self-preservation and the natural tendency to protect one's own, that when tested makes the characters in the story capable of things they never believe themselves to be capable of. This and the aftermath of that fateful day, when the consequences of the choices made by the survivors come back to haunt them, are what make the story so engaging and thought-provoking.

The story revolves around three families, the Millers, the Golds and the Kaminskis. The entire story is told in first person viewpoint by a sixteen-year-old Finn Miller which later evolves into a fly-on-the-wall perspective. I think it is impressive that the author thought of such a brilliant way to narrate the story; the fly-on-the-wall perspective turns the protagonist Finn invisible and silent, a witness to everything - yet she is nothing but an awareness - thus enabling honest insight into all the other characters, even when they think they are alone.

What makes the story memorable is the heartbreaking journey of travelling alongside Finn who bears witness to all that happen but yet entirely helpless as she moves fluidly from scene to scene with ease that makes perfect sense.

The story explores the theme of friendship, loss, grief, denial, regret, guilt and love.

One of the focal points of the story is the friendship between the Millers and the Golds. The lesson taught here is that outward appearances are deceiving and people are not what they seem. The perfect friend you think you have can turn into a perfect foe in an instant, in a single tragic night.

Another focal point is how the characters cope with their loss. One character chooses the easy way of denial where out of sight equates out of mind while another prefers to be constantly reminded so that the loss will not be forgotten.

The story explores the theme of regret well. Regret is a difficult emotion to live with because there is no turning back. What's done is done. There is no "what-if". But in order to have regret, one needs to have a conscience, and that's where the irony comes in. The author put it down beautifully in a single sentence. To quote "I’ve always believed regret is the most difficult emotion to live with, but in order to have regret, you need to have a conscience: an interesting paradox that allows the worst of us to suffer the least in the aftermath of wrongdoing." So, yes, there is one character who is portrayed as such.

Then there is the theme of love, that of husband and wife, parent and child, friend and friend, human and animal, and above all, a mother's love for her child. The story explores the different dynamics of relationship. One may seems indifferent or even ignorant of another within the family but it may well turn out to be otherwise.

I enjoy every bit of the story until I hit the 64% of the book after which, it feels very much like reading a young adult novel rather than a literary fiction. I am not saying that it is not good as the protagonist is, after all, a sixteen-year-old teenage girl who is full of zest and supposed to be having the time of her life. And her good friend and sisters are all in that age bracket which makes sense to the story being kind of young adult. It is just that, well, call me jaded or whatever, I am not a fan of young adult story.

At the end of the story, I am surprised when the author reveals that the story is inspired by a real-life event that happened when she was eight years old. I actually feel sad for the author that the two not-so-nice characters in her book are not crafted out of thin air but from her experience in life. Reality bites but that is life.

Review: Moonflower Murders (Magpie Murders #2) by Anthony Horowitz

5 stars for Moonflower Murders (Magpie Murders book 2) by Anthony Horowitz.

I like book 1 Magpie Murders so much that I am super glad to be able to continue with this book 2 right away after the first one.

As with the earlier book, Moonflower Murders is also told from the first person perspective of editor Susan Ryeland. The story opens with Susan in a family-run hotel called Polydorus which is located in Cete, a Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean. But no sooner have we make acquaintance with the hotel, we see Susan returning to the UK to solve a case. The mystery is as complicated as the Atticus Pünd series written by one of her former writers, Alan Conway, whose work she used to edit. But this time, there are no hints and tips from the author to help Susan solve the mystery. And to make matters worse, depending on who Susan speaks to, there are different versions of events. She knows not who is lying and who to trust.

Moonflower Murders is another excellent murder mystery that keeps you guessing and wondering. The book mentions the Atticus Pünd series right from the start and the moment it zoom in on book 3 Atticus Pünd Takes the Case, I get really excited because I know without a doubt that I will get to read it. The only thing is I have no idea when that will be. So when the time has finally come to confront the text, even though I do not have with me a mug of coffee, or a club sandwich held together by a cocktail stick flying a miniature stars and stripes, or even a bowl of chips, I am more than ready to read one murder mystery while going through another one. I have the book within a book with me. And that's all that matters.

It sure feels real. I mean the book within a book. There is even a book cover, about the author, a listing of books in the Atticus Pünd series, praise for book 3 Atticus Pünd Takes the Case, title page, copyright page, dedication page and table of contents before I can plunge headlong into the story; a story set in a small community where no one tells the truth. It seems a lot of efforts to me, the extent to which the author goes into for putting up a book within his book. It is amazing.

Once again, in reading this series, one has the feeling of value for money. It is a book that contains not one, not two, but three mystery crimes with three sets of solutions. One book, three mystery cases. What a steal! I will say that many of the incidents in the book as well as the book within, are quite imaginative. But there is something very satisfying about a complicated whodunnit that actually makes sense at the end of the day when all is revealed. 

This is a terrific story that will leave you guessing all the way. Everyone is a suspect. To get the book to unlock the secrets, you will want to keep reading, without stopping. It has been a long time since I stay up late into the night to read. But that's what this book does to me. I give up my sleep hours in exchange for finding out who the perpetrator is. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Review: Magpie Murders (Magpie Murders #1) by Anthony Horowitz

5 stars for Magpie Murders (Magpie Murders book 1) by Anthony Horowitz.

5 HUGE stars.

Magpie Murders is mystery crime novel at its finest.

Set in the countryside in the 1950s, in a small community where everyone knows everyone, there is an unexpected death. To quote "There was going to be a funeral." What follows after this opening sentence of Part One Chapter 1 is a cast of suitably eccentric characters, a tangle of suspects with different motives and an outsider detective.

The first 10% or so of the story is spent on introducing characters and their background. It takes some getting used to, but once that's over, we are well-versed and ready to take on whatever comes our way. The death of a housekeeper, Mrs Mary Blakiston, seems straightforward enough and no foul play is suspected. But as the story progresses, it seems that we cannot take things at face value. Is it really an accident that leads to her death or is it something more?

The amazing thing about this book, is that, there is a story within a story in the story. Sounds complicated, right? Let me put it in another way. Author Horowitz writes a story. In that story, there is an author writing a book, and in that book is another author writing another story. Maybe I have not read enough of mystery books, but this is the first time I come across such a complicated yet brilliant mystery crime story. To say that I am impressed by the author is an understatement. I am literally blown away by the workings of author's remarkable mind.

The story itself is not complicated but it seems to be next to impossible to predict the outcome. There are many suspects and all of them have sufficient motives to commit the crime. Just when I am thinking and still wondering who it can possibly be, the story takes an unexpected turn that makes my jaws dropped. And I think to myself "What?! What just happened?"

I read and swipe, and I read and swipe, until the number at the bottom right of my ereader turns from single to double digit and still, keeps on increasing. I want to slow down but yet I find myself reading hurriedly towards a conclusion I can hardly bear to discover. That is the power of this whodunnit. Whodunnits are all about truth, nothing more and nothing less. Nothing but the truth. Getting to the bottom of the truth in this story becomes my sole purpose when I am reading this book. When I finally reach the last page where every i is dotted and every t is crossed, I stare into space, then blink my eyes and give a satisfied sigh. There is so much pleasure and enjoyment from reading this story that I don't know where to start. I want to shout out to the world that this is a book not to be missed. It is a must-read.

This is surely not an easy story to write. For one, the facts and fiction have become inextricably intertwined. Real names, real people, real books, real places have been thrown in. I think merely keeping track of the characters and alphabets is headache enough, it is hard to imagine weaving more complicated connections and linking them all up together. Also, we need to bear in mind the time period is set in the 1950s where there is no forensic DNA analysis, no mobile phones, no computers, no instant information. Everything goes by evidence of prints and deductions. The way the author goes about questioning every suspect, verifying every statement, examining every movement and getting everything in its place.. it is incredible!

Here, I have a confession to make. I started reading right from the beginning but I made the mistake of thinking that is the preface. After the so-called preface, I quickly went through some pages and finally started paying good attention to my reading at Part One Chapter 1 Sorrow. It was only when I reached the halfway mark that I realised my mistake and promptly went back to the beginning to read it one more time. If you have not read this book and plan to do so, don't make the same mistake as me. I still find it hard to stomach, the thought that I, a seasoned reader, has made one such mistake. It is unthinkable.

Somewhere along the way, I actually did a search on Alan Conway. Because I will have liked to read his Atticus Pünd series. Though I am disappointed with the results of my search, I am glad that there is the Moonflower Murders that I can turn to next.

Finally, with my expanded interest on whodunnit, I think it is high time I check out Agatha Christie's books.

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Did Not Finish The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

I have not expected this - posting a DNF review so early in the year. Since the start of the year, I have only put up three reviews, this is the fourth, and to think that it is a DNF makes me kind of sad. As with past year, my aim is to limit myself to no more than three Did Not Finish reviews, and that means, after this one, I will be left with only two more to go.

This is the first time I am reading Erin Morgenstern’s books. I choose to read it because it has garnered many great reviews. Indeed, it is beautifully written and incredibly imaginative, but only while it last. The opening paragraph "The circus arrives without warning" captivates my attention. In fact, the whole of the first chapter has me there. A mysterious circus with towering tents has sprout up overnight in a town and not only that, it opens at nightfall and closes at dawn. It has such a great start that it piques my interest and intrigues me to no end.

Unfortunately, grabbing a reader's attention is of no use if it is not sustainable. After the first few chapters which I read with gusto, I struggle with the rest. I thought I will be able to keep going but after a while, I find that I simply do not care for the book anymore as the story stretches over the years, decades even. It is so slow moving that I am bored to tears.

I will say that reading this book is nearly tragic because the beginning is so promising, and then, nothing happens. Still, I am glad to have given it a try even though it is not to my liking. If not, I will always be wondering if I have missed out on a good read.

Review: Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden

3 stars for Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden.

This story reminds me very much of another book. The author herself knows it and even makes a deliberate attempt to hint about it in her story though without citing the title. For those of us who have read that book (and I think most of us, voracious readers, will have), you will know which book I am referring to. Both stories revolve around a remote and quiet motel - Baxter Motel in this book - but that is where the similarity ends.

Do Not Disturb is supposedly an addictive psychological thriller. I finish reading it in two days' time and that says something about it being a page turner, right? But while I am curious about the story and its ending, I am not super impressed by the development of the story. Perhaps because I keep thinking about the other book while I read, and my expectation just becomes higher. I will likely have enjoyed this book more if there has been no parallel drawn or expectation to begin with.

Overall, this is a fast and fairly entertaining read. I am not overly impressed by the story and its ending, but I may give this author another try.

Review: Tales from the Cafe (Before the Coffee Gets Cold #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

4 stars for Tales from the Cafe (Before the Coffee Gets Cold book 2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

After reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold, I find myself at a loss on what's next. The book is so well written that I worry my next book will not be as good. In truth, my mind is still very much rooted in the time-travelling cafe Funiculi Funicula, and I want to spend more time with the cafe and its owners. In the end, I decide to go with Tales from the Cafe.

As with the earlier book, this book also comprises four stories and together, they form the novel. By now, I have witnessed eight coffee pouring rituals that will send a person in that seat back to the past. Because of that, I am very much impressed by the author's fluid descriptions of the series of actions performed each time. Even though the same ritual is being performed time and again, the author never describes it the same way but present it differently each time. It feels as if this is the author's way of telling us that each individual who opt for the time travelling experience can go through the same coffee pouring ritual, but will experience the same event differently. And that is so true of real life.

Since this is cafe where you can travel back in time, so technically, you can travel to the future too. What I mean is the time travelling should work both ways; not only can one be transported back to the past, one can also be paid a visit by another from the future. But for some obvious reasons, hardly anyone wants to travel to the future. But what happens when it does happen? That is when the line between the past, present and future gets kind of blurry. When I start to think deeply into how the future links with the present and how the past moves forward to the present and future, I start to wonder where the reality actually is. In short, my thinking gets all muddled up as the logic becomes no logic. It's complicated.

One thing I like to point out is while I am unnerved by the appearance of the intermittent "CLANG-DONG" in book 1, I actually look forward to seeing them in this book 2. Perhaps because they are uniquely applied in this series or because I have already gotten used to seeing them around, no matter how, I feel a certain comfort in seeing this catchphrase. I can say with much confidence that if there is a third instalment, this catchphrase will surely make a comeback.

Even as the novelty of a time-travelling cafe wears off, the stories brought to life in this book are as heartwarming and touching as those in book 1. Here, more characters are introduced and they all feel like a natural extension of the cafe and its patrons. You simply do not feel that the author is trying too hard to create the connection of customers with the cafe.

To be able to better appreciate this series, it will help if the reader is familiar with the Japanese culture or at least have some ideas about the Japanese way of life or social behaviour. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some Japanese in the past, and perhaps that is part of the reason I am able to enjoy and appreciate much the stories in this little Japanese cafe.

Once again, after reading this book, all I want to do is to find one such time-travelling cafe and be a regular there. Why is it that this kind of cafe only exist in books and not in real life?

What will you do if you are given the chance to return to the past?
Who will you want to meet?