The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

This is the first Kosuke Kindaichi novel in the series and I finally got to learn how he became a detective and a little of his backstory. I honestly didn't remember that he stammered or had a drug addiction, though. Because of his remarkable powers of insight and observation, Kindaichi was invited by Ginzo Kubo his benefactor to investigate the murder of Ginzo's niece, Katsuko Kubo.

Katsuko Kubo was about to marry a respectable man, Kenzo Ichiyanagi, a renowned scholar and the current master of the Ichiyanagi household. Back in the Edo period, the Ichiyanagi residence had served as a honjin, an inn reserved for nobility and other distinguished guests. Katsuko was far from being the family's favourite bride-to-be, yet the marriage went ahead as planned.

The wedding took place on 25 November 1937. On that very night, a horrifying crime was committed. Kenzo and his newlywed wife, Katsuko, were found dead inside a locked room. The murder weapon was a katana belonging to the Ichiyanagi family. Rumours quickly spread that the tragedy was connected to a curse from the past.

There were countless theories, speculations and unanswered questions surrounding the case before Kosuke Kindaichi came into the picture. The mystery is packed with suspense and red herrings. I spent the entire novel trying to figure out the identity of the murderer. Just when I thought I had it all worked out, Kindaichi seemed determined to stay one step ahead. 😅

This classic whodunnit is filled with complex characters, unexpected twists and enough secrets to make everyone in the house seem suspicious. When money, inheritance and family reputation are involved, it feels like every single person is hiding something. First published in 1946, The Honjin Murders remains an engaging and clever locked-room mystery.

Mokhtar 1969 by Amirul Idham

Terbaik. Itu kata terakhir saya selepas selesai membaca novel bestseller ini. Sebagai seorang penggemar genre psychological thriller, saya memang suka dengan plot dan premis novel ini yang selari dengan pace penceritaannya.

Kisah bermula pada tahun 1969 apabila Malaysia digemparkan dengan pembunuhan bersiri yang dikenali sebagai Pembunuh Simbol. Kesemua mangsa mempunyai MO yang sama. Mangsa terdiri daripada perempuan muda yang dipengsankan menggunakan kloroform sebelum dicekik hingga mati. Pelaku akan menoreh simbol di pergelangan tangan kiri mangsa.

Pegawai polis penyiasat, Inspektor Mokhtar merupakan seorang yang cukup komited dengan kerjayanya. Kes ini bersifat peribadi kerana teman wanitanya sendiri merupakan salah seorang mangsa Pembunuh Simbol.

Namun, pada suatu malam ketika dia yakin yang dia bakal berdepan dengan pembunuh itu, dia pula diserang hendap. Keadaannya parah dan apabila dia tersedar daripada pengsan, dia mendapati dirinya berada pada tahun 2025. Hah! 😂 Suspens, kan?

Yang lebih tidak masuk akal, dia ditemui berhampiran satu lagi mangsa pembunuhan bersiri, cuma kali ini pada tahun 2025. Bermatian Mokhtar cuba menerangkan kepada pegawai polis dan doktor yang merawatnya bahawa dia ialah Inspektor Mokhtar yang sedang menyiasat kes Pembunuh Simbol pada tahun 1969!

Saya dapat bayangkan agak sukar untuk mencipta suasana tahun 1969, tetapi itu bukan masalah utama di sini. Penulis bijak mengalihkan perhatian pembaca kepada misteri pembunuhan itu sendiri. Saya juga suka bagaimana elemen penyiasatan dan unsur fiksyen sains digabungkan tanpa membuatkan cerita terasa terlalu berat.

Walaupun ada beberapa perkara yang saya sengaja tak fikir panjang sebab nak menikmati perjalanan cerita, itu langsung tak mengganggu pengalaman membaca saya. Malah, saya rasa elemen itu yang menjadikan novel ini lebih menyeronokkan. Dan bila akhirnya identiti serta pengakuan si pembunuh didedahkan barulah saya boleh tidur malam dengan nyenyak! 😂

Children We Never Had by Nadia Khan

I don't remember the last time I finished a book in less than 24 hours. Oh, how I miss being young, stupid, irresponsible and binging girly dramas like there's no tomorrow. This story has exactly that vibe. Raw, bitchy and messy. 😅

Abby is hardly a poster girl and she's definitely far from the girl next door, yet she simply chooses not to be. Call her egocentric or self sabotaging if you want, but she's completely full of herself. Her business with Yazid was flourishing when they couldn't resist a one night stand, despite her swearing she wasn't looking for anything serious in the first place. Did I forget to mention that he's married? Haha. The author drops that bomb almost like a punchline.

It's open book 101. If you play with fire, then be prepared to face the consequences. Both of them paid the price. Abby's postpartum depression and years of repression are not easy to read through (I'm not kidding, though). She's considered lucky because she had her mother, sister, Rudy and Cikgu Khairul to help her cope with the misery. I did cry when she finally visited Adalia's grave.

I know, I know. Abby is no angelic heroine, but her flaws and selfishness are products of a harsh environment and that makes her character driven journey all the more compelling. Unpopular opinion, I love her. 😭 What makes unlikeable characters so fascinating is that they give a voice to the inner demons that exist inside all of us. Fr.

I must say this is one of the most valuable reading experiences I've had when it comes to antiheroes. Understanding why people become who they are teaches us important life lessons, even when the process is slow, painful and imperfect.

This story dives deeply into interpersonal relationships, domestic life, family dynamics, motherhood, maternal instinct and personal growth. 4.5 ⭐