Penunggu Pulau Salik by Ilham Mazalan


All Hail MahaKacip!
Saya sengaja tak baca blurb dan review buku ni sebab nak naikkan lagi meter keseraman dalam diri. Kalau nak rasa pengalaman yang lebih menyeramkan, bacalah waktu malam.

Mengisahkan sekumpulan staf Zoo Kuala Lumpur yang bercuti ke Pulau Salik. Pulau Salik merupakan sebuah perkampungan terpencil tapi bagi mereka yang nak lari daripada kesibukan bandar, inilah percutian yang paling dinanti-nantikan.

Pulau Salik pula kaya dengan mitos dan kepercayaan kuno. Dalam perjalanan ke sana, kereta sewa mereka berlanggar dengan seekor anak kambing. Sudahlah panik, mereka pula dituduh sebagai pembunuh oleh seorang perempuan tua. Kata-kata perempuan tua itu seolah-olah membawa petanda malang. Belum sempat mereka menghadam apa yang berlaku, perempuan tua bersama kambing itu hilang sekelip mata! Woah! 🙀🙀

Itulah permulaan kepada segala mimpi ngeri yang menanti mereka. Pelbagai kejadian menyeramkan berlaku sepanjang berada di Pulau Salik. Yang paling saya kagum, mereka berlima masih mampu kekal positif. 😂 Kalau bukan sebab cuaca buruk, rasanya memang tak balik lagi agaknya. Menurut penduduk di situ, mereka sebenarnya sudah terkena sumpahan. 

Dari situlah mereka tahu bahawa percutian ke Pulau Salik sebenarnya hanyalah satu perangkap. Semuanya berpunca daripada kepercayaan karut untuk menghentikan sumpahan yang menghantui penduduk setempat. Kononnya, seseorang dari luar pulau perlu dijadikan korban. Di sinilah semangat setiakawan mereka benar-benar diuji. Nak keluar dari pulau itu bukan mudah apabila mereka sendiri menjadi buruan roh jahat.

Cuba bayangkan, selama 300 tahun tak ada langsung satu idea yang benar-benar bernas untuk menyelamatkan Pulau Salik. Nasib baiklah muncul lima budak Gen Z yang berani dan nekad jadi ghostbuster. 😂

Saya suka macam mana penulis membina momentum cerita. Macam roller coaster bila baca buku ni. Ini merupakan bacaan kedua saya daripada penulis selepas Cinta Terbelah di Laut Merah dan sekali lagi dia berjaya menghiburkan saya. Please, don't die and keep writing! 

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 ⭐

Dia Dan Nya by Sutung Umat Rs

Saya sengaja mencabar minda dan emosi untuk membaca dan membedah novel ini walaupun saya tahu ia bukan genre kegemaran saya. Kalau saya tak baca blurb karya ini terlebih dahulu, memang akan ke laut dalam dibuatnya. Novel ini tidak bergerak dengan plot lazim yang biasa kita jumpa. Sebaliknya, ia lebih menumpukan kepada idea, permainan bahasa, visual dan cebisan emosi. Di dalamnya juga terselit perbualan dan garis masa yang seolah-olah diulang secara rawak.

Watak Dia dengan personaliti yang konsisten ini sebenarnya ialah watak yang dicipta penulis untuk novel terbarunya. Saya juga merasakan Dia sedang berdepan dengan semacam midlife crisis. Dia sering mempersoalkan dirinya sendiri tentang segala dosa dan kesilapan masa lalu. Ada kenangan yang indah dan ada juga yang menyakitkan. Yang menyakitkan itulah yang paling kerap bermain-main di benaknya.

Dalam diri Dia juga ada Nya. Entiti atau suara dalaman yang sentiasa menyedarkan dan mendorong Dia untuk berbuat kebaikan. Kata Nya, "Jangan menyeksa dan membunuh dirimu dengan masa lalu." Tetapi seperti manusia biasa, kadang-kadang Dia mendengar dan kadang-kadang tidak. Kisah lama tetap diulang dan kenangan lama tetap datang menjengah.

Begitulah secara ringkas hubungan dan dialog antara Dia dengan Nya. Perbualan mereka menyentuh pelbagai aspek kehidupan seperti kekuasaan Allah, perpaduan, agama dan politik. Ia diselang-seli dengan anekdot tentang pelbagai peristiwa yang berlaku di dalam dan luar negara. Selain refleksi diri, penulis turut menyelitkan kritikan terhadap penjajah, ahli politik yang membelenggu masyarakat, nilai moral yang semakin terhakis serta idea dan harapan untuk sastera tanah air.

Terus terang, ini bukan bacaan yang mudah untuk saya. Semasa saya mula-mula membaca karya penulis ini dulu, saya memberikan rating yang rendah sebab saya seorang mood reader. Namun selepas melewati usia yang lebih matang (ke?) saya mula merasakan setiap buku wajar diraikan jika kena dengan masanya. 


Philanthropists by Rozlan Mohd Noor


This is my second time reading an Inspector Mislan novel after The Soulless. Instead of going back and reading the author's earlier works that I spotted on Libby, I decided to skip ahead. Because why not, kan? 😂

The timing felt just right too. I was reading this while discussions about UNHCR refugees and illegal immigrants were making headlines around the country, which made some of the themes in the book feel even more relevant.

Inspector Mislan has just returned to the D9 Special Investigations Unit after spending eight months recovering from an attempted murder. Not long after his return, he and his team are assigned to investigate a double murder. Two men have been shot dead inside a house. Nothing appears to be missing, not even bundles of drugs found at the scene. Their first assumption is that it could be a drug deal gone wrong. The problem is that the deeper they dig, the harder it becomes to identify both the killer and the motive.

What I liked was how the author never rushes to connect this suspicious case to the previous one, despite the similarities in the MO being hard to ignore. Instead, he allows the investigation to unfold at its own pace, letting the clues emerge naturally.

Things become even more complicated because the story takes place during the Covid 19 pandemic. With the MCO being extended, an NGO suddenly comes under scrutiny after receiving a large donation from an unknown source. From there, more evidence begins to surface.

The story is packed with police procedural details and the realities of bureaucracy. It also touches on xenophobia, illegal immigration, drugs, PTSD, vigilantism, and the challenges of living through a pandemic. And the ending? Mind blown. Literally. 🫣

I wonder why the television adaptation of the Inspector Mislan series has yet to make it to our screens. Or is it still stuck somewhere in development? 

Gosip by Marwilis


Semasa saya baru berjinak-jinak membaca novel English, Jackie Collins adalah antara penulis kegemaran saya. Jadi bila baca novel ni rasa mengimbau kembali gaya penceritaannya yang penuh dengan dunia glamor dan skandal. Fun fact, penulis ini adalah ayah kepada novelis, Ahadiat Akashah. Jadi, faham-faham sajalah lenggok bahasanya. Saya rasa kalau cerita ini dimuat naik di Wattpad pada zaman sekarang, memang boleh dapat view yang tinggi, no pun intended. Ceritanya fast-paced sebab banyak dialog diselitkan. Latar dan vibe cerita seperti awal 90an walaupun penulis menyatakan ia berlaku sekitar tahun 2000an. 

Mengisahkan Cat atau nama sebenarnya Siti Khatijah seorang peragawati yang baru di pentas peragaan dan dunia lakonan. Rezekinya bagaikan datang bergolek ditambah dengan kecantikan dan bakat yang datang seiring.

Lufti pula ialah pengurus Cat dan orang yang bertanggungjawab memperkenalkan Cat ke dunia glamour ini. Seperti biasa kalau ada gula pasti ada semut yang nak menghurung. Ramai orang kenamaan mahu mendekati tapi untuk Cat menerima lelaki yang biasa-biasa tiada dalam agendanya.

Namun apabila Dato' Jamal seorang jutawan mencuba nasib, Cat dan Lufti menjadi gelap mata dengan segala kemewahan yang ditawarkan. Dari situlah gosip tentang Cat tersebar. Kebanyakkannya bersifat negatif. Itulah secara ringkas kehidupan yang Cat sendiri mahu. Konflik mula menarik apabila anak Dato'Jamal, Lily merupakan musuh lama Cat sejak zaman sekolah muncul. Kedua-duanya mahu membuktikan siapa yang jatuh dulu dan endingnya amat memuaskan hati.

Secara keseluruhan, ada nada kritikan pedas terhadap realiti dunia hiburan tempatan. Selain itu, penulis juga memperlihatkan peranan wartawan hiburan dalam membentuk imej seseorang artis serta cabaran untuk kekal relevan dalam industri yang sarat dengan muslihat dan persaingan. 

#bookreview #gosip #marwilis #bookrecs #bookstagram

Big Trouble in Little Paradise by Nathaniel Sario


Another underrated story from Fixi. I give this one 5 ⭐.
What I love most about this book is the writing. The author has a way of making me feel intrigued from the very beginning. You can tell he did enough research to make the story believable and give me a glimpse of what the characters are about to experience.

Darat Kumut is a small town in Tawau. Tourists are drawn to its quiet atmosphere, tranquility, serenity, beautiful scenery, friendly locals, luxurious resorts, and casino. On the surface, it seems like the perfect getaway. Yet, every place has its dark side.

Wesley Moysin was once a news reporter. Looking for a fresh start, he moved to Darat Kumut and began working at All Convenience Store, owned by his aunt. Not long after settling in, he had a confrontation with Tommy Asandu, a local troublemaker who seemed to attract nothing but problems wherever he went. 

A few weeks later, Tommy's body was found floating near the jetty. The autopsy concluded that he had died from a heroin overdose.

The problem is, Wesley is not entirely convinced.
He suffers from memory blanks and cannot remember what he was doing on the night Tommy died. Still haunted by trauma from his previous job, he struggles to trust his own memories. His co worker's aunt at the store who also a celebrated crime novelist, encourages him to write again and investigate Tommy's death. Perhaps uncovering the truth will help him get back on track.

As Wesley digs deeper, he discovers that Tommy's death may be connected to the disappearance of a girl several months earlier and a drug trafficking operation. A single suspicious death turns into two homicides and before long, Wesley's life is in jeopardy. 

At first, I thought this would be another straightforward crime story. But the author really showcases his talent here. The protagonist is compelling, the pacing is sharp, and the world building makes Darat Kumut feel alive. As a whodunit, the novel does a great job of keeping readers guessing. Kudos!