The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

Shimada Kiyoshi and his obsession with Nakamura Seiji’s architecture deliver once again. In this installment, a group of university Mystery Club students and editorial team members are invited to the Clock House for a special feature. Rumours claim the place is haunted, drawing them into an investigation that quickly feels far more dangerous than expected. Among them is Shimada, also known as Shishiya Kadomi, an aspiring mystery writer whose sharp curiosity and deep love for detective fiction.

Nakamura Seiji, a renowned architect, is infamous for his bizarre and unsettling creations, including the Blue Mansion and the Decagon House, both shadowed by tragedy. The Clock House, his latest design, belongs to the Koga family and holds an extensive antique clock collection once owned by Koga Michinori. After his death nine years ago, everything was inherited by his son. Over the past decade, seven deaths have occurred around the Koga family, adding weight to the chilling rumours.

What begins as a curious investigation soon turns into a nightmare when a series of locked room murders unfolds. The tension builds steadily, creating a suffocating atmosphere that lingers throughout. I especially enjoyed Shimada’s detailed explanations and bits of trivia, which highlight his meticulous and analytical mind. Some parts felt repetitive, but it may have been a deliberate stylistic choice. Overall, I really enjoyed it. 4 ⭐s.

Thank you to @PushkinPress and @NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Tugu by Hasan Ali

Novel yang tak sampai 200 muka surat ni pernah diterbitkan kali pertama pada tahun 1965. Penulis menyampaikan cerita dengan lenggok bahasa zamannya, menggunakan pendekatan show, don’t tell.

Ia mengisahkan Karim yang baru bertugas sebagai pegawai polis khas ketika zaman darurat. Dia menjadi kebanggaan keluarga dan ditugaskan di sekitar beberapa kawasan panas di Perak. Tugas Karim menjaga kawasan persekitaran agar tidak dicerobohi musuh. Bagi saya, zaman darurat tak kurang sengsaranya dengan zaman pendudukan Jepun. Dengan makanan dicatu, perintah berkurung dan hidup dalam ketakutan disebabkan tindakan komunis amat jelas diceritakan penulis. 

Masalah utama mereka pada masa itu bukan saja kekurangan infrastruktur dan komunikasi, tapi musuh dalam selimut yang menjadi ancaman terbesar kepada kestabilan negara. Dalam masa yang sama, perkembangan watak Karim daripada seorang yang mentah kepada individu yang memahami nilai amanah dan integriti digambarkan dengan baik.

Diselitkan juga kisah cintanya yang tidak kesampaian. Ringkas tapi amat signifikan dalam perjalanan cerita, menambah kedalaman emosi sepanjang novel. Tak cukup dengan itu, kehidupan Karim terus dirundung malang selepas berlakunya serangan hendap komunis yang benar-benar meninggalkan kesan kepada keseluruhan cerita. Saya amat kagum bagaimana sebuah novel yang ringkas mampu merangkum pengalaman darurat dengan begitu padat dan menyentuh hati. Saya beri 5 ⭐

The Professor by Faisal Tehrani

Reading a thought provoking and taboo themed novel during Ramadan felt eye opening. The book is about three women and their journeys, while also showing how human rights are seen in Malaysia.

Professor Suliza is an activist academic who uses her position to speak about human rights. As a feminist, she is often judged and misunderstood. The trauma of her friend’s rape and suicide still haunts her and shapes who she becomes. Hashimah, a cleaner, lives with an abusive husband who is known as a religious and respected man outside the home. Dalila is a liberal feminist working on a novel about feminist and human rights topics. Both Hashimah and Dalila are also close to Professor Suliza.

I have always liked the author’s writing, and his voice is very clear in this book. He adds some academic style writing to make the story stronger and more meaningful. As he said, readers should not focus only on the storytelling, but also on the message. This book really makes us reflect on different perspectives of human rights.

The story also answers many questions, including what happened to Professor Suliza and how Dalila tries to understand herself again after losing her memory. Her sudden marriage to Jebat shows how lost and dependent she feels. The ending is riveting.

The timeline may confuse some readers, but I personally enjoy this kind of creative writing. It’s not your typical story. The book mixes different themes like politics, relationships, and serious social issues. A powerful read. 4.5 ⭐