People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry

Lucie Blackman, 21 years old, had entered Japan as a tourist with her best friend, Louise Phillips. The two of them went to Tokyo to work off the debts that had become such a burden to Lucie. They were working as a hostess in a small nightclub because they could make money easily. One day, Lucie had gone out for a meeting with a man and never came back. After a while, the case was upgraded from a missing person inquiry to a criminal investigation.

After 23 days, Japanese authorities arrested Joji Obara, a Tokyo businessman who could have been involved in the disappearance of other foreign women. This is an absurd true-crime story about a serial rapist, manipulator, psychopath and evil man who, in the end, had no connection with the disappearance and dismemberment of Lucie. This is well written by RLP about his first-hand experiences as correspondence for a British newspaper, living in Tokyo. This story is full of heartaches and lies. And makes you question the failure of law and order. 

Obara received a life sentence in prison for 30 years and is unlikely to walk free before 2030. How was that? I personally support the death penalty because I don't see why the government should be spending for their staycation after they have committed such filthy crimes. 

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

Three generations, three timelines, and three wounded hearts. It has engaging writing and delving deeply into each character's history and beliefs. It starts with May and her husband, who faced hardship in China's brutal civil war. They had a reason to hate their own country and fled to the U.S. Since then, they'd wanted to be American.

Her daughter, an ABC, American-born Chinese, also faced discrimination until she met Matthew, a white perfect and pharmaceutical heir. The conflict begins when their son, Nick, is born. It seems she couldn't trust her family's secrets for the sake of changing lives and fate. Nick became aware of watching his parents and grandmother falling apart despite feeling out of place himself.

This timely book shows how real people lived with early struggles, grappling with identity, trying to feel loved, ethical challenges and fighting for the inevitable future.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing and Izah for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

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Close To Death by Anthony Horowitz

I'm thrilled! Another 5 ⭐️ read. In this latest series, Anthony Horowitz's agent encouraged him to write the fifth book in the Hawthorne series. Daniel Hawthorne is a brilliant star in his book. She even suggested he write a case Hawthorne had solved 5 years earlier in his detective career. 

A murder of Riverview Close. Riverview Close is a gated community, a perfectly serene neighbourhood. Until Giles Kenworthy and his family moved into the area. He had a strained relationship with his neighbours due to his lack of empathy. Tragically, he was found dead one night with a crossbow bolt in his throat. With everyone in the area having a potential motive, suspicion looms over all residents.

The case came to an end when one of the neighbours wrote a letter admitting to the crime and then took his own life out of remorse. Hawthorne believed that this locked room mystery was anything but usual. John Dudley, his sidekick provides insight into their enigmatic characters from a different angle. The more Anthony learned about Hawthorne, the less he knew him. 

Featuring a dual timeline, a cleverly crafted plot, a tense atmosphere, and an abundance of red herrings, this book has secured a place as one of my top psychological thrillers this year.