Murder At The Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo

This is the seventh installment in the Kosuke Kindaichi series. The premise feels quite similar to She Walks at Night, which I read recently, but the execution still managed to blow my mind. This collection contains two stories, Murder at the Black Cat Cafe and Why Did the Well Wheel Creak?, both set in postwar Japan.

What I find interesting is the narrative structure. The narrator is in the process of writing a novel based on a local murder case, and the protagonist of that novel is none other than Kosuke Kindaichi himself. Kindaichi agrees to cooperate by sharing his records and documents, creating a story within a story that adds another layer to the mystery.

The body of a woman is discovered on the grounds of the Black Cat Cafe. The owners, a married couple known as the Daigos, had moved out only a week earlier. The victim appears to have been struck in the back of the head with a hatchet found nearby.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Daigo were involved in affairs, making the case look straightforward at first. But with Kindaichi, things are never as simple as they seem, and the evidence tells a far more complicated story.

The second story is about the striking resemblance between Daisuke Honiden and Goichi Akizuki. Compared to the wealthy Honiden family, the Akizukis live in unfortunate circumstances and are treated poorly. Goichi, the illegitimate son of the former family head of Honiden, has every reason to seek revenge. But after he is reported dead in battle, a series of mysterious deaths begins at the Honiden estate, and Daisuke no longer seems like the man he once was.

Both stories explore how revenge can destroy not only the intended target, but also innocent people caught in the crossfire. In the first story, even a black cat is killed to create false evidence, which I found cruel. In the second, Goichi may not have succeeded in taking revenge directly, but his actions still ruin many lives. Such a horrible way to die.

Another brilliant mystery from Yokomizo. I’m continually amazed by how he takes what seems like a familiar setup and turns it into something so intricate. 4.5 ⭐

Noir by Rizal Ramli

Saya suka dengan plot dan premis Noir. Walaupun nampak seperti kisah jenayah yang biasa, tema yang diketengahkan sebenarnya sangat dekat dengan realiti hidup iaitu trauma dan bagaimana seseorang boleh terperangkap dalam hubungan yang toksik tanpa tahu jalan keluar.

Setiap watak dalam novel ini saling berkait antara satu sama lain secara tidak langsung. Garapan wataknya pula dibuat dengan kemas, menjadikan jalan cerita mudah diikuti walaupun fast-pace. 

Mengisahkan Suriati, seorang wanita yang terpaksa hidup bersama Salman, suami yang bukan sahaja mendera fizikalnya, malah memusnahkan emosi dan mentalnya. Watak Salman memang sangat menjadi. Jenis antagonis yang cukup lengkap pakejnya. Manipulatif, panas baran, dan langsung tiada rasa belas kasihan. Setiap kali dia muncul, memang automatik rasa menyampah!

Kesabaran Suriati sampai ke titik terakhir apabila dia dipaksa untuk bersubahat dalam satu rompakan bersenjata. Dari sini, cerita mula menjadi semakin tegang. Rompakan itu akhirnya 'berjaya' dipatahkan oleh pihak berkuasa, tetapi banyak nyawa terkorban. Monolog Suriati sebagai mangsa dera, ditambah pula dengan rasa bersalah yang menghantui dirinya, membuatkan kisah ini terasa lebih berat dan menyentuh.

Dalam kekalutan itulah muncul Inspektor Khalis. Wataknya memang outstanding, tenang dan bijak sepanjang masa. Ada iras-iras Arash Mohd katanya. 😎 Kehadirannya bukan sekadar pegawai penyiasat, tetapi juga sebagai watak yang membawa sedikit harapan dalam cerita yang penuh dengan sisi gelap manusia.

Apa yang saya suka, penulis turut mengetengahkan tekanan yang dihadapi pihak polis. Politik pejabat, campur tangan pihak atasan, serta desakan media dan orang awam membuatkan tugas mereka terasa lebih realistik. Bukan sekadar kejar penjenayah dan mendapat pujian. 

Secara keseluruhannya, Noir ialah sebuah novel thriller yang berjaya menggabungkan aksi, emosi, dan isu masyarakat.

Watching You Fall by Dreda Say Mitchell & Ryan Carter

Watching You Fall is about Josie and Megan, two sisters with a deeply complicated and toxic relationship. They went down very different paths in life, but no matter what Megan did to her over the years, Josie always stood by her. I was so sick of their relationship.

When Megan is found dead from a drug overdose, Josie is forced to keep her promise to take care of Megan’s son, Sunny. The autopsy says Megan injected herself, but Josie refuses to believe it. Megan was terrified of needles because of a traumatic event in her past, so Josie becomes convinced that someone killed her.

She has two prime suspects in mind, but the truth is far more complicated than it first appears.

Things become even more tense when Sunny moves in with Josie’s family. He constantly stirs up trouble, and Trevor wants nothing to do with him because he despised Megan. Josie keeps making excuses for Sunny’s behavior until she finally reaches her limit.

I have to say, this story had a lot of potential. I liked how it touched on PTSD, trauma, and narcissistic behavior, and the writing itself was decent. Still, something felt a little off. The storyline set thirty years earlier and the overall execution did not feel as tightly developed as I had hoped.

Thank you to @netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the review copy. This book will be published on 15 May

Dendam Putera Melaut by Nami Cob Nobbler

Mengisahkan era sebelum dan selepas kemerdekaan sebuah kerajaan bernama Gelanggayu. Salah satu tanah jajahannya ialah Melaut, namun hubungan antara kedua-duanya sentiasa tegang akibat penindasan yang telah berlaku sejak sekian lama. Ironinya, Melaut merupakan wilayah yang sangat kaya dengan tanah subur, hasil laut, emas dan pelbagai sumber galian.

Melaut ditadbir oleh Tunku Kasim bersama adindanya, Tunku Atan. Dalam menghadapi pergolakan politik, mereka berusaha mempertahankan kedaulatan negeri dan enggan tunduk kepada pengaruh kuasa asing dan juga Wijayapura.

Putera Tunku Atan, Tunku Yahya, pula mempunyai cita-cita yang jauh berbeza daripada ayahandanya. Demi kuasa dan kekayaan, dia mempelajari pelbagai strategi untuk menguasai ekonomi serta politik antarabangsa, sehingga sanggup menggadaikan tanah air sendiri.

Di sinilah muncul hero yang dinanti-nantikan, Tunku Muhammad Niat yang digelar Mamat, putera kepada Tunku Kasim. Walaupun masih kecil, Mamat ialah seorang kanak-kanak genius. Dia menjadi mata-mata kecil untuk ayahandanya. Dan sekelip mata juga dia menjadi orang yang dipercayai Yahya. Sebijak-bijak Yahya, bijak lagi Mamat. Dengan wajah kecilnya yang naif, dia belajar kelicikan Yahya.

Itu saja snippet yang dapat saya tuliskan. Kalau boleh banyak yang saya nak ulas tapi nanti jadi spoiler pulak. Tapi apa yang boleh saya cakap, tulisan Nami tak sama macam ACT tu. Lain weiiii!!! Berubah 180°. Saya suka dan puas hati dengan evolusi ini. Walaupun kisah ini berlatar zaman dulu, Nami tetap mengekalkan lenggok bahasa dia sendiri.

Sejarah alternatif yang diketengahkan terasa segar, terutamanya untuk generasi muda. Lebih-lebih lagi ketika kita semakin menghampiri musim pilihan raya, novel ini mengingatkan bahawa strategi politik memerlukan kebijaksanaan, pengalaman, kesabaran dan pengaruh yang digunakan demi membantu golongan yang tertindas. Itulah mesej utama yang paling saya hargai dalam DPM.

Nipah Nightmares by Ismim Putera

Another story inspired by a real event that once sent fear across Malaysia and almost brought the local pig farming industry down. The real outbreak behind it infected hundreds and killed over a hundred people, which makes the story feel even more alarming right from the start.

The story is about Kiew Seng Boo, a sixteen year old boy living in a pig farmhouse deep in Kampung Sungai Nipah. He spends his days helping his parents manage an overcrowded farm that is poorly maintained and far from hygienic. At the same time, dengue cases are rising. A long drought followed by heavy rains only makes things worse, creating the perfect conditions for an outbreak that refuses to slow down.

The situation grows more distressing when pigs on the farm start dying suddenly. There are also hunters nearby who have been killing pigs that wander off, which raises suspicion. Seng Boo feels the urge to investigate, but fear holds him back. His family believes someone might be trying to sabotage them, and that tension quietly builds throughout the story.

As the number of deaths increases, most victims are linked to the farm workers and villagers who consumed pork from the area. When Dr Kaw, a health officer, and his team step in, they are shocked by the filthy conditions. The farm is eventually shut down, triggering anger among villagers especially after pig carcasses are discovered dumped in rivers and surrounding areas. Seng Boo’s family denies responsibility, adding more uncertainty to what is really happening.

I cannot say much about the story since parts of it are fictional, but the added plot helps move things along. It is simple and direct, yet still manages to capture the chaos of that time. Knowing that over a hundred people died and many cases were initially mistaken for another disease makes the story feel even more unsettling. It was not just chaos, it was a dangerous delay in understanding what was really happening.

Cinta Hari-Hari Rusuhan by Faisal Tehrani

Novel yang diinspirasikan daripada kisah benar ini memang menyentuh hati. Antara buku yang saya paling nak baca selain Surat-Surat Perempuan Johor. Cerita ini juga layak diadaptasi menjadi filem sebab penuh dengan babak cemas, anekdot penting dan naik turun emosi watak utama. 

Kisah bermula pada awal tahun tujuh puluhan, ketika Basri dan Tengku Valizah sama-sama belajar di universiti. Mereka jatuh cinta walaupun datang dari latar yang berbeza. Dalam masa yang sama, Malaysia yang masih muda sedang berdepan dengan pelbagai krisis, dan semangat mahasiswa mula membara.

Kesatuan pelajar ketika itu lantang menyuarakan pandangan terhadap isu semasa. Demonstrasi tercetus, mengecam kuasa imperialis Amerika Syarikat dan pengaruh Zionis. Namun kemuncaknya ialah Rusuhan Baling. Peristiwa ini menjadi sejarah penting dalam gerakan perhimpunan besar-besaran rakyat dan mahasiswa, berikutan kejatuhan harga getah dan kenaikan kos sara hidup.

Basri dan rakan-rakannya turut bangkit menentang ahli politik yang dilihat lebih mementingkan diri. Cara kerajaan mengurus wang negara turut dipersoalkan, dan akhirnya yang paling terkesan ialah golongan miskin. Saya paling suka bahagian ini sebab penulis berjaya gambarkan mahasiswa sebagai suara yang berani, tapi dalam masa sama mudah dimanipulasi politikus yang hendak ambil kesempatan.

Bila keadaan makin tegang, ramai pemimpin pelajar diburu dan dipenjarakan. Basri memilih untuk jadi pelarian politik. Tapi yang paling sakit, Tengku Valizah 'memungkiri' janji mereka. Konflik dalaman di sini memang berat dan sangat memberi kesan.

Kalau nak cerita detail, memang boleh jadi cerpen dah. 😅 Tapi serius, ini bukan sekadar kisah cinta biasa. Ini cinta yang ada isi dan ada kritikan sosial yang masih relevan sampai sekarang. Siapa nak tulis novel cinta, patut jadikan ini sebagai rujukan.

The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa

I love the premise of this novel. The time loop feels slightly confusing at first, but it becomes deeply captivating as the story unfolds. It’s about Hisataro Oba, a sixteen year old who suddenly gets stuck in strange time loop where he relives the same day nine times, in no fixed order. He calls this phenomenon the Trap. It’s a disorder he has to live with the rest of his life. In a way, it allows him to deliberately alter the course of reality, which becomes especially useful when it comes to preventing accidents.

As the New Year approaches, his grandfather Reijiro Fuchigami gathers the entire family. They only meet once a year due to long standing estrangement and unresolved conflict. Every year, Reijiro has a habit of renewing his will, and this gathering strongly suggests a discussion about the next successor to his successful company. However, the situation takes a dark turn when he is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Hisataro has the benefit of the Trap. With a vast inheritance at stake, everyone becomes a suspect. Using his condition, he examines alibis and pieces together everyone’s timeline in an attempt to prevent his grandfather’s murder. The most logical solution seems to be staying close to him while keeping a watchful eye on the others, but the task proves far more complex than expected. Despite trying different approaches, the events continue to repeat with subtle yet significant differences.

It was first published in 1995, and it still feels fresh and engaging today. The mix of classic whodunit and time loop concept works surprisingly well, making it both fun and a little mind bending to read. Overall, it’s a clever mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the review copy. 4.5 ⭐

Gantung & Gantung:2 by Nadia Khan

SMCGT bukan sekadar sekolah elit biasa. Di sebalik reputasinya, wujud sekumpulan pelajar asrama yang dikenali kerana kenakalan mereka. Mereka hidup berpegang pada satu kod persahabatan, Musketeer Code iaitu no all for one, just one for all. Tiada siapa dibenarkan ada steady girlfriend. Nampak klise namun semuanya berubah apabila salah seorang dari mereka melanggar kod tersebut. 

Dari cerita gila-gila remaja yang klise kemudiannya bertukar 180° mula menyentuh isu berat seperti buli dan bunuh diri. Dan harga yang perlu mereka bayar sangat mahal. Selepas dari kejadian itu, kumpulan mereka tidak lagi sama. 

Gantung dan Gantung:2 berbeza temanya. Gantung lebih kepada fantasi/paranormal. Kalau tak dibaca dengan teliti boleh rasa keliru sebab time linenya. Kalau kata soal plot, Gantung menjadi kegemaran saya. Gantung:2 lebih kepada kesan emosi dan trauma yang berpanjangan. Kalau dari segi penulisan, saya suka Gantung:2. Walaupun berbeza pendekatan, kedua-duanya saling melengkapi dengan baik.

Saya baca review di Goodreads yang Gantung:3 lebih mengundang, kompleks dan memeningkan. Tapi itu nanti-nantilah saya baca. Secara keseluruhan, ini adalah kisah yang mungkin bermula dengan rasa familiar, tetapi berkembang menjadi sesuatu yang jauh lebih berat dan menghantui. Sesuai untuk pembaca yang sukakan cerita dengan plot twist, dan permainan emosi.