Inspector Imanishi Investigates by Seichō Matsumoto***

Reading dates: 29 June – 31 July 2015

I was craving for something different from my usual crime fiction and Inspector Imanishi certainly provided that. Japan is such a different context, especially when it comes to the domestic and the social that the dialogue and actions had a special cadence. No gore here, but a lot of social calls, a lot of questions asked. I enjoyed that part. What I did not enjoy so much is the last of structure, the feeling of lack of progress when reading which was of course a reflection of Imanishi’s lack of progress. I could not follow him. I also felt for his long suffering wife Yoshiko. She is so supportive and understanding I would term her a saint. Those were the little things that irked me and I need to see whether, after leaving it, I would want to return to this atmosphere. For crime fiction is all about atmosphere …

Below, is one of the many sentences showing why I did not like the style. Too polite, too imprecise … although that might be the translation …

The two detectives chatted for a while with the station chief. After an appropriate length of time they took their leave.