Review: Futuristic Mysteries Full of Wit and Surprises
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 20, 2013
Detective Kirin is something else. Young, confident, quirky and seven steps ahead of anyone else, he glides through mental puzzles that solve a wide array of problems, usually ferreting out bigger crimes and conspiracies even though he starts with small situations, like an almond missing from a candy. I really like his unconventional style--like hitting the dance floor and pulling off killer moves at in inopportune time that ends up being a brilliant move--and his attitude of laughing at peril and boldly negotiating in the face of danger is fun and refreshing in a rather bleak landscape otherwise.Lots of twists, turns and wild details and characters bring the stories to life. We had a bizarre beast up from the sewers and spewing a hallucinogen, at-risk courtesans, thieving gambling rings and in this world thieves steal from thieves, family might be your worst enemy, and clever tricks are around the corner from every market stall in the city. Kirin is charismatic and gambling Jake is all in. Their dialogue is some of the best part of the stories for me, funny and unexpected, with Jake trying to keep up with Kirin's razor-sharp quickness. Jake proves a worthy sidekick in finding trouble and resolving it, so I'm intrigued in seeing their relationship evolve in the next stories. In all, a really fun read that transcends genre with a smart concept and skillful writing.