A Game of Cat and Killer - Jiro Akagawa

 

Description

"Murder mystery fans and cat lovers get ready for an iconic new series" Janice Hallet

"Think Agatha Chrisite with claws" A.J. Finn

"You can absolutely see why Jiro Akagawa is such a staple of Japanese crime fiction" Kristen Perrin

Detective Yoshitaro Katayama is afraid of many things: heights, dark spaces, blood and . . . women.

When a young female student is found murdered, he's given two choices - review the harrowing crime-scene photographs or head to Hagoromo Women's College to investigate - and reluctantly opts for the latter.

But the murders don't stop, and soon Katayama has a different surprise on his hands: a calico cat named Holmes, orphaned her owner falls victim.

Surely that's the last thing Katayama needs. Until Holmes begins to display some uncanny investigative instincts of her own . . .

Introducing one the most iconic investigative duos in crime fiction - a hapless detective and his capable cat - A Game of Cat and Killer is a must for all readers of Japanese cat fiction and classic crime.

Translated from the Japanese by Haydn Trowell

Review

A Game of Cat and Killer

Although A Game of Cat and Killer was originally published in Japan in 1978, and this edition has been translated from the original Japanese, I was surprised by how little it felt dated. There are, of course, some obvious differences from a modern-day crime novel. There are no mobile phones, computers or modern technology to help with the investigation, but I was so caught up in the story that I barely noticed their absence.

The central character, Katayama, is certainly an unusual detective. In fact, he seems an unlikely choice for the job, as he readily admits to being afraid of just about everything. He isn't exactly the stereotypical confident, fearless detective, and this makes him quite an endearing character. He can also be rather easily led, which occasionally made me want to give him a bit of a shake, but I found him likeable enough and enjoyed seeing how he developed as the investigation progressed.

Then there is Holmes. The cat belonging to the murdered man. For me, she completely stole the show. Holmes is no ordinary cat and seems to have an uncanny ability to help Katayama uncover clues and make connections that he might otherwise have missed. She certainly has plenty of personality, and she can even put up quite a fight when necessary! Some of the scenes involving Holmes added a lighter and more unusual element to what is otherwise a murder mystery.

I particularly enjoyed the way the relationship between Katayama and Holmes developed. Katayama seems to discover abilities he didn't know he possessed, both in his professional life and in his personal life, and Holmes appears to play a surprisingly important part in bringing this about.

The mystery itself kept me interested, and I liked the combination of traditional detective work with the slightly quirky and almost whimsical presence of Holmes. It is certainly different from many of the crime novels I usually read, but that is part of its charm.

Overall, A Game of Cat and Killer was an enjoyable and entertaining read. It has the feel of a classic murder mystery, but with a rather unusual twist in the form of a very clever and very feisty cat. Katayama may not be the most conventional detective, but perhaps that is exactly what makes him (and this book)— so much fun.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC to review.