A Quiet Place is a twisty but slow moving psychological thriller. It is not a traditional mystery at all. And that is what I liked most about it.
Asai’s wife has died young from a heart attack. She had a previous attack so her cause of death was no surprise. However, Asai cannot stop wondering why she was walking in such a remote area of the town. He comes up with some outlandish theories. He engages a private detective firm. He even investigates on his own. He is obsessed. But is he correct?
The pacing of this book is very slow and methodical. Luckily, at 224 pages, the book is short enough to encourage the reader to wait. I am so glad I did. The conclusion is so well done that I wish I could tell you why. But I won’t because I want you to read this excellent story for yourself.
A Quiet Place is set, and written, in 1970s Japan. It exhibits many of the sexist thoughts of the time. However, it really showcases a completely different culture. Asai is not a sympathetic character but you can see how he was almost preprogrammed to have some of the ideas whirling through his mind.
Over half the book is more of a character study than a procedural although Asai is definitely investigating. It is much more Columbo than Murder She Wrote. Because I love a mystery, I loved the resolution best but the unique way this mystery is plotted was fun too. 5 stars and a favorite!
Thanks to NetGalley and Modern Library for providing me with an advanced review copy.