Synopsis
The story begins in 1996, when the brutally murdered bodies of a middle-aged man, woman, and elderly woman are discovered in a room in the high-rise apartment building “Vander Kitasenju” in Tokyo’s Arakawa Ward, followed by a young man’s death after falling from a balcony.
Surprisingly, the four victims were not residents of the apartment, nor were they family members. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that they were complete strangers living together, pretending to be a “family.”
The background to the crime is a complex web of events, including real estate auctions, defaulted loans, family breakdown, and social isolation.
Through the testimony of those involved, the story delves into the truth of the crime and the “reason” behind the murders.
Review
・This work is told in a reportage style, with a realism that makes it seem like a documentary. The large number of characters, each told from their own perspective, gradually reveals the full picture of the crime. This excellent structure allows the story to unfold from each of their perspectives.
・The novel describes the diversity of families, stating that “happy families are similar, but unhappy families are all different.” It also has depth as a social mystery, dealing with the distortions of Japanese society after the collapse of the bubble economy, the loneliness of urban life, and the changing nature of families.
・Having a family seems like a very happy thing. However, while that family can foster love, it can also make you unhappy because of it. I was fortunate to live with a happy family, but I’m sure there are many people who struggle for their families. This novel makes you feel that we are all experiencing that unhappiness, but it also contains elements that make you feel the love of family, making it a very profound novel.
