Written by Masateru Konishi and translated by Louise Heal Kawai, My Grandfather The Master Detective is a novel which seems to say it all with its title. It’s about a young woman, and her grandfather, and solving mysteries. Simple.
But while that title is true, it’s also a little deceptive – this novel is about much more than that. It’s about watching a family member deal with dementia, and the moments we share despite that, and why we love to read mystery stories in the first place. By turns cheeky and thoughtful and heartwarming. it’s a mystery novel for those who love mystery novels; chock-full of references and loving homages to the classics. But also unafraid to poke a little fun at them. This debut novel is a complete and utter delight, and is sorely deserving of a sequel.
In a style reminiscent of some of the older works of detective fiction (and perhaps familiar to readers of some Japanese ‘light novels’), My Grandfather The Master Detective is told as a series of six short stories. Our protagonist Kaede is a young woman with a penchant for mysteries, a love she shares with her grandfather. Though he lives with Lewy body dementia (which can cause vivid hallucinations as well as mobility issues), his mind is often as sharp as ever. Together, the pair ‘weave tales’ to solve a series of crimes and strange happenings, from locked-room murders to vanishing women. Unfortunately, what started out as something of a game for the pair soon transforms into something rather more sinister.
During each of Kaede’s visits with her grandfather, she is asked to figure out her own potential solutions to the mystery at hand; but she’s not the only one invited to share in the fun. The reader is too. All the clues you need to solve each mystery are contained within the story’s beginning – you’re even given maps and charts to help you visualise scenes. That way, you can weave your own tales alongside Kaede before her grandfather jumps in to see if you’re right. This style is known as ‘Honkaku’ in Japan, and is part novel, part puzzle. For those more familiar with Western detective novels, it makes for something a bit different, a fun challenge with a friendly approach. And if you’d prefer to just leave the puzzle solving to Kaede, you’ll still have a good time watching the solutions unfold.
The mysteries themselves utilise a collection of classic mystery tropes, their brevity making them succinct and for the most part self-contained. They’re not too tricky to solve on your own (or at least partially solve) if you have a keen eye for clues, though some require knowledge not all readers may have. The characters’ love of reading also adds another welcome element to the mix – that of a meta reflection on the nature of mysteries. They’ll directly mention stories with similar set-ups to the problem at hand, and sometimes reflect on what their solution was to see if it helps with the current problem. This may include some playful ribbing of the more far-fetched classics. Not only does it often serve as a hint to the ‘real’ solution, but it makes the novel feel a little more realistic and relatable. Wouldn’t all us mystery lovers do the same, after all?
In addition, while the stories are for the most part self-contained, there are two twists with clues building in the background, coming to a climate in the final stories. A bonus round, if you will.
Beyond the mysteries at the story’s core, My Grandfather The Master Detective is compelling and heartwarming. Its portrayal of dementia is thoughtful and knowledgeable, pulling from the author’s own experience. The characters are quirky and playful, the perfect compliment to this puzzle-book approach. The references to other mystery novels are charming (and sometimes a little sassy), but don’t overstay their welcome. It expertly hits that sweet spot that makes cosy mysteries so warm and comfortable despite their morbid topics.
Unfortunately, the sharpness of the novel’s prose does not always match the sharpness of its wit. While seemingly intended to be understated, at times it is dull, perhaps even stodgy. This may simply be a matter of translation or Japanese conventions (especially as I’ve seen similar styles in some other Japanese novels), however the sheer strength of the narrative means it’s only a minor issue – though readers with a penchant for flowery language may find themselves a little disappointed.
Despite this point, Masateru Konishi’s debut novel is undeniably a delight. If you’ve been reading mystery books and are tired of watching others find the solutions you’ve already spotted, or just want something a little different from your typical ‘cosy mysteries’, I cannot recommend this enough.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
My Grandfather the Master Detective by Masateru Konishi is out now through MacMillan. Find a copy at your local bookstore HERE.
Header image supplied by MacMillan.
