Book Review : Inspector Imanishi Investigates

This book about the investigations of Inspector Imanishi takes place in Japan in the year 1960, so is not only a murder / mystery story but also provides an insight into Japanese culture just 15 years after the end of World War II.

More than most murder / mystery stories Inspector Imanishi eats a lot of varieties of food in many types of restaurant. His investigations cover most of Honshu island and not many of his travels appear productive until some clues provide a thread that the inspector unravels to show that a character introduced towards the beginning of the book is the murderer. Most of the characters are deferential towards Imanishi though he does take his own wife for granted, even spending some of her savings to travel during a long weekend when he feels he won’t be able to claim the trip on work expenses. She is very tolerant of his work hours and his rudeness towards her.

The story is excellent and there isn’t an excess of flowery descriptions, just enough to establish how different characters are from Imanishi.