In The Miso Soup - Ryu Murakami: A Definite and Disturbing Tastebreaker

In The Miso Soup By Ryu Murakami

This story finds us in the 1990’s Tokyo, Japan.

Our main character is Kenji, a tour guide for the nightlife of the city — particularly the sex industry. Of course, he mainly guides foreigners who are seeking to have a good time. Kenji, however, lands a client who is odd, strange, and a bit of a compulsive liar.

Meanwhile, there are gruesome murder scenes haunting Tokyo, sending police and the public into a frenzy. It is said many times in the book,

“It just isn't very Japanese to kill someone in that way.”

Kenji has his suspicions — his suspicions lead to a bit of paranoia, and we soon find out whether those suspicions are right.

In The Miso Soup falls right in line with the rest of Ryu Murakami’s work — disturbing and gut-wrenching at its finest. Murakami is definitely not a slow burner in the way he builds his mystery and terror. Readers be advised — be ready to get right into the disturbances. It is quick, tightly wound, and leaves the reader with a sense of relief when it's all over.

This book gets a solid 3.75/5

Would I recommend it?

Yes, particularly if you’re looking for some tastebreakers or a quick read. It’s more of a novella in length, and Murakami’s capturing writing style will have you devouring its pages in no time.

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