Go Tokyo Your Experience
Immersing oneself in the world of detective novels, the greatest joy comes from enjoying the intricate puzzles set up by the author while uncovering the truth alongside the characters in the story. However, have you ever felt that the author’s excessive pursuit of puzzle complexity tends to overlook the emotional depth of the characters? This can result in these characters appearing hollow and thin, almost like puppets controlled by the puzzles, merely props on the stage?
Recently, a discovery by a Japanese netizen has sparked a discussion about this phenomenon: a particular detective novel was criticized heavily for its character development, leading to heated debate. So, is focusing solely on puzzles truly a mistake? In this sense, can any detective novel completely avoid this problem? Next, let’s take a look at the opinions of Japanese netizens on this!
Recently, Japanese mystery novelist Akiho Mizuka’s debut work “コンビニなしでは生きられない” (“Can’t Live Without a Convenience Store”), published in 2018, has once again become a topic of discussion. A long-circulated negative review was found on Amazon Japan, which rationally yet sharply pinpointed the issue, quickly attracting widespread attention.
★★☆☆☆ It was pretty enjoyable to read, but the characters are just too hollow.
I feel that the author first designed the puzzle before the story was created, and the characters in the book exist solely to serve that puzzle. Although these characters have prepared for something for years, their actions seem devoid of emotion, which is really strange. I believe the author should invest more energy in character development, pay more attention to human emotions, and perhaps making a few friends or girlfriends might help.
This criticism unabashedly points the finger at the book’s ‘puzzle-first’ creation method and has quickly caused an uproar in the detective novel community. Many netizens can’t help but reflect on whether this statement is not only limited to ‘Living Without Convenience Stores,’ but can also be universally applied to all detective novels.
After all, this type of work has always been centered around constructing riddles. Are the characters in detective novels really just props that serve the puzzles?
On the internet, the clash of different opinions quickly heated up this discussion:
Some people point out that this kind of criticism might suffocate a large number of detective fiction writers: “If everyone thinks this way, detective fiction writers are likely to lose half of their industry.”
Others lament the universality of this phenomenon: “Indeed, this kind of comment can almost be applied to many works.”
Many netizens have expressed their aesthetic fatigue with detective novels: “That’s why I don’t really like detective novels… I always feel like the whole book revolves around the puzzles.” Some readers even specifically mentioned the works of well-known author Keigo Higashino, claiming “his books often make me feel that ‘the characters are just like this.'”
While this viewpoint certainly has some representation, it is not without its opponents. Some detective fans stated frankly: “Orthodox detective novels exist precisely to solve puzzles; if we don’t focus on the innovation of the puzzles, then what can we still call detective novels?”
In addition, some netizens believe the issue lies in the classification: ‘Detective novels inherently have differences in classification; some works focus on the novelty of the puzzle, while others emphasize the interaction between characters. If you truly enjoy works with rich character development, perhaps you don’t need the elements of deduction to drive the plot.’
At the same time, some people mentioned that some detective novels have even taken another extreme: ‘There are indeed many detective novels where the puzzles are so trivial that they make one roll their eyes, yet the portrayal of characters’ emotions is quite heartfelt.’
This kind of statement has evoked more resonance, with netizens bluntly expressing: “When I read detective novels, I often feel that the characters’ behaviors are somewhat strange or unnatural, but puzzle enthusiasts may only care about the layers of the mystery being peeled away, while ignoring the logic of the characters.”
However, as the debate progressed, many gradually realized that the reliance of detective novels on puzzles does not completely negate character development. In fact, some well-regarded classics not only excel at constructing complex puzzles but also depict their characters as vibrant and rich. This may be the balance that many mystery writers strive for.
So, where should the core of a detective novel lie? Japanese netizens have differing opinions on this:
Perhaps an excellent detective novel can balance both aspects? But in any case, if too much emphasis is placed on characters, a detective novel may transform into ‘ordinary literature without a mystery.’
That said, is there any detective novel that completely lacks such issues? As long as it can provide enjoyment for both puzzle enthusiasts and readers who focus on character emotions, it may already be quite remarkable.
Ultimately, the charm of detective novels lies in the tension within them. The setup of the puzzles is its soul, while the actions and emotions of the characters are its flesh and blood.
