Helpful Score: 2
Quite good tale of revenge and a whole lot of twisted attempts to one-up and foil people, rivals, etc. The main "detectives" of this story really end up being a couple of the protagonists, Japanese young ladies with a tenacious curiosity about what happened to their loved ones. Interesting little story, very much in the Japanese tradition of wondering what is human life, where does it end, and where does one person's life end and another begins--all in a neat little mystery. =)
Helpful Score: 1
Natsuki is one of the best (if not THE best) selling mystery writer in Japan with over 80 novels and numerous shorter pieces, plays, etc. to her credit. Portal of the Wind centers around the conflict of a traditional craft master and his competent but impatient apprentice. Messy emotions, strained relationships, murder, and a twist ending. Enjoyable.
