Malice

On the eve of his departure for Canada, acclaimed novelist Kunihiko Hidaka is found brutally murdered in his locked study, within his also locked home. His body is discovered by his wife and his childhood best friend, Osamu Nonoguchi, both of whom possess seemingly unshakeable alibis. However, Detective Kyoichiro Kaga, assigned to the perplexing case, quickly uncovers discrepancies in Nonoguchi's account of his relationship with the victim. As Kaga delves deeper, the central question shifts from 'who' or 'how' to the more profound and disturbing 'why.' What unfolds is a riveting psychological battle between the detective and the killer, each presenting their own version of the past and present. Kaga must meticulously peel back layers of deception and hidden animosity to unearth the true motive, for if he fails, the complete truth behind Hidaka's murder will forever remain obscured. This intricate and acclaimed entry in the Detective Kaga series masterfully explores the darkest corners of human malice.