Matt McAvoy Book Review

I really enjoyed this intriguing mystery from Sean, in actual fact a lot more than I was expecting to.  Most books like this are pretty average to good, but A Curse in Kyoto was absolutely quite a cut above that, and I read the whole thing in a couple of long sittings.  This was actually no mean feat, because the book is pretty lengthy – yet it doesn’t feel like it; I was gripped and entertained throughout.  With the barely noteworthy exception of a slightly drawn-out third act, this was a great-paced read. 

Starting off with an ominous threat which may be supernatural, this is definitely a young adult mystery which brought to mind the mysteries tackled by Scooby Doo’s teenage sleuthing entourage, as what may be a malevolent ghost or a student in disguise haunts the halls of a school, and more specifically an ancient Japanese instrument called a koto, or a harp.  At first, this premise may seem for slightly younger teens, but rather the opposite, in fact, it is actually appropriate for the more mature YA readership, as there is some pretty strong language throughout.  But the violence is mild and the scares aimed at entertainment.  It is a lot of fun for most mature readers, I have to admit. 

I have to admit, usually seeing a tagline which hints at my current read being one of a series strikes fear into me, particularly in this genre, as they often leave you hanging on a cliff which, after 100,000 words, would have been infuriating – but that isn’t the case here at all; the story has a great arc and I really enjoyed the direction it took, with a gripping climax, too.  In fact, furthermore, it actually left me looking forward to seeing what comes in the next instalment for its two amateur detectives.  Jessica and Kenta are both great characters, each interesting and appealing in their own way.  He is intriguingly layered and she is a very sharp heroine – you find yourself genuinely rooting for both of this endearing duo, with their valour and their resourcefulness real stars of the narrative; it is a pleasure watching them both grow into their roles.  The author S.J. Cullen is also superb value.  He has crafted a very satisfying thriller for most ages (albeit practising discretion over the swearing), but more importantly he respects his audience.  Rather than simply jumping on the Japanese YA, creepy-girl, manga-style bandwagon, he has created his book with style.  He clearly knows the Japanese culture and the language well.  The adage “write what you know” has clearly been well observed in this case.  I very much look forward to reading the next in the series.