All She Was Worth (火車): Miyuki Miyabe

All She Was Worth (火車）
Miyuki Miyabe
Alfred Birnbaum (translator)
296pp


It has been a while since I last took a jump into Miyabe's world, and I actually saved this one as I had heard it was the best example of her work. I even waited until I could drag a few more along with me on our Goodreads book club.

And so, about 10 days ago, I dove right into this little puzzle.

We are introduced to our detective, Officer Honma, but not really an officer right now, as he is on leave for recovery after surviving an attack in the line of duty. He is currently battling in rehab and attempting to get along with his son while they both still get used to not having the recently departed mother around.

Into this walks a distant relative, a banker, named Jun. Jun has a problem, his fiance has gone missing. He has turned to the one person who might look into the situation for him without letting his work or parents know whats happening.

Out of boredom more than anything Honma takes the case and falls head first into a world of personal finances, yakuza money collectors, bankruptcy. and stolen identity.

Any more and some of the most pleasant parts of the book will be revealed, as many of those come in the first 60 pages.

Sadly, once we are into the mystery everything gets bogged down by meetings with lawyers where Miyabe obviously felt that her Japanese audience in 1992 didn't understand how credit worked, or more specifically how people could fall into hard times and dig themselves a hole they'd never crawl out of. Maybe there is some insight into the rigid and unforgiving nature of the Japanese culture here. Even today it is true that you are expected to mind your money and not being able to pay is an unforgivable sin.

However, the middle 100 pages or more is slowed down to an absolute crawl and one that is not helped by a rather soft ending. After the boredom there is a bit of a chase, but Miyabe chose a really vague ending, certainly because she felt that whether she was kind or harsh to our villain it wouldn't feel quite right. I'm of the opinion that when she found herself here, instead of ending so softly she should have gone back and edited until the correct ending became a bit more fitting.

Maybe a lot of vagueness here in my own review, but, in case anyone decides to take their own chances with this one I refuse to spoil the few good points within.

Not recommended, sadly.