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Reviewed by Steven M. Bari In volume 32 of Case Closed, everyone’s favorite teenage detective trapped in the body of a first-grader is gumshoeing his way through ancient treasure, TV stars, and possibly the Professor Moriarty to his Sherlock Holmes! Aoyama has Conan take a break from straight murder mystery to solve an attempted murder, and then an accidental kidnapping. Seriously, if Aoyama continues at this rate, he may run out of people in his stories. The book opens with the continuing mystery of the Osaka Castle murders. Here Conan and Harley work together, alongside Harley’s dad, the Chief of Police, to uncover a treasure left by the great samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the murderers who will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. One of the most surprising parts of the story is the father-and-son dynamic between Harley and Chief Hartwell. Stoic and calculating, the chief enters the scene of two fresh murders and finds Harley parading the crime scene in a flurry of conceit. Hartwell knocks Harley back to solid ground with one swift punch. Although probably not the best parenting, Aoyama makes this point in the story more than just the act of a frustrated father. It is a cathartic moment, which becomes so much more compelling at the narrative’s finale. Sadly, the second story’s ending wasn’t as convincing; in fact, it was a major letdown. When Detective Moore and friends are invited to an exclusive party by pop star Yoko Okino, Conan finds an actress with her throat slashed and five suspects. Although Conan solves this case with remarkable skill, the story’s conclusion was too intent on returning things to the status quo than resolving the narrative. A dues ex machina of disappointment. Overall, Case Closed volume 32 is a thrilling mystery filled with violence, craftiness, and a plucky little hero. One’d be remiss to miss out on this. Think you could have written a better review of Case Closed v32 ? Write us and we'll probably let you give it a shot! --EiC PC |
3 November 2009
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