The crimes involved keep the book entertaining from beginning to end, but it is the way the analysis of the characters leads to a number of sociophilosophical comments that make the context so captivating. Somewhere here is where the best asset of the novel lies, with the way Minato manages to analyze and individualize all her characters, while gradually bringing all the stories together through the murder of Emily, being truly ingenious. The novel unfolds the stories of both what happened before, during and immediately after the crime in the lives of the four girls and Asako, and the way their lives continued after that, through five chapters, one for each of the women. 15 years later, the lives of every girl are in shambles, with the impact of the murder and Asako's behaviour essentially dictating their actions, although in different ways. The latter, some months later, invited the girls to her house, only to accuse them of lying about not remembering the face of the perpetrator, and even demanding some kind of penance for him getting away. The incident had a chilling effect on the whole of the local society, but most of all, to the four girls and Emily's mother, Asako. A bit later, though, the girls went inside the gym only to find their friend dead and the man nowhere to be found.

An unknown man came to their school after- hours, while they were playing at the courtyard, and posing as a ventilation technician, took Emily away from the rest, supposedly to help him. The girls always played together, occasionally in each other's house, but at one point, after a series of antique dolls were stolen from each of the girl's houses, they experienced a true tragedy. (Apr.15 years ago, Emily, an elementary school student from a rich family transferred to the small town of Ueda, and soon became close friends with four other girls, Sae, Maki, Akiko and Yuka. Minato ( Confessions) has crafted an unnerving tale of tragedy, guilt, and penance. All these fully fleshed-out characters have suffered since Emily’s death, each in her own way. Fifteen years later, with the statute of limitations running out, each survivor relates the consequences of that warning for herself. Emily’s mother blames the girls and warns them to “atone for what you’ve done, in a way I’ll accept,” if they can’t find the murderer. When she doesn’t return, the other girls go looking for her only to discover her dead.

The stranger, claiming he has no ladder, says he needs someone to help him reach a ventilating fan in a pool changing room. One summer day, when they’re all 10, a strange man approaches the girls while they’re playing ball by the swimming pool of their small, rural Japanese town’s elementary school. Minato’s moving, tension-filled second novel charts the impact of a traumatic murder on four young women, Sae, Maki, Akiko, and Yuka, who were childhood friends of the victim, Emily.

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