"Out" by Natsuo Kirino [REVIEW]

[Ash CS7]

You live in a dump. Your life's a mess, you work at odd hours, your pay is little, and the people around you are nothing more than a hindrance to your job. You want out, because you're sure that's where the better life is.

Welcome to the life of our protagonist, Masako. Of which book? Out by Natsuo Kirino, of course. Masako is a lady who works the night shift at a factory. Her friends, Yoshie, Yayoi, and Kuniko are also with her and they have their own issues to worry about as well. But when something unexpected happens, Masako is pulled into the dark underworld of crime - with her being the primary suspect of a crime only she and a few others know the truth about.

A false conviction, loan-sharking, working at gambling bars, hostesses, labouring, payment - all of these are just finer aspects of the construction of this story. The toggle of perspectives to assist in the progression of the story is unique, as well as the use of the different techniques of suspense, making Out is a definite must-read! There is no other novel out there that has such a fresh approach to a simple, yet brutal, crime case.

Overall rating: 5/5