Kuroshitsuji: Book of Murder

Black Butler: Book of Murder is a two-episode OVA that serves as a direct sequel to Book of Circus, continuing the dark and twisted tale of Ciel Phantomhive and his ever-faithful butler, Sebastian. This arc offers a classic murder mystery setup with a Victorian flair, blending gothic aesthetics with suspense and intrigue.

The premise revolves around a murder that takes place during a grand banquet hosted at the Phantomhive estate. As the guests are picked off one by one, the tension steadily rises. The whodunit-style plot keeps you guessing, with plenty of red herrings and misdirection. While the mystery is engaging, the overall execution ... feels somewhat predictable, especially for seasoned mystery fans. However, the payoff and reveal are still satisfying, tying into the larger narrative with clever twists.

Ciel and Sebastian remain the highlights, with their dynamic as sharp and compelling as ever. Ciel’s cunning and resolve continue to develop, while Sebastian’s cold yet charismatic presence makes every scene he’s in captivating. The supporting cast, including the eccentric guests, adds color to the mystery, though most of them are ultimately forgettable due to their limited screen time. The reappearance of familiar faces is a nice touch, adding continuity to the overarching story.

The animation quality remains consistent with Book of Circus, with elegant Victorian-era visuals, detailed costumes, and atmospheric lighting that enhances the murder mystery ambiance. The darker color palette and candlelit settings contribute to the eerie, ominous tone. The character designs are stylish as always, and the animation during the more action-oriented moments is fluid and clean.

The soundtrack complements the haunting and mysterious atmosphere effectively. The orchestral pieces and subtle background scores build tension without overpowering the scenes. The voice acting is strong, with Daisuke Ono once again delivering a chilling yet alluring performance as Sebastian. The sound design during key moments, such as the murders, adds a layer of suspense.

Book of Murder is an entertaining and stylish murder mystery that provides a nice follow-up to Book of Circus. While it doesn’t reach the same emotional highs or intensity as its predecessor, it offers a satisfying blend of intrigue, gothic horror, and dark humor. The plot is solid, but it plays it a bit safe in terms of mystery tropes. Still, fans of Black Butler will find it a worthy addition to the series, especially for its continued focus on Ciel and Sebastian’s twisted bond.

[English and Spanish review]

[English]

Why you may want to watch this OVA?

If you love Sebastian, and you probably do, you will feel the need to watch him every time as possible.
But, in my opinion, this is not a really interesting story. A "riddle" quite predictible, with the same structure of an ordinary mistery novel, trying to pay tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle... a little bit boring (and I'm a fan of Sherlock Holmes)
And the worst part is that Sebastian does not appear that much, so, it's not really worth it, even though he is as charming as always.
Sorry! but I would not mind not to ... have watched this. In one word: expendable.

[Spanish]

Por qué podrías querer ver este OVA?

Si te encanta Sebastian, y probablemente así es, sentirás la necesidad de verlo cuantas veces sea posible.
Pero, en mi opinión, esta historia no es interesante, en absoluto. Un "acertijo" bastante predecible, con la misma estructura de una novela de misterio común, tratando de homenajear a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle... un poco aburrida. (y soy fanática de Sherlock Holmes)
La peor parte es que Sebatian no aparece tanto, entonces, no vale la pena verlo, a pesar de que es tan encantador como siempre.
Lo siento! pero no me hubiera importado no haber visto esto. En una palabra: prescindible.

I think I can say with full conviction that I hate Black Butler now. The first season was repetitive and monotonous, but was at least funny enough to keep me going. The second season was a mess, but was surprisingly much better because it shook things up. The third season was more like season one, but at least was really short, more creative, and had pretty art.

Book of Murder was the last straw. Black Butler can officially go fuck itself. Not since Demon King Daimao has an anime pissed me off so much.

I think my biggest problem with Black Butler is the Black Butler ... himself. With him, all suspense or concept of telling a story is thrown out the window. I know how everything is going to go. Book of Murder's ending was absolute crap. I was shocked by how stupid it was, and was mad at myself for being so surprised because I really should have seen it coming. I actually thought that the answer was going to be clever. It wasn't clever. It was a middle finger.

I think that seasons two and three were more tolerable because they had such big casts. That way, it was easier for me to ignore the fact that I hated the two main characters so much. But this OVA is even worse than season 1 in regards to having to put up with Ciel and Sebastian's bullshit. After this, I think that those two might tie for my least favorite characters in any anime.

Pardon my anger, but this show is just one hell of an insult.