Kimi wa Nazotoki no Ma Chérie
My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

It's really great so far! The mysteries are fun and largely self-contained, and like any good mystery story they subtly encourage you to try and figure out the truth for yourself before the characters do. They remind me of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, where the main appeal is watching how Sherlock and Watson help someone out of a jam-- it's not trying to be a Holmes adaptation at all, but it keeps that curious spirit that pulls you in.

It helps that the main characters are so fun to watch; between Mitsuko, the determined adult woman who has to navigate 1930s misogyny and Saku, the ... cheerfully charming university student with half a dozen jobs and more connections, watching the characters grow and interact is one of the highlights of this series. You can feel the author's effortless skill bleed through the page, the story keeps a steady pace and touches meaningfully on societal issues like sexism without feeling too preachy. The artwork is also gorgeous, it's simple but pretty with that retro feel. I'm a big fan of the cute, goofy faces the characters pull during gags, too.

It's listed as seinen, but I think shoujo/josei fans should absolutely give this series a chance too. The English translation is digital-only on Azuki as of writing this (I'm hoping this review helps bring more eyes to the series- it deserves to thrive in physical volumes!), and on top of being well-polished it's a lot of fun reading the historical notes at the end of each chapter where you get to learn a little bit more about 1930s Ginza, where this story takes place.