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*Light Spoilers*

My Dearest Self with Malice Aforethought is a remarkable crime thriller manga that leaves you on the edge of your seat at every turn. Fans of the psychological thriller genre will be hooked from the very first chapter, establishing an interesting premise in the protagonist Eiji's memory lapses. The plot is carefully paced and, at least initially, masterfully crafted. As the story progresses the pieces of this elaborate puzzle slowly slot into place, the red herrings swim away, the foreshadowing hints called back on, and the mystery revealed.

The characters are well crafted, and become more fleshed out as the plot expands. Each character ... hides their true selves and true connections to the mystery behind a layered façade. Each reveal is only another aspect of their masks, setting up for another reveal. This culminates in a cast of nuanced characters, each interconnected in the complex plot.

The art style of the manga is superb and the visuals quickly establish themselves as a cornerstone of its high ratings. Combined with the deliberate construction of the mise-en-scene, the graphics enthrall you with its striking attention to detail and dynamic expressions. Overall, a highlight of this manga.

*Spoilers*

However, its greatest strengths beget its greatest weaknesses. The puzzle's final image is, unfortunately, not as refined as it should have been, mostly by virtue of its first half. The enthralling foundation this manga is built upon paints its plot into a corner. Beginning from chapter 39, the legs this manga walks on begin to crumble. While mostly fine, there are a few instances where elements of the mystery are blatantly shoehorned in to explain the desired ending. However, the subtle cracks are ignorable and do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
In addition, the depiction of this character as a sufferer of dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a far cry from reality. Readers should suspend disbelief and avoid employing a critical eye, as this is merely a work of fiction. The knowledge on DID is very limited even in the modern age and this manga's depiction of it should not be taken as fact in any way. Regardless, it is the main driving force of the plot development and should be treated with leniency.