Category: Entertainment

The featured image above is taken from the Canberra Theatre Centre’s official website. Please note that taking photos or videos is strictly prohibited during the show.

🥁 My First Impression of DRUM TAO at Canberra Theatre Centre

About two and a half months ago, my husband said we should go see a show since we haven’t done anything cultural for a while. We booked the tickets and completely forgot about it until the day of the performance.

We went to the Canberra Theatre Centre without looking up anything at all. But as soon as the show started, the vibration from the drums totally hooked me. It was a modern take on traditional Japanese drums called “Wadaiko”, and the power was way beyond what I expected.

🅿️ Parking Tip for Canberra Theatre Centre:
If you aren’t worried about finding free street parking, the best spot is the Canberra Centre shopping mall right in front of the theatre. It’s super close, has plenty of space, and is very secure.

Cost: There is a $4 flat rate if you enter after 6:00 pm and leave before midnight (this includes weekends and public holidays), so it’s a great deal.

DRUM TAO Australia Tour 2026: Ticket Prices and Show Details

This show was special because it has been 16 years since DRUM TAO last came to Canberra.

• Show Times: Part 1 (50 mins) – Intermission (20 mins) – Part 2 (50 mins).
• Ticket Prices: For regular adults (no discounts), it was between $79.90 and $109.90 depending on where you sat.
• Quick Note: There is hardly any talking during the show. The performers only say a quick hello and share some news right before the very last song.

The Great Mix of Drums, Shamisen, and Koto

The performance by the eight artists was perfect. They didn’t just hit the drums; sometimes the drums were the main star, and other times they stayed in the background to set the rhythm. When the drums were in the background, they used soft and loud sounds to make the music feel deeper, helping the other instruments stand out even more.

I liked how the short 5-minute songs flowed so naturally into each other. It wasn’t just drums either; the sharp sound of the Shamisen, the beautiful Koto, and the flute were all so cool. It was amazing to see traditional instruments feel so modern and trendy.

A Fun Interactive Show with Samurai-Style Moves ⚔️

There were all kinds of drums on stage, and you could feel the air shaking from the sound. The moves reminded me of Samurais, and the dancing was so sharp that I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage. Even though they didn’t say a word until the very end, they communicated with the audience through their movements.

We followed their cues to clap and cheer along, which made me feel like I was part of the performance. It was a really fun, interactive experience that kept everyone excited.

Incredible Energy and Hard Work from the Team 

The theatre was full of locals of all ages, and I saw a lot of families with kids too. Even though most people in Australia might not know much about Japanese drums, everyone was clapping and cheering after every song.

Even though the Canberra show was near the end of their Australian tour, their energy was still massive. I was especially surprised by the only female performer—she had amazing muscles, and you could tell she must have practised so hard. It was really impressive.

As it turns out, DRUM TAO is so popular worldwide that they actually run three different groups: Team A, Team K, and Team S. The one we saw in Canberra was Team A, which is their main group specialising in international tours. No wonder they looked so professional and world-class!

A Few Things to Note: No Programmes and Merch Info

One thing that was a bit of a shame was that there were no programmes or booklets to explain the songs or the story. As it turns out, the show doesn’t really have a specific plot; it’s more of a “Show” where high-energy music just keeps going.

If you like to know the exact story, you might find this a bit confusing, but it also means you can just enjoy the loud drums and energy without needing to know anything.

Outside, they were selling T-shirts and signed performance DVDs. If you’re interested, you should check out DRUM TAO’s social media. Their 2026 Australia Tour finishes on the 3rd of May in Melbourne, and it looks like there aren’t any more tour dates for now.

🎁 Who is this show for?

If you are…	You will love it because…
Looking to get rid of stress	The loud, powerful drum sounds will totally clear your head.
A fan of active shows	It’s not a boring show where you just sit still; you get to clap and cheer.
New to cultural shows	You don’t need to know the language or history to have a great time.
A fan of fitness and passion	You can see the result of years of training through their incredible energy.

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.

A Massive Scale Escape Room Experience: First Impressions of <Agents of Mystery>

As escape rooms have become a staple of modern culture, <Agents of Mystery> is the perfect show to enjoy the thrill of solving puzzles from the comfort of your own home. After hearing the news about Season 2, my husband and I decided to go on a ‘binge-watch’ session, starting from Season 1 all the way through the latest release.

Like many other escape room programs, the huge scale of the sets and the small details are amazing, making me wonder how much time they spent preparing everything. It is really fun to watch while imagining, “What would I have done if I were in that situation?”

👉 Speaking of immersive settings, the huge scale reminded me of my recent trip to [Immersive Fort Tokyo], which was another level of real-life mystery experience.

Great Team Chemistry and Cooperation without Competition

I really enjoyed the previous series by PD Jung Jong-yeon, such as <Great Escape>, but sometimes the high energy or the focus on individual performance between the cast members could be a bit distracting.

In contrast, <Agents of Mystery> shows a team where no one tries to stand out too much. Instead, each member quietly does their part, showing good teamwork. Even though they come from different backgrounds, the chemistry between the six members is excellent, and watching them work together to solve problems is a very comfortable experience.

The concept involves six agents belonging to a secret organisation called XIN, receiving orders from the top to carry out missions related to supernatural and mysterious events.

Season 1 feels more like an ‘observer’s perspective’, where the audience watches every single move the investigation team makes. The two main episodes, ‘Devil’s Priest’ and ‘Deep Sea’, cover unique themes such as cults, the supernatural, and aliens.

• Episode Structure: Each episode is independent, so you can understand the story even if you watch them out of order. However, since the show occasionally brings up events from previous episodes, I would still recommend watching them in sequence.
• Key Highlights: Rather than the high-tension thrill typical of a fast-paced thriller, the focus is more on the narrative of slowly completing missions and uncovering the mystery step-by-step.

Season 2 Highlights: More Immersion and Interactive Puzzle Solving

Season 2 consists of three episodes—’Black Room’, ‘The Others’, and ‘The Secret of Baeksu-dam’—making the content even more diverse.

• Black Room: This episode is more than just watching; it introduces puzzle elements where you can pause the screen and try to solve them yourself, increasing the sense of participation. However, I felt it focused a bit too much on team-play tasks that weren’t strictly about the actual investigation.
• The Others: An SF-themed episode involving strange creatures in an abandoned factory. It provides tension by combining the classic format of finding clues one by one with a zombie-style chase.
• The Secret of Baeksu-dam: The ending of this horror episode is a bit of a talking point because it finishes in a very warm way. Personally, I think the thrill would have been better if they kept the horror mood until the end, but it still leaves a nice emotional feeling.

Honest Thoughts: Smooth Editing vs. The Reality of Solving Mysteries

Of course, there are some downsides. Occasionally, certain team-play missions that don’t seem directly related to the mystery are quite long, making me wonder if those scenes were really necessary. Especially as a fan who loved <Great Escape> and <Girls’ High School Mystery Class>, it felt like the clues were provided a bit too easily, perhaps due to the very clean editing.

In the first season of <Great Escape>, for instance, it took the cast over two hours just to get out of the first room, and that sense of struggling really added to the realism. In this show, whether the cast is just exceptionally good or not, everything seems to be solved so smoothly without much of a struggle.

Even though I know it is a reality show, it sometimes feels like it is following a script. Because of this, the excitement of a mystery show feels a bit lower compared to other programs.

Summary: My Final Thoughts on Agents of Mystery on Netflix

If you want to enjoy a massive scale and the friendly chemistry between the agents, it’s a solid series to binge-watch if you have some free time. While there are some pros and cons, it is a good program for anyone who loves escape rooms and wants to watch others solve mysteries from home.

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.

Missing you: A Missing Fiance on a Dating App

My husband and I really enjoy mystery and thriller shows, and we’ve quite liked the series based on Harlan Coben’s books. After watching Fool Me Once (2024) and Run Away (2026), we decided to watch Missing You, which is about a woman who finds her missing fiancé on a dating app after 11 years.

Missing You Netflix Series Overview: Based on the Bestselling Book

• Release Date: 1 January 2025
• Episodes: 5 Parts (Perfect length for a weekend binge-watch!)
• Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Drama
• Features: This is a British drama based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. It is a hit series that opened the start of 2025, maintaining the famous ‘Coben World’ style with its signature plot twists and emotional depth.

Main Cast

• Rosalind Eleazar as Kat Donovan: The protagonist and a detective. She is searching for the truth after her fiance disappeared 11 years ago and her father was murdered.
• Ashley Walters as Josh Buchanan: Kat’s former fiance who vanished without a trace 11 years ago, only to suddenly reappear on a dating app, triggering the main mystery.
• Richard Armitage as Ellis Stagger: Kat’s mentor and a high-ranking police officer (DCI). He was a close friend of Kat’s father but hides a suspicious and untrustworthy side.
• Lenny Henry as Clint Donovan: Kat’s father and a former police officer. Though he was murdered years ago, his hidden life and secrets are the key to solving the current mystery.
• Charlie Hamblett as Charlie Pitts: A tech-savvy junior detective on Kat’s team. He provides crucial information and support for Kat throughout the investigation.
• James Nesbitt as Calligan: A powerful and shady crime boss in the local underworld. He holds vital clues about Kat’s father’s past.
• Steve Pemberton as Titus Monroe: A suspicious and manipulative character who adds another layer of tension to the complex mystery Kat is trying to solve.

Missing You Plot Summary: A Missing Lover on a Dating App and Dad’s Death

Detective Kat Donovan’s life has been shaped by two heartbreaking events. One is the murder of her father, Clint Donovan, and the other is the disappearance of her fiance, Josh, around the same time.

When Kat hears that ‘Monte Leburn’, the man who confessed to killing her father, is terminally ill, she secretly visits him. There, she hears a shocking confession: “Actually, I am not the real killer.” To make matters worse, the profile of Josh, who has been missing for 11 years, appears on a dating app.

Then, a high school student named Brandon appears, claiming his mother went missing after going on a trip with Josh, whom she met on the same app. The case becomes very complicated.

Netflix Missing You Ending Explained: The Truth About Josh and Clint

❗ This review does not reveal who killed Clint, but it exposes key plot twists regarding Josh’s identity and the truth about Kat’s father.

• The Fake Josh: After her investigation, Kat discovers that the person she matched with on the dating app wasn’t Josh at all. He was another victim of identity theft by a criminal gang that kidnaps people for extortion. The person who replied to Kat and then blocked her was a member of this syndicate.
• The Truth About Brandon’s Mother: Thankfully, her disappearance had nothing to do with the real Josh; she was simply another victim of the same criminal organisation.
• The Hero’s Fall: The most shocking twist is the reality of Kat’s father, Clint. While Kat spent years idolising him as a hero, he was actually involved in illegal activities and maintained a secret affair.
• The Conspiracy: Everyone in Kat’s inner circle knew the truth but stayed silent to “protect” her. As she digs deeper, she realises that many more people were involved in her father’s death than she ever imagined.

Honest Review of Missing You: Good for Killing Time, but Lacks Impact

Tension and Logic Disappointment

While the twist regarding her father’s secret love life was fresh, the identity of the real killer became predictable as the story went on. Personally, the scene where Kat’s best friend accidentally discovers Clint’s secret on a random street in England, at that exact time and place, felt a bit forced and unrealistic.

The Sad Cycle of Fate

I kept thinking, “If only he had controlled his anger just a little bit more that day…” It is very sad because Clint was about to clear up his bad life and start fresh. His slightly rash actions on that day ended up taking away the happiness of both Kat and Josh.

The Fun of Seeing Regular Harlan Coben Actors

It was great to see Richard Armitage again as a suspicious boss, after his strong performance as the dead husband in <Fool Me Once>. Also, I was happy to see James Nesbitt again, who played the main character’s father in Stay Close (Runaway). With only 5 episodes, the pace is quite fast and easy to enjoy.

Missing You Final Conclusion: A Heartwarming Ending After the Pain

In the end, after facing all the truths, Kat accepts both her father’s hidden side and the difficult choices Josh had to make. The drama finishes by showing Kat trying to overcome the past together with Josh. While the intensity of the twists might be a bit weaker than previous series, I still recommend it for a weekend binge if you enjoyed other Harlan Coben works or like well-made British thrillers.

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.

Why We Chose Fool Me Once as Our Next Harlan Coben Series

My husband and I are huge fans of mystery and thriller shows. We really enjoyed Run Away on Netflix before, and we wanted to try more of Harlan Coben’s work. It turns out many shows we already watched were actually based on his books! This time, we picked Fool Me Once. It came out about two years ago, but it is still very gripping and hard to stop watching.

Overview: Netflix Series Based on a Bestselling Book

• Release Date: 1 January 2024
• Episodes: 8 (Great for binge-watching)
• Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Drama
• Features: It is based on the 2016 novel. Once you start the first episode, you just want to keep going.

Main Cast

• Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern: The protagonist and a former soldier who is searching for the truth after losing her sister and husband.
• Adeel Akhtar as DS Sami Kierce: The lead detective who is struggling with a mysterious illness while investigating Joe’s murder.
• Richard Armitage as Joe Burkett: Maya’s husband who was killed in a robbery but suddenly appears on the nanny cam, triggering the mystery.
• Joanna Lumley as Judith Burkett: Maya’s mother-in-law and a powerful businesswoman who hides many family secrets.
• Dino Fetscher as DC Marty McGregor: A rookie police officer who works alongside Sami on the case.
• Emmett J. Scanlan as Shane Tessier: Maya’s military friend who always provides help and support whenever she needs it.

Plot: My Dead Husband is on the Nanny Cam? (No Spoilers)

Maya is having a very hard time. She lost her sister in a robbery, and then her husband Joe was shot in front of her. She also suffers from PTSD from her time in the army. One day, she checks the nanny cam and sees Joe playing with their daughter Lily. Maya is shocked and asks the nanny about it, but the nanny sprays her with pepper spray and steals the SD card. At the same time, Detective Sami finds out that Maya’s sister and husband were killed with the same gun.

Ending and Twist: The Ugly Truth (🚫 Spoilers below)

❗This review does not reveal who killed Joe, but it contains major spoilers about the plot twists and the ending

As the story goes on, we find out Joe was not a good person at all. Maya’s sister was actually killed by Joe because she found out about the family’s dirty business. Joe was a sociopath who killed people in the past, and his mother, Judith, used money to hide everything.

At the same time, Sami, the lead detective, feels his body losing control, and his condition gets worse every day. He almost gives up because no doctor can find the reason. However, he eventually finds a shocking secret: his illness is directly connected to the family he is investigating—Maya’s in-laws.

In the end, the person who killed Joe is revealed, and they confess to it. The bad people tried to trick Maya with deepfake videos, but she used a live stream to show their confession to the world. Maya dies at the end, which was shocking, but it felt good to see the corrupt family finally fall.

Final Review and Conclusion: A Logical Ending with No Loose Ends

Just like the title Fool Me Once, everyone in this show lies to each other. The mother-in-law, the nanny, and even Maya’s friend Shane all look suspicious. To be honest, I felt a bit uncomfortable with Maya’s attitude sometimes because she was quite bossy to people even when asking for favours.

But there was a reason why Maya was so obsessed with Joe’s past instead of looking for the robbers. It’s because she already knew who the killer was from the start. At the very end, all the questions are answered, and everything makes sense.

I liked the ending of this show more than Run Away (2026). Run Away was exciting too, but the way the story unfolded towards the end felt a bit flat. If you want to see how the two endings are different, check out my other post below!

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.

Discovery of a Body in a Manhole: The Start of a Mystery Thriller

The drama begins with a body found in a manhole. The person died, but their face was badly damaged, making it hard to recognise it. Luckily, a tattoo on the ankle and witness statements help identify the victim quickly. The victim is known as Sara Kim, head of the Korean branch of the luxury bag brand Boudoir.

The shocking truth is that Sara Kim never really existed. This story is not just about murder or who did it; it follows one person’s identity and the life she lived. I focused more on who Sara Kim is and what her life was like than on solving the crime.

The Art of Sarah– Cast, Genre, and Release Date

Title: The Art of Sarah
Release Date: February 13, 2026 (Netflix)
Genre: Mystery · Thriller · Crime · Drama
Episodes: 8 episodes

• Jane Doe / Sarah Kim / Mok Ga‑hui / Kim Eun‑jae / Boudoir / Unregistered Person / Kim Mi‑jeong
• The Art of Sarah

Main Cast

• Shin Hye‑sun as Sara Kim – A mysterious woman who wants to build a luxury brand Boudoir.
• Lee Jun‑hyuk as Park Moo‑kyung – A detective determined to uncover the truth about Sara Kim and her life.
• Kim Jae‑won as Kang Ji‑hwon – A charming host who helps Sara Kim with her brand strategy and connections.
• Bae Jong‑ok as Choi Chae‑woo – Chairman of a major department store whose decisions shape Sara Kim’s world.
• Park Bo‑kyung as Jeong Yeo‑jin – CEO of cosmetic company Nox who becomes involved with Sarah Kim and invests in the Boudoir partnership.

Sara Kim: The Onion-Like Character with Many Layers

Sara Kim is not just a criminal; she is a character who mixes calculation and humanity. She is very good at dealing with people and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. At the same time, she shows moments of empathy and warmth.

She uses different names depending on the situation. Her life is like an onion; every layer you peel reveals something new. This makes the story more about the character than a typical murder-mystery.

The Life and Identity Shift of Sara Kim

Luxury Saleswoman “Mok Ga-hee”

The main character first appears as Mok Ga-hee, a saleswoman in a department store luxury section. On the day of shop closing, while she steps away, a theft occurs, leaving her with a debt of 50 million won. Along with loan shark debt, she feels life is unfair and considers giving up.

Mok Ga‑hee buys luxury items at a discount using her employee benefits and resells them online to make money, but product limits and pressure from loan sharks reduce her earnings, deepening her despair.

Before attempting suicide, she uses prepaid money to throw a luxurious one-day party, renting a high-end car and a hotel suite to satisfy her remaining desires.

Just before suicide, she comes up with the idea of the luxury brand Boudoir and finds the will to live. This is the starting point of her new life as Sara Kim.

Contract Marriage and Strategic Relationships

Sara Kim works at a bar and meets loan shark Hong Sung-shin, proposing a contract marriage. Hong needs a kidney transplant, which by law can only happen after at least one year of marriage. Sara Kim promises to give him a kidney and, in return, they agree on a payment of 500 million won.

She takes on the identity of Kim Eun-jae, a US university graduate, and enlists Kang Ji-hwon, whom she meets at a host bar, to help plan Boudoir’s entry into department stores. During this, she experiences the wealthy life she has always admired, which motivates her to pursue her goals.

Boudoir Launch and Human Conflict

• Sara Kim approaches investor Choi Yeo-jin and secures 15 billion won investment.
• She collaborates with Kim Mi-jung at a small factory to complete Boudoir products.
• She reaches Woo Hyo-eun, a former department store staff, and assigns her to manage the store.
• Through Kang Ji-hwon’s connections, she promotes the brand to host bar clients and makes a connection with department store chairman Choi Chae-woo.
• Sara Kim moves one step closer to her goals using her talent for making people serve her needs.

Crisis and Conflicts for Sara Kim

• Investor Jeong Yeo-jin hires a private detective to commit assault.
• Sara Kim uses Woo Hyo-eun’s identity to file a complaint against the detective agency hired by Jeong Yeo-jin.
• Kang Ji-hwon discovers Boudoir is counterfeit and feels betrayed.
• Choi Chae-woo finds out Sara Kim and Kang Ji-hwan approached him intentionally, seeking revenge over the brand entry commission.
• Kim Mi-jung impersonates Sara Kim, betraying her after trying to live Sara Kim’s life.

Psychological Battle Between Police and Criminal: Late-Stage Tension

Midway, the criminal voluntarily appears at the police station, turning the story into a psychological battle. The police carried out the investigation based on only suspicions (not solid evidence) so they needed a confession within 48 hours. The criminal predicts all situations and stays one step ahead. The game between the police and the criminal is tense and more exciting than a normal mystery.

Final Twist: Invincible Sara Kim and Brand Survival

The police get the criminal’s confession, but she claims she killed Sara Kim under the identity of Kim Mi-jung. Since Sara Kim is already dead, all legal investigations regarding Boudoir end with no prosecution.

Sara Kim contacts Boudoir’s main shareholder, CEO Choi Yeo-jin of Nox, and hands over the brand, choosing to live under another fake identity, Kim Mi-jung, while preserving Boudoir. Though Boudoir and Sara Kim’s identity are fake, her dedication and strategy for the brand are real.

Unregistered Identities: Sara Kim and Kim Mi-jung

This story works because both Sara Kim and Kim Mi-jung are unregistered persons, which can be seen from several hints throughout the story. When Kim Mi-jung admits she is an unregistered person, Sara Kim replies, “I’m not much different”.

While working as Mok Ga-hee, she laughs at how people do not check resumes carefully and the absence of Sara Kim’s DNA in police databases supports their invincibility naturally. In the final scene, the police ask in prison: “What is your real name?” This leaves viewers reflecting deeply on Sara Kim’s true identity and strategic life.

Real-Life Inspiration and Social Message

The Boudoir case in the drama is inspired by the early 2000s Korean Vincent & Co watch scandal. A non-existent brand was promoted as a 100-year Swiss luxury watch using celebrity marketing and expensive stores. The work explores the tension between real and fake, vanity and reality, giving a social message about consumer obsession with authenticity.

Personal Review: Strategy, Immersion, and Completeness

• 8 episodes, tightly concluded without unnecessary scenes, though a few moments still leave some questions unanswered.
• Immersive storytelling through Sara Kim’s meticulous strategy and psychological battles.
• Social messages delivered through themes of luxury, vanity, and authenticity.
• Fully captures one person’s identity and life strategy.
• Sara Kim and Boudoir are not just a crime thriller but a story that reveals a single person’s strategy and humanity, keeping viewers captivated until the end.

📅 2026 May Update:
I checked again in May 2026, and Your Turn to Kill is still available on Netflix Australia! If you haven’t started this intense mystery thriller yet, it’s still there for you to binge-watch. Don’t wait too long, as streaming licenses can change at any time!

Your Turn to Kill Review: A Japanese Mystery Thriller I Discovered Way Too Late

My husband and I are both big fans of mystery and crime dramas, and we happened to come across Your Turn to Kill while browsing Netflix. As soon as we checked the genre, we started watching from episode one and ended up binge-watching the whole series. This drama pulls you in right from the start with its tense storyline and psychological mind games.

I later found out that when it originally aired in Japan in 2019, it became extremely popular, with the final episode reaching close to a 20% viewership rating. Every week after it aired, Japanese social media was filled with people guessing and arguing about who the killer was.

Image by The Love Of Eirlys from Pixabay

Your Turn to Kill Episode 1: Newlyweds Move into a Suspicious Japanese Apartment

The story follows a newlywed couple, Nana and Shota, who move into an apartment building to begin a new chapter in their lives. On their first day, the building manager tells them about a monthly residents’ meeting, and out of curiosity, Nana decides to attend.

The meeting seems normal at first, until someone suddenly asks, “Is there anyone you hate enough to want dead?” In that moment, the atmosphere in the room quickly turns cold and uncomfortable.

Japanese Mystery Thriller Concept: The Forbidden Murder Exchange

Because Nana enjoys mystery stories, she explains the concept of a “murder exchange,” a crime where the killer and the victim have no direct connection, making the culprit extremely hard to identify. Someone jokingly suggests that they try it just for fun, by writing down the name of a person they want dead and drawing lots. What starts as a harmless joke becomes the seed of a disaster, and that very night, the joke turns into reality.

Image by gouv from Pixabay

First Death in the Apartment: The Murder Game Begins

The building manager, who took part in the drawing during the residents’ meeting, is found dead after falling from the apartment building. The next day, a piece of paper with his name on it—the same paper used during the meeting—appears on the notice board.

The residents soon realise that this was not an accident and that the game has already begun. From that point on, fear and suspicion spread throughout the building, and everyone starts watching each other closely.

Your Turn to Kill Part 2: Counterattack Arc and Shota’s Perspective

Your Turn to Kill is divided into a first half and a second half. In the first half, the story mainly follows Nana as she investigates the incidents and observes the psychology of the residents. The second half, known as the “Counterattack Arc,” begins after a major turning point and completely changes the tone of the series, with Shota taking over as the main character.

New residents are introduced in the second half, and both familiar faces and newcomers begin to look equally suspicious, making it even harder to figure out who the real culprit is.

A Story Where Everyone Is Suspicious

One of the most distinctive features of this drama is that, unlike typical mystery shows, the list of suspects never really narrows down. Almost every character behaves suspiciously at least once, making it difficult for viewers to fully trust anyone. At first, the murders appear to follow the order of the drawing, but eventually the pattern breaks down, and even those completely unrelated to the drawing start dying.

This leaves Nana and the others investigating the case in total confusion, raising the question of whether residents are lying about the names they wrote or drew, or if there is another hidden secret behind the killings.

Image by William McDonald from Pixabay

The Dates and Zodiac Pattern Discovered by Nana

Nana organises the dates of the incidents along with zodiac signs, treating them as if they might be an important clue. Later, Shota discovers this record and tries to follow the pattern, but in the end, the drama never clearly explains whether it is a rule of the murders or a key to solving the case. Because of this, the pattern remains a mystery and feels like a device meant to leave room for interpretation.

If anyone noticed something I missed or has a different theory, I would love to see it shared in the comments. 😁

The Final Scene and the Lingering Aftertaste

The death shown in the final scene leaves the impression that the game is not truly over, even though the main culprit has already been caught. It almost feels like a hint at a second season, but there has been no official announcement. Instead, the series ends by leaving the rest to the viewer’s imagination.

Divisive Pacing and Strong Performances

With a total of 20 episodes, the series is slightly longer than most dramas these days, and the middle section can feel slow at times due to its focus on emotional development. However, the strong performances from the cast and the structure that keeps every character suspicious until the end make it a show that mystery fans will find hard to stop watching.

Recommended for Viewers of Japanese Mystery Dramas

• Enjoy mystery, crime, and thriller genres
• Prefer stories where many characters are suspicious rather than focusing on a single obvious suspect
• Like connecting clues and thinking through the story without having everything explained
• Appreciate open-ended endings that leave room for interpretation

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Who Might Not Enjoy Your Turn to Kill

• Feel frustrated when not every plot point is clearly resolved
• Dislike emotional focus in mystery dramas
• Are sensitive to shifts in tone or main characters in the later episodes
• Prefer dark, consistently intense mystery stories from start to finish

Mystery Thriller “Your turn to kill”: One-Line Summary

Your Turn to Kill (2019) is a gripping Japanese mystery thriller full of suspense, twists, and crime drama tension, perfect for fans of thrillers and crime dramas searching for tense and immersive Japanese thrillers.

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.

[✅ May 2026 Update: Fake Sequel Warning]

Recently, a fake sequel to The Decagon House Murders appeared on Amazon Kindle. Strangely, it’s being sold under a different person’s name instead of the original author, Ayatsuji Yukito.

The author has officially confirmed that he has nothing to do with this book and believes it was created by someone using AI. It seems like a scam to trick fans by using the series’ fame.

Please be careful and only buy official editions from verified publishers!

Ayatsuji Yukito’s Mansion Murders Series

*Image source: Pushkin Press – used for review purposes

What Is Connected — and What Is Not

Although this is a long-running mystery series, the stories are not directly connected to each other.

Apart from two shared elements — Kiyoshi Shimada, who appears in every book, and Seiji Nakamura, the architect who designed the mansions where the murders take place — the stories and characters do not overlap.

Each novel tells a completely separate story with a different case, and the series does not follow a continuous timeline.

If we list Ayatsuji Yukito’s Mansion Murders series by publication year, the order is as follows:

Common Settings in the Mansion Murders Series

The Detective Shimada Who Appears Throughout the Series

Kiyoshi Shimada, who plays the role of the detective in the Mansion Murders series, is not a typical brilliant detective.

Instead of standing out as a genius, he has a friendly and easygoing personality that helps him blend in with people around him. Through casual conversations, he slowly gathers information and gets closer to the truth.

He does not feel unrealistically clever or perfect. This down-to-earth style works well with the closed and uncomfortable mood of the Mansion Murders series.

*Image source: Pushkin Press — used for review purposes

The Core Formula of the Mansion Murders Series

Isolation, Serial Killings, and Twists

Every story in the Mansion Murders series starts in the same way:

Inside a sealed-off mansion, completely cut off from the outside world — a classic closed-circle setting.

Once a murder happens, the situation quickly spirals out of control. People die one after another, sometimes several in a very short time. And if you follow the story closely, the culprit is almost always someone you never expected.

Why Reading Order Matters

Similar to Publication Order, but With Rising Difficulty

All books in the Mansion Murders series can be read on their own. However, there is a recommended reading order, which is mostly similar to the publication order.

If you look at the mansion layouts in each book, the difference is clear: Decagon House → Watermill House → Labyrinth House → Clock House, with each building becoming more complex than the last.

As the series goes on, the books become longer and the structures more difficult to follow. Having read the earlier novels makes it much easier to understand the rules, layouts, and movement inside the mansions.

Personally, I think starting with The Clock House Murders and then reading the earlier books might make them feel a bit less impressive.

Things You Should Prepare Before Reading

If You Are Reading a Physical Book

It is strongly recommended to keep bookmarks on:

• the character list, and the mansion layout pages at the front of the book.

You will need to check them often.

If You Are Reading an E-book

Most readers end up:

• saving screenshots of the character list and layouts, and
• going back and forth between pages until they get used to them.

This is especially important for The Clock House Murders, where the character list can be very confusing at first.

* Image source: Pushkin Press – used for review purposes

Who Should Read Ayatsuji Yukito’s Mansion Murders Series

This series is a good fit for readers who enjoy:

• locked-room and closed-circle mysteries
• fast-paced serial murder stories
• mystery novels with clear twists
• visualising floor plans, movement, and space while reading
• a strong sense of satisfaction when everything comes together at the end

Spoiler-Free Summaries of Each Mansion Murders Novel

🏝️ The Decagon House Murders

A group of university mystery club members gathers on a remote island to stay in a strange building shaped like a decagon. The original owner died in an accident, and the building has been left empty for years.

👉 Keywords: isolated island / group stay / strange building / growing tension

🌊 The Watermill House Murders

Deep in the mountains stands a mansion with a working watermill. A man who has lived away from society since a past tragedy meets the suspicious figure of Kiyoshi Shimada.

👉 Keywords: gothic mansion / obsession / past trauma / dark mood

🧩 The Labyrinth House Murders

A famous mystery writer invites his students to his mansion. After his death, he leaves a will stating that his inheritance will go to the student who writes the best novel inside a house filled with maze-like rooms.

👉 Keywords: spatial puzzle / confusion / architectural mystery / Closed-circle mystery

⏰ The Clock House Murders

A mansion filled with large clock mechanisms becomes the meeting place for a group studying paranormal phenomena. During a séance, the building is sealed, and a series of murders begins.

👉 Keywords: time-based mystery / Locked building mystery / complex structure

* Image source: Pushkin Press – used for review purposes

Reading Late, but at the Right Time

I usually read only mystery and thriller novels, so discovering this author so late felt strange at first. These books were published a long time ago, and I honestly wondered why I had never come across them before.

As of now, only four titles in the Mansion Murders series have been translated into English. I sincerely hope that more will be available soon.

Why I Chose to Read Second Sister After 13·67

Official cover image of Second Sister by Chan Ho-Kei (Bloomsbury Publishing)

After reading Chan Ho-Kei’s 13·67, I wanted to read more of his work. So, I picked up Second Sister, which is a very different kind of mystery.

From the start, the story shows the case as a suicide. Because of this, readers who expect a strong mystery from the first page might feel the beginning is calm. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that Second Sister is not just about finding the criminal.

Second Sister Book Information (English Edition Details)

• Title: Second Sister
• Author: Chan Ho-Kei
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense
• Length: Over 700 pages

In modern society, the online and offline worlds are closely connected and impossible to separate. However, this convenient connection can sometimes threaten personal safety and everyday life.

Second Sister directly addresses the dark side of modern society, including online anonymity, cyber violence, and collective harassment hidden behind the internet.

Second Sister Plot Summary (No Spoilers)

Fifteen-year-old Au Siu-Man suddenly dies. Although the case is officially ruled a suicide, her older sister Nga-Yee Au feels that something does not make sense.

Believing that her sister’s death was not simply a personal choice, Nga-Yee seeks help from the legendary hacker N, who lives in hiding. Together, they begin investigating the truth.

Representation of online bullying and social pressure – image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

As the investigation continues, it becomes clear that the case is connected to:

• Online harassment
• Violence hidden behind anonymity
• The spread of rumours
• Crimes rooted in the real world

While the novel follows the structure of a traditional mystery, it raises a deeper question: not “Who is the criminal?” but “Why was this tragedy possible?”

Second Sister Full Plot Explained (🚫 Spoilers below)

image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Au Siu-Man’s death is revealed to be the result of collective and anonymous online violence, not simply a suicide.

After Au Siu-Man experienced sexual harassment on the subway, Violet To uploaded a false anonymous post online. The rumour spreads rapidly, socially isolating Siu-Man and pushing her into extreme psychological distress.

Violet’s older brother, Christopher Song, is also deeply involved. Although they never physically harmed the victim, they became perpetrators by inflicting overwhelming mental and emotional damage.

Legally, the case remains a suicide, meaning no punishment is given. This creates a strong sense of irony, as the tragedy is clearly the result of these two siblings’ actions.

Using advanced computer and network skills, along with exceptional social engineering techniques, Hacker N not only exposes the truth but also carries out a form of “eye-for-an-eye” revenge.

Second Sister Review – Strengths and Weaknesses

What Works Well in Second Sister

• It shows real social issues in a mystery story in a natural way
• The book shows the characters’ thoughts and feelings in detail.
• Complex case structure with gradually revealed truths
• Fascinating use of hacking and social engineering
• It shows bad people get punished in some way in the end

What Might Feel Heavy for Some Readers

• The length (over 700 pages) may not suit all readers
• Readers looking for a light mystery may find the themes heavy

Who Should Read Second Sister?

• Readers interested in cybercrime and modern social issues
• Fans of psychological thrillers and social mysteries
• Those who enjoy long novels with strong immersion
• Readers interested in psychological revenge rather than legal punishment

Is Second Sister Worth Reading Today? – Final Thoughts

These days, with so much AI and fake information, it is getting harder to know what is true and what is false.

Behind the convenience of anonymity, people easily criticise and attack others. And there is no guarantee that one day, the victim will not be ourselves.

Nga-Yee decided to stop the revenge at one point, yet watching N psychologically pressure the offenders was difficult to read. It is not like the usual detective story plot, but Second Sister still asks important questions that people today should think about.

It is also worth noting that a film adaptation based on this novel was recently released in Korea.

image by Riki32 from Pixabay

*This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.

✅ May 2026 Update:

It’s been four months since I posted this review on January 4th, right after binge-watching Run Away on its release day. Seeing how this series, which swept the Netflix #1 spot immediately after launch, is still being consistently streamed in May proves that Harlan Coben’s grip on the audience is truly remarkable.

I recently heard that a new title, ‘Caught (2026)’, was released this past March. I’ll make sure to binge it soon and bring you a comparison review with Run Away.

For those of you who have already finished last year’s hit ‘Missing You (2025)’, I recommend revisiting the shocking twist involving Ingrid that I analysed back in January as you prepare for your next Coben marathon!

Netflix Run Away Review

Suspense Scene

Twist Scene

👉 Looking for your next Netflix binge-watch?

• Check out last year’s hit Missing You (2025) for another shocking twist.
• I’ve also compared it with Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once. See which one is more gripping!

✅ May 2026 Update:

Following the 2025 release of ‘The Loneliest Guy’ (not yet available in English), there have been no further updates regarding new works or film adaptations from Chan Ho-kei as of May 2026.

Despite this silence, 13.67 continues to be celebrated among mystery fans as a masterpiece that grows more profound with time. It is hard to imagine another work that so exquisitely intertwines the turbulent modern history of Hong Kong with the intellectual thrill of classic detective fiction.

To make the wait easier, why not dive back into Inspector Kwan’s story and look for the clues you might have missed before?

I usually read Korean and Japanese detective novels and enjoy works by Keigo Higashino, but I had never read books by Hong Kong or Chinese authors.

While browsing the mystery section on platforms I use for webtoons, web novels, comics, and e-books, I came across 13·67, newly updated. I started reading it without expectations, but I quickly became fully absorbed in the story.

The title “13·67” refers to the period from 2013 to 1967 in Hong Kong, based on real historical events.

Although the novel draws on real history, the story does not feel too heavy. The events are blended naturally, so readers can enjoy the story without feeling bored.

The book is made up of six independent episodes, each telling a separate story that does not directly continue from the previous one.

📕Episode 1: The Truth Between Black and White – Hong Kong Murder Mystery

The story begins with wealthy businessman Yuen Man Bun found dead in his home.

• Early evidence suggests that the murder was committed by someone inside the house, not an outsider. The main suspects are his two sons, one daughter-in-law, his long-time secretary, and the household staff.
• Detective Sonny Lok leads the investigation and receives clues and advice through a device from the genius detective Kwan Chun-dok, who is nearly in a coma due to late-stage cancer but can still hear and think.

📕Episode 2: Prisoner’s Morality – Hong Kong Drug Gang and Missing Singer

This episode focuses on Kwan Chun-dok’s past work as an advisor and events after his retirement.

• Hong Kong police are running a large drug raid, and Cheuk Hon Cheung, Hong Kong’s top gangster, is the main drug supplier. Everyone knows who the top boss is, but it is hard to get concrete evidence, and Sonny Lok struggles with the operation’s failure.
• After the raid fails, a singer in Cheuk Hon Cheung’s entertainment company and the son of another gangster, The Launderer, are involved in a troubling incident.
• A video showing the singer falling from a footbridge while being chased is anonymously sent to the police, and her location was unknown.
• The story explores how Kwan Chun-dok helps Sonny Lok and what effect the singer’s disappearance has on Cheuk Hon Cheung.

📕Episode 3: The Longest Day – Acid Attack Before Hong Kong Handover

Kwan Chun-dok takes on a case just before his retirement.

• Set shortly before Hong Kong’s handover, this episode features the return of random acid attacks, putting the police on high alert. At the same time, prisoner Shek Boon-tim escapes, raising the tension even higher.
• Kwan Chun-dok focuses on prioritising cases and analysing the motives behind the crimes while tracking the culprits.

📕Episode 4: The Balance of Themis – Hong Kong Internal Spy Investigation

This episode deals with the death of Shek Boon Sing, the brother of Shek Boon-tim, mentioned in the previous story.

• Police launch a large-scale undercover operation in an old building to capture Shek Boon Sing. However, his gang notices the police presence and escapes, leading to casualties and death among hostages in the building.
• Kwan Chun-dok discovers the possibility of an internal police spy and works to identify the spy, forming the central part of this story.

📕Episode 5: Borrowed Place – ICAC Kidnapping Case

• The son of an ICAC officer from the UK is kidnapped. This person is someone Kwan Chun-dok had met during his student days in the UK.
• The story explores whether the kidnapping is financially motivated, whether the kidnapper is hiding their identity, and the meaning behind the kidnapper’s complex demands.

📕Episode 6: Borrowed Time – 1967 Hong Kong Leftist Riots

Set during the 1967 Hong Kong leftist riots, someone learns of a planned bomb attack by leftists and asks a police officer he knew for help.

They search for clues and try to prevent a large-scale disaster, creating a tense and gripping story.

👉 Read more: If you enjoyed the brilliant mystery of 13.67, check out my detailed
[Review of Second Sister by Chan Ho-kei].