The Kindaichi Case Files Volume 10- Kindaichi the Killer, Part 1 by Yozaburo Kanari and Fumiya Sato

Kindaichi is asked to travel to the home of a famed writer by Yousuke Itsaki, whom he met on the Lake Hiren Case. It seems that famed writer Goryu Murakanu has written a new novel based on real people. Now, any story written by him is certainly going to be a big seller, and he has offered the novel to a wide variety of publishers- provided they can decipher the clues he provides to the location of the manuscript. Since Kindaichi is so good at these things, Itsaki wants his own publisher to win the manuscript, and asks Kindaichi for help.

After being bribed with food, Kindaichi travels with Itsuki, his publisher and his friend Miyuki to the home of Murakanu, who is a lecherous older man who hits on Miyuki, much to Kindaichi's displeasure. Murakanu shows his riddle, but Kindaichi delays giving his answer to the clue in favor of enjoying the creature comforts of Murakanu's home. But when he strikes back against Murakanu for hitting on Miyuki, showing the world that Murakanu wears a toupee, Murakanu gets angry at Kindaichi. As Kindaichi tells Itsuki's publisher the solution to the riddle, he makes plans to go ask Murakanu's forgiveness.

But Murakanu has been murdered, and since Kindaichi is alone in the room with him, and only his footprints leading to the door are captured in the mud surrounding the house, suspicion falls squarely on Kindaichi for the murder. Kindaichi is forced to flee from the police if he wants to free his own name!

But with each clue he tracks down, more murders occur, and it appears that Kindaichi is going on a murder spree around Tokyo. With Itsuke and Miyuki on his side, he must continue finding clues if he wants to save himself, but with the killer right alongside of him the whole time, can Kindaichi outwit a killer who seemingly wants to frame Kindaichi for the series of murders?

This is a short manga, because in the original manga, which came out in Japan, the story was in one volume. It was chopped in half for the American version, leaving readers in suspense as to the identity of the real killer and what mess the killer will lead Kindaichi into next. The sense of frustration and fear Kindaichi feels is palpable, and readers feel it right along with him as every clue leads to another dead body being blamed on Kindaichi.

And it's not just regular, nameless, faceless cops Kindaichi is facing either. Arrayed against him this time are Kenmochi, the cop who Kindaichi is usually helping, and Inspector Akechi, who Kindaichi beat at detecting in "Murder TV". And while Kenmochi isn't that great a detective, Akechi is a very good one.

This manga really makes you feel for Kindaichi and how it feels to be hunted by the police for something you didn't do. As the pages fly by, the sense of urgency and panic increase, both on our part, and the part of Kindaichi. This is an excellent story that really moves readers, who have come to like and respect Kindaichi during the course of the series. What will happen next? Tune into the next volume to find out!