The killer is revealed from the first page, but the author nevertheless keeps readers in constant suspense. The murders may be an established fact, but what was the motive? What kind of person is the killer? Is it even possible to have a glimpse into the inner workings of her mind? It’s a sumptuous read, packed with literary style that will have readers in mind of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.
The author maintains clarity by distancing herself from the established narrative of the murders. As a work of non-fiction, it possesses two outstanding qualities. First is the author’s tenacious pursuit of the facts through exhaustive interviews with a broad range of subjects, including many individuals who were deemed “unimportant” by the media and court proceedings at the time. Second, the book addresses contested details, seeking out contradictory views and evidence. The diligently conducted interviews did not always yield the best results, but the author does fantastic work weaving the smallest gleanings into the bigger picture. In this sense, she is thorough beyond reproach, raising the ceiling for non-fiction writing in Taiwan.