Don't Call it Mystery (Omnibus) Vol. 1-2

The short version:"Don't Call It Mystery" is a compelling series that I would recommend to anyone who’s interested in the Psychological, Mystery, or Drama genres, as well as those interested in well thought-out dialogue, great character writing, and pacing. I will say that if you’re someone who needs a ton of action and battles to stay engaged in a story, or really can’t stand a lot of text, OR you like a lot of romance, this likely isn’t the series for you (try out her other series Basara, though!). However, for those in the second group, I really do hope you give "Don't Call It Mystery" a chance. It might just change your mind.The long version:"Don't Call It Mystery" follows an average college student and lover-of-curry, Kunou Totonou. At the beginning of the story, police bring him in for questioning on suspicion of murdering his classmate. As he is under interrogation, it becomes clear that Totonou is not the usual murder suspect. He quickly takes in his surroundings, analyzes everyone in the room and cuts them to their core with his questions and remarks. With just a few minor details like Ikemoto’s wrinkled shirt and dirty shoes that differ from the day before, he’s able to deduce that the officer is having problems with his wife and gives advice on how to see things from his exhausted wife’s perspective. Totonou understands what is ailing each of them in their daily lives and switches the situation around so that the ones being put under a microscope are the police, rather than himself. And it’s his complex understanding of others, as well as his brilliant deductive skills, that lead to him unearthing the true culprit within 5 days of the investigation.Although the series may have mystery and crime elements, I believe it is a very psychological one that focuses on examining both individuals and Japanese society as a whole. Totonou is always showing or telling people what he calls the “personal truths” of others that they need to understand and grow.I believe Totonou’s outspokenness about his opinions on what he finds wrong or right in society alongside the mysteries are what bring readers in. In a series that is filled to the brim with dialogue, monologuing, and simply having a sitting discussion, it is crucial to have an interesting and likable protagonist–and Tamura has succeeded at that. I believe it is Totonou’s sincerity and eloquence in the way he delivers his thoughts that practically enchant readers…until suddenly 30 pages have passed and you come out of your trace thinking, “wow, how was that almost all dialogue? And how did it go by so fast?"Totonou doesn’t speak lightly, nor does he exactly try to force his opinions on anyone. He treats everything he says as a topic for discussion, or purely his own musings at the moment–even if those moments aren’t normally the best time to do so, such as when he accidentally started what pretty much became a group therapy session during a bus hijacking.Interestingly, Totonou often keeps his face expressionless while dealing with all sorts of heavy topics such as why it’s wrong to kill people, bullying, gender inequality, what it means to love and raise a child, and more. I personally believe this makes him all the more appealing and easier to listen to, rather than if he were a screaming or raging protagonist."Don't Call It Mystery" is a work that makes people think, and not only about the whodunnit part of usual mysteries. Totonou is someone who questions long-standing traditions and issues in a way that’s easy to understand and rarely steps too far into the territory of patronizing. Tamura has also commented that even if she speaks her thoughts through Totonou, it doesn’t mean she wants people to agree with her way of thinking.Totonou says it well himself, “there are as many truths as there are people” before going on to say, “but, there is only one reality. The reality of what happened. Everyone has their own interpretation of a situation, but that doesn’t change the very real and experienced source of discussion."Don't Call It Mystery" is more than just a story about a college student mistakenly accused of murder and its search for the true culprit. It is an opening for discussion and examination of society itself. And it achieves this through its interesting and three-dimensional characters–even side characters, which Tamura has always taken care to develop across all of her series in a way that shows they are each the protagonist of their own lives.Of course, discussions aren’t the only thing going on in this manga. Totonou gets caught up in some pretty sticky and unusual situations, like the whole murder suspect case and bus hijacking I mentioned before.

I didn’t know anything about Don’t Call it Mystery, but it was an enthusiastic unanimous pick of the week from the Manga Bookshelf crew, so I thought I’d give it a try. They weren’t wrong. This award-winning manga is off to a great start. It hooked my interest and didn’t let go, hence the title of this review. The publisher’s recap and book sample give you a good taste of what’s to come (don’t wanna spoil anything, and too much info would just unnecessarily influence your reading experience). Don’t Call it Mystery is the manga I didn’t know I needed, and I can’t wait for the future (mis)adventures of Totonou-kun. Enjoy!

This series is so good. Multiple twists I didn’t see coming. The art is so pretty. And the protagonist is so charming to read about. He just wants to eat his curry, but he somehow keeps on getting wrapped up in crimes.

As good as Basara and 7 seeds were, this comic proves yet again that we need more of this author available in the west. It's always an emotional rollercoaster with great art.The print quality of this didn't feel superb, the paper has a funny smell.