We discuss chapters 7-11 of Naomi Hirahara’s Sayonara Slam. As the stakes continue raising and Mas Arai finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble, Mas’ personality shines through confrontation after confrontation. The killer continues to evade Yuki but the veil is beginning to drop as the grim history of the community’s experience with World War 2 creeps towards centre stage. Blending the personal and political beautifully, the police-procedural style approach lets the heart of the novel really shine as we approach the unveiling of the truth.

Check out Part One and Part Three here!