LemonSky reviewed Crossfire by Miyuki Miyabe
Review of 'Crossfire' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Excellent thriller/science fiction novel by Miyuki Miyabe. Junko Aoki has the gift of pyrokinesis - the power to start fires. Think [b:Firestarter|233667|Firestarter|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394208032s/233667.jpg|1803] and you'll get the idea. Junko has had this ability since childhood, but has managed to keep it a secret. However, things are about to change. Periodically, Junko has to "release" her power, which builds up over time. She also becomes a vigilante, using her horrifying powers to against criminals. In the process, though, Junko becomes a criminal herself, brutally murdering close to a dozen people.
Junko's counterpart is the police detective Chikako Ishizu, who begins to sense a connection between the arson deaths. Chikako calls herself a "handy middle-aged lady" - which is a serious understatement. She is smart, tough, determined, and resourceful.
Miyabe has crafted a fascinating story that draws you in. I came to care for Junko, even though she does all those awful …
Excellent thriller/science fiction novel by Miyuki Miyabe. Junko Aoki has the gift of pyrokinesis - the power to start fires. Think [b:Firestarter|233667|Firestarter|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394208032s/233667.jpg|1803] and you'll get the idea. Junko has had this ability since childhood, but has managed to keep it a secret. However, things are about to change. Periodically, Junko has to "release" her power, which builds up over time. She also becomes a vigilante, using her horrifying powers to against criminals. In the process, though, Junko becomes a criminal herself, brutally murdering close to a dozen people.
Junko's counterpart is the police detective Chikako Ishizu, who begins to sense a connection between the arson deaths. Chikako calls herself a "handy middle-aged lady" - which is a serious understatement. She is smart, tough, determined, and resourceful.
Miyabe has crafted a fascinating story that draws you in. I came to care for Junko, even though she does all those awful things. She really believes she is doing the right thing, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” Friedrich Nietzsche
That's a lesson that Junko learns the hard way.