The Departed. Shiki. Book 1

Life in the small mountain village of Sotoba goes on as usual. Each of its inhabitants dreams of their own: some want to break free from the backwoods, some, on the contrary, return to their roots, while others simply want... to live in silence and peace, enjoying rural life. It seems that nothing and no one will ever change in this place. But everything changes with the arrival of a mysterious family moving into a mansion on the hill near Sotoba, sparking gossip and rumors. Very soon, an epidemic erupts in the village. A strange illness drains people's strength. They fall asleep, never to wake up again. The local doctor, Toshio Ozaki, struggles unsuccessfully to unravel the mystery of the strange ailment and save the dying. Meanwhile, rumors about the restless dead—those risen from the graves—begin to spread through the village. What does the family on the hill have to do with it? And what will the local students, led by Natsuno Yuki, who are the first to notice the oddities, do? There are more and more questions, and answers are yet to be discovered…