The Murder of Alice

«The Murder of Alice» — a detective story with elements of thriller, mysticism, and fantasy, where student Ari Kurisugawa faces a frightening connection between dreams and events in the real world. The familiar boundary between dream and reality begins to crumble, and any strange image may turn out to be part of a deadly dangerous chain. Kobayashi Yasumi uses recognizable motifs from «Alice in Wonderland», but transforms them not into a game with the classics, but into a story about fear, suspicion, and an escalating threat. Absurd figures from Wonderland emerge alongside the everyday life of the university, making the ordinary world appear just as unsettling as a nightmarish dream. This book is suitable for those seeking a Japanese detective with a dark intrigue and an unusual reliance on a classic plot.

• Ari Kurisugawa — a student who first notices the frightening connection between dreams and deaths in the real world. Her perspective holds the story between mundane life and an escalating nightmare.
• Imori — a reclusive classmate, more connected to the events than it initially seems. He is not just a companion in the investigation, but an important part of the overall mystery.
• Alice — a figure from the dream world, around whom suspicions thicken. Alongside her appear Bill the Lizard, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat, but here they are needed not for a fairy tale, but for a disturbing game with the reader's expectations.
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«The Murder of Alice» opens the cycle of Kobayashi Yasumi, in which detective stories are connected to well-known fairy tale worlds. It is recommended to start the acquaintance with the series with this book: previous works are not required to understand the plot.