There are many works where a detective solves cases, but “Mata Korosarete Shimatta no desu ne, Tantei-sama” brilliantly subverts that common sense. The protagonist, Outsuki Sakuya, is still a half-fledged high school detective, despite having a legendary great detective as his father. He spends his days handling mundane requests such as infidelity investigations and searching for lost cats, but mysteriously, murder cases occur almost without exception wherever he goes. And most surprising of all is that the victim of the case is Sakuya himself every single time. In an ordinary mystery work, the detective is in the position of pursuing the case, but in this work, the unprecedented structure where the detective also becomes the victim is a major feature of the story.

Sakuya possesses a special constitution, and even if he is killed, he comes back to life again. For this reason, the perspective of not only “who was killed” but also “why was Sakuya killed” always accompanies the story. The development in which the mystery drama, which would normally end at the moment of losing one's life, proceeds to a new phase due to his resurrection is highly innovative. Because death itself is not the goal but a passing point to approach the truth, readers are drawn into the cases that occur one after another. The situation where the victim himself challenges the solution of the case creates a unique sense of tension and amusement, becoming a charm unique to this work.

Greeting Sakuya every time he wakes up is his excellent assistant, Lilithea. Her words, “Mata Korosarete Shimatta no desu ne, Tantei-sama,” can be said to be a famous line that symbolizes this work. It is impressive that the theme of death, which would inherently tend to become heavy, is transformed into an exquisite atmosphere through somewhat lighthearted exchanges. Lilithea is not a mere support role, but an important existence that adds color to the story while supporting Sakuya. While their banter is comical, their relationship of trust is also firmly depicted, successfully balancing the tension of the cases with the approachability of daily life.

The interesting aspect of this work lies in the natural fusion of orthodox mystery elements and a fantasy-like setting. Despite having the supernatural ability to come back to life, the cases themselves are solved through deduction, allowing readers to fully savor the joy of solving riddles. On the other hand, because a new perspective is added to the story every time the protagonist experiences death, unpredictable developments not found in general detective works continue. The balance between serious cases and humor is also good, and its readability, which does not lean solely toward heaviness, is also an attraction.

What I found particularly interesting is the point that it thoroughly utilizes the contradictory position of being “a detective yet a victim.” In ordinary works, a detective pursues the truth from a safe zone, but Sakuya faces cases literally risking his life. For this reason, weight is naturally born in each and every case, allowing readers to pursue the truth from the same perspective as the protagonist. Moreover, just because he has the ability to come back to life does not mean that the sense of tension is lost, and interest never ends regarding “how will he be killed next time” and “what kind of truth is hidden behind it.” Despite the eccentric setting, I felt the high degree of perfection of the work in the point that it firmly holds together as a mystery.

“Mata Korosarete Shimatta no desu ne, Tantei-sama” is a unique mystery work that boldly flips the common sense of detective novels upside down. The setting where the protagonist is the solver of cases and at the same time the victim has an extremely strong impact, and once you start reading, you cannot help but be curious about the continuation. It is a piece that can be recommended not only to people who like mysteries but also to people looking for works with slightly unusual settings. The story of a detective that does not end even if he dies will surely give many readers fresh surprise and enjoyment.