"With echoes of fairy tales and a Rashomon-like narrative structure, Minato's Penance is as ethereal and literary as it is a sharp, tight crime novel."--Literary Hub
"[A] suspenseful psychological melodrama. . . . Filled with strange entwinings of chance and effect, free will and manipulation, the mundane and the bizarre."--The Wall Street Journal
"Minato writes character driven mystery/crime novels that take deep dives into people's psychology--especially girls and women--with an unflinching look at the dark side of humans. I will read any novel she writes."
--BookRiot
"Minato's simple, clear voice highlights the stories' psychological intensity, and themes of powerlessness evolving to strength, duty, and redemption create layers of interest that are perfect for book-group dissection."--Booklist (starred review)
"Moving, tension-filled . . . Minato has crafted an unnerving tale of tragedy, guilt, and penance."--Publishers Weekly
"Kanae Minato is a brilliant storyteller."--Emily St. John Mandel, New York Times bestselling author of Station Eleven