Back in 2019, Yen Press began releasing the manga adaptation of Bungo Stray Dogs: Another Story – Yukito Ayatsuji vs. Natsuhiko Kyougoku, which left me with mixed feelings, largely due to the artwork. Several years later, that manga still isn’t complete in Japan, but Yen Press have now brought us the original light novel. Has it been worth the wait? Let’s take a look!

Our story follows Mizuki Tsujimura, a woman working for the military police and who has been tasked with keeping an eye on the fearsome detective: Yukito Ayatsuji. Much like other characters in the Bungo Stray Dogs universe, Ayatsuji has a special ability that causes a criminal to die in an unfortunate accident once he figures out they’re the culprit in any given crime. Because of this, he’s considered a high-risk individual, which is why he’s ended up under 24-hour observation and only allowed to continue living should he prove himself useful solving cases.

This book opens with Ayatsuji facing off against his arch enemy, Natsuhiko Kyougoku (think Moriarty to Sherlock), who Ayatsuji thinks he’s finally cornered atop a waterfall. Listing off his crimes, the detective is convinced that Kyougoku will fall from the top in an ‘accident’ and finally meet his end. And indeed, events do seem to play out like that. However, soon afterwards, Ayatsuji and Mizuki begin investigating a mysterious murder case that seems linked to Kyougoku. Could it be he somehow survived…?

I already made a comparison to Sherlock Holmes above, but I will take this moment to say that this is a novel that feels very inspired by both the stories and characters of that prolific series. Kyougoku lays out a series of puzzles in a similar way that Moriarty would to wind up Sherlock, and poor Tsujimura is left to pick up the pieces. And while she shares similarities to Watson’s position, she’s not nearly as intelligent as he is and often finds herself being led around by Ayatsuji (which isn’t great when she’s supposed to be observing him!).

Tsujimura gives off a better impression in the manga than she does here, largely because her inner monologues (absent from the manga) reveal how little she understands of what’s happening around her. Since she’s in the military police, she’s had a lot of training, so she’s a decent fighter, but that’s more or less the best you can say. Still, her backstory is interesting as it ties into both Ayatsuji’s career and potentially the current case, so I didn’t dislike her by any means. She’s just the weakest link among the three main characters, and it is a little bit annoying when she’s so clueless about things every other character around her has already worked out.

Despite being set in the Bungo Stray Dogs universe, this is a novel that does a good job of being welcoming to those unfamiliar with the main work. It explains the setting upfront and, apart from Ango Sakaguchi fairly being present due to his position (and one cameo from another familiar face), there’s no sign of the characters from the main series. I appreciate the decision to stick to new characters because that allows the work to shine on its own merits and not just because of being an extension to a work we already know and love.

If you’re up-to-date with the main manga, it might be easy to forget since this hasn’t been a main theme in a while, but author Kafka Asagiri is a very capable mystery writer. Another Story will have you guessing up until the very end, but there are also enough clues for readers to figure out the mystery as we go along. It’s a self-contained and interesting story that I think even general mystery fans could enjoy, even if you’re not interested in Bungo Stray Dogs itself. Provided you don’t find yourself annoyed with Tsujimura or the similarities to other popular mystery stories, anyway.

Bungo Stray Dogs: Another Story comes to the West thanks to Yen Press under their Yen On imprint and has been translated by Matt Rutsohn, who has worked on the other Bungo Stray Dogs light novels over the years. The novel reads well, as you’d expect from a publisher and translator so familiar with the franchise and Asagiri’s writing. Nothing in the way of extras here, not even interior illustrations, although series artist Sango Harukawa did at least draw the cover illustration.

And of course, if you’re looking for more Bungo Stray Dogs, Yen Press continue to publish the original manga as well as several spin-offs and anthology comics. The anime is also set to return for a sixth season at some point in the future.

Overall, Bungo Stray Dogs: Another Story – Yukito Ayatsuji vs. Natsuhiko Kyougoku is a compelling mystery story from Kafka Asagiri. Self-contained and not relying on the wider franchise, this is a book that’s easy to recommend, regardless of whether you’re into the main series or not.

Our review copy from Yen Press was supplied by Diamond Book Distributors UK.