I tend to avoid mysteries in my reading. Novels in this genre are so gripping that I often end up staying up all night to finish them in one go, leading to sleep deprivation. I wish I could stop myself and say, "I'll put it down here for tonight," but I can't. I'm the kind of person who eats the strawberry first on a shortcake, not someone who saves the best for last. For me, stopping mid-read when a novel's plot is compelling is an almost impossible feat.

Another reason I shy away from mysteries is that I've had several frightening experiences after falling asleep while reading them. I often dream about the book after finishing it, and the dream's content usually continues the story. Even in a mystery, the plot relentlessly unfolds in my dreams. I become one of the characters, inexplicably pursued or cornered, facing a desperate situation. The pacing of these dream narratives is agonizingly slow, and frustratingly, the case is never solved. It's terrifying while I'm asleep, I wake up feeling awful, and despite having slept, I'm utterly exhausted. Still, I love mysteries, and I used to read them regardless of these consequences. But after starting my work as a model with early mornings, fighting the temptation became too difficult, and I gradually began to avoid them.


And then, X-Day finally arrived. The day I'd been looking forward to reading "13 Hours Before the Future." I decided to read it at a cafe that stays open late. I ordered tea and scones and eagerly turned the pages. As I read, there were moments when the sounds around me faded away, and enveloped by the fragrant tea and buttery aroma, I quietly entered the world of the story.

The story is about time travel. It begins with chapter 12 and progresses backward through chapters 11, 10, and so on. The protagonist, Nick, is devastated after his beloved wife is murdered by someone, and he is arrested as the prime suspect. As he grapples with rage and sorrow, a mysterious elderly man appears and hands him a pocket watch. This watch grants him the ability to go back two hours for every one hour that passes. Can he save his wife's life within the allotted 12 hours...?



Setting aside the logical puzzles, the story's roller-coaster development pulls you in with its sheer quality entertainment. I lost track of time, and by the time I finished reading, it was completely dark outside. Filled with a sense of contentment and the blissful aroma of tea and sweetness, I leaned back in my chair. This is why I can't quit mysteries.