When the stakes get higher, everything drifts off into more anime-mystery land. The two protagonists seem surrounded by an uncommon number of serial killers; one of the mysteries in particular concludes with a pretty dangerous assumption on the part of our 'hero', whose murder-solving gets more and more effortless with each segment but feels less and less earned. The final case ends with a pretty boring and easy-to-call twist, and it's a real shame to see Yoru's character slowly descend into damsel-in-distress when she's so intriguing early on (one episode has her casually dressing up in the clothes of a murder victim, which is appropriately unnerving but doesn't quite match up with later character revelations).
With a more even balance of power between the two leads and with more commitment to a scuzzier, uglier tone, this would have been an easy 10. As is, it's a solid 8 that doesn't outstay its welcome and has rather beautiful art. The ending is disappointing but it's fast-paced, efficient and tense throughout.
ALSO BE WARNED: Others have mentioned that this is a very gory manga. They are not kidding. This ran in a shonen publication(?!) but it reads far more like seinen in every respect. Discretion very advised.
