“When skilled coroner Dr. Bunnakit is called upon to examine the body of a woman who allegedly hanged herself, he soon finds that all evidence points to foul play. That night, a mysterious stranger breaks into his home and demands that he rule the death a suicide—and after he confides in his prosecutor friend about the incident, that friend suddenly goes missing. Dr. Bunnakit pins all his suspicions on a man named Tan, but not only does Tan have a rock-solid alibi, he also volunteers to help uncover the real murderer…” (Yen Press)
Sammon's “Manner of Death” has already seen success in its native Thailand, starting as a novel and then later adapted into a television series of the same name. However, given the limited access to Thai programs and literature outside of the country, the adaptations into Japanese and then into English are a welcome route to getting greater access to those stories, even if the work is bound to lose context when translated across different languages and formats. Still, in the case of “Manner of Death,” Yukari Umemoto offers a welcome look into the world of murder, mystery, love, and sex in Thailand.
What makes “Manner of Death” work so well is its complimentary balance of all these elements. The manga certainly has the eroticism one would want from a yaoi title, but it is not the book's core focus, making it accessible to those who may not be used to or comfortable with a sex-heavy title. Moreover, the relationships explored, the suspense, and the courting between Bun and Tan, are all approached with a thoughtfulness in creating believability. This allows the book to be approached in many different ways. While the yaoi label is most suitable as a disclaimer to the adult material within, the book succeeds equally in every genre it attempts.
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Does this mean the manga is a resounding success? Not necessarily, as some elements are more challenging to approach. Notably, a slight cultural disconnect comes from an unfamiliarity. The more familiar one is with Thai culture, the more this gap will lessen, but there is an element that is difficult to distinguish, putting the work at a slight tonal difference than one would expect. In addition, the latter chapters lack the same sense of suspense and urgency as the first 2/3 of the series, and too much time gets spent on seeking closure on plot points that the reader will likely have forgotten among the much more intriguing twists and turns. Neither of these realizations ruins the manga, but it does keep it short of greatness.
Visually, Yukari Umemoto has evident skill in erotic content, as “Manner of Death” looks its sharpest when exploring the relationship between Bun and Tan. The rest is serviceable, not overly impressive, but suitable for the content. More importantly, the dialogue-heavy book is well-structured through paneling and pacing, making it easy to get drawn into. The physical release helps with the book's accessibility, with the entire series completed across the two omnibus releases.
At face value, one could quickly write of “Manner of Death” as an erotic BL title meant only for that niche. While there is some truth in that statement for those uninterested in content even brushing up against the genre, Yukari Umemoto has crafted an intense murder mystery that adds appeal beyond just being a setup for romance/sex. Still, those approaching it solely for the lewd and steamy moments will find just that wrapped around a competent story.
