It is just amazing to see how young Ishiguro managed to create a spooky atmosphere in his first book. This is my second read of him after the A Family Supper and I quite liked his style.
*spoiler*
For the ending, what the actual heck? From the second half onwards, I keep myself thinking "Etsuko is Sachiko, and Keiko is Mariko" and this belief grew stronger. There are dozens of slight hints but I'm still not sure about it. Another theory is that Etsuko is the child murderer. Children around the town getting murdered, and the killer's approach is hanging them. Keiko hangs herself too (Maybe Etsuko did it).
*spoiler*
