By now, most people know what to expect when reading a volume of Case Closed. Crime is committed, suspects are named, boy tranqs someone, and the case is solved. That in itself is not a mark against this series. My main problem after 27 or so volumes is the fact that this series is basically stuck in neutral, cranking volume after volume, without really making any serious progress to the core plot. It's like Heroes or Lost at season 2 where with the it initial popularity, made the networks go insane with trying to stretch that midas touch story into infinity if possible. Of course, Case Closed is different in that its structure is episodic in nature that can support such 'stretches' longer without much problem. But after 27 volumes, its really starting to feel its age and redundancy. Crimes are getting more absurd, evil criminals now are blatantly obvious (the sinister shifty eyes and pointed nose), while crimes of reason are getting less and less relevant (killed to protect hometown, killed to protect sister, killed to avenge family/finance/murder). At least with this volume, it looks like a new character is introduced that has some connections to the main plot. Even though she is filled with the usual stereotypes regarding Americans (blond, promiscuous, good with guns, and high praise of Japan).
Still I read on, in hopes of the series making a big advancement in plot, and because it's easy for a short read :-) ( )