This was the 1st time I read anything from this author. And probably won't again. For now anyway. The story brings to mind for me is of The Great Gatsby. And reading farther along Alice in Wonderland.

The narrator a man without a name seems to been burnt out on the kind of art that he was painting. Plus his marriage not in any good shape. So he takes off and has himself a road trip and ends up @ his friend Masahiko's fathers house.

All along this man is trying to move on but in his own way. He seems to be tolerant, and reserves judgement. He happens to be hired to paint a portrait of his neighbor. This neighbor Menshiki is of a different sort. He is wealthy and a flawed man. He can be dishonest and at times very vulgar. He brings the protagonist into his schemes. Tells stories that you would think not true. But the protagonist goes along with things. As said before he is tolerant. Menshiki's strange optimism and power makes his dreams come  into his reality

Protagonist comes across this painting Killing Commendatore. Seems like this painting takes a life of it's own. Strange things happen. Surprising Menshiki is a help in his strange way. Whether the painting has signs for the protagonist to find how to deal with his own life or not, the story takes on a going down the rabbit hole vibe. He faces his late sister Komi as well as the characters in the painting. He sacrifices for a girl Mariye, (maybe related to Menshike) to find her way home.

I think Mariye reminds him of his sister Komi. And at the end she and the protagonist become friendly. Being she may be the only one who understands him.

The author at the end neatly packages all together. Menshiki in his way I think finds his own love with Shoko, Mairye's aunt. Which then eases up on Mariye. And has no interest in the protagonist anymore. The paintings that protagonist paints either are given-up or hidden with the painting Killing Commendatore. I guess you can say leave the evil alone. Then he can try and go down a good path for his life.

I give Killing Commendatore 4

 because they are very long chapters and going down a rabbit hole isn't something I look forward too. For this I don't think this author is for me. Although I'm happy I stuck with it