[2] The novel is the fifth in a series with the main character of Kogito Choko, who can be considered Ōe's literary alter ego.

He returns to Shikoku in search of a red leather case which he believes contains documents that will answer the mysteries behind his father's life and death.

"[7] Publishers Weekly wrote, "Oe's deceptively tranquil idiom scans the violent history of postwar Japan and its present-day manifestations, in the end finding redemption.

"[8] Writing for The New York Times Book Review, Janice P. Nimura gave the novel a favourable review, writing, "True Oe devotees may find this thrill in "Death by Water," but thrilling or not, it remains a thoughtful reprise of a lifetime of literary endeavor.

"[9] Colin Dwyer of NPR lamented the novel's "tendency to repeat itself, action that amounts to little more than a play's stage direction and a translation that can get a bit stilted" but concluded that it is "worth the extra effort.