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The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
Oct. 8th, 2023 11:49 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
An award-winning classic mystery, introducing Japan’s most famous detective.
In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming Ichiyangi wedding. But, amid the gossip, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village.
Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi household are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music. Death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Seishi Yokomizo’s locked room crime novel (the first in a series) was published in Japan in 1946 and first translated into English in 2019 by Louise Heal Kawai, who has done a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoyed Yokomizo’s slow reveal of the Ichiyanagi family’s secrets, while Kindaichi is a fascinating detective (almost in the Columbo mode) and the solution is ingenious such that I will check out the other translations of Yokomizo’s work.
In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming Ichiyangi wedding. But, amid the gossip, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village.
Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi household are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music. Death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Seishi Yokomizo’s locked room crime novel (the first in a series) was published in Japan in 1946 and first translated into English in 2019 by Louise Heal Kawai, who has done a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoyed Yokomizo’s slow reveal of the Ichiyanagi family’s secrets, while Kindaichi is a fascinating detective (almost in the Columbo mode) and the solution is ingenious such that I will check out the other translations of Yokomizo’s work.
