Japan's greatest classic murder mystery, translated into English for the first time

In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions about the Ichiyanagis around the village.

Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi family 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 murder seems impossible, but amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Seishi Yokomizo (1902-81) was one of Japan's most famous and best-loved mystery writers. He was born in Kobe and spent his childhood reading detective stories, before beginning to write stories of his own, the first of which was published in 1921. He went on to become an extremely prolific and popular author, best known for his Kosuke Kindaichi series, which ran to 77 books, many of which were adapted for stage and television in Japan. The Honjin Murders is the first Kosuke Kindaichi story, and regarded as one of Japan's great mystery novels. It won the first Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1948 but has never been translated into English, until now.



Seishi Yokomizo (1902-81) was one of Japan's most famous and beloved mystery writers, best known for creating the legendary detective Kosuke Kindaichi, who featured in more than 70 stories, many of which were adapted for stage and television in Japan. The Honjin Murders, the first Kosuke Kindaichi novel, is regarded as one of Japan's great mystery novels and won the inaugural Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1948. The Inugami Curse, The Village of Eight Graves, Death on Gokumon Island, The Devil's Flute Murders, The Little Sparrow Murders, Murder at the Black Cat Cafe and She Walks at Night are also available or forthcoming from Pushkin Vertigo.



Plenty of golden age ingredients... with a truly ingenious solution



Kosuke Kindaichi is sort of a Japanese Columbo... [This is] a locked-room murder mystery involving a samurai sword, a three-fingered man, and a wealthy family who really didn't accept their son's new bride



Readers will delight in the blind turns, red herrings and dubious alibis... Ingenious and compelling



At once familiar and tantalisingly strange... It's an absolute pleasure to see his work translated at last in these beautifully produced English editions



With a reputation in Japan to rival Agatha Christie's, the master of ingenious plotting is finally on the case for anglophone readers



An iconic slice of classic Japanese crime fiction



The premise alone is dazzling [and] the solution to this mystery came as a complete surprise - exactly what I asked for



A baffling closed-door murder... The delightful debut of a classic, prolific detective



A classic murder mystery... Comparisons with Holmes are justified, both in the character of Kindaichi and Yokomizo's approach to storytelling - mixing clues, red herrings and fascinating social insight before drawing back the curtain to reveal the truth



The Japanese Agatha Christie



Yokomizo masterfully builds suspense with intricate puzzles, red herrings, and unexpected twists, keeping readers guessing until the final reveal... A must-read for a dose of classic detective fiction



The perfect read for this time of year. Short and compelling, it will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie looking for a new case to break



For lovers of classic mystery and mayhem, these newly translated offerings are a must



A delightfully entertaining locked room murder mystery... There are plenty of twists, red herrings, and suspects in this monkey puzzle of a story... An ideal book to curl up with on a winter's night



A classic locked room mystery... Its intricate thrills just as exciting as they were 70 years ago



Essential reading for fans of detective and historical fiction... [the] solution to the whole mystery does actually make your jaw drop



A wickedly fun time. Its short length, quirky cast of characters, engaging mystery, and theatrical setting and plot make for a fantastic murder mystery tale.



The master of Japanese crime



The perfect gift for any fan of classic crime fiction or locked room mysteries



A perfect puzzle... Doesn't fail to deliver in its extremely fun and chilling premise. You'll be reading way past your bedtime!



Think you got a Sherlock Holmes knack for crime puzzles? Then have a try at Yokomizo's clever mystery riddle



It's steeped in the traditions of locked-room mystery, and is one of the most fiendish examples of the 'impossible murder' I've read