This is the first story featuring private detective Kosuke Kindaichi that I have read, but it won't be the last.

If classic "golden age" whodunnits are your cup of (green) tea and you like to travel to different times and places while reading them, this is a rather excellent vintage. This book is a classic in the author's native Japan, and his character is beloved (there's even a manga/anime spin-off with the adventures of a young Kosuke). It's easy to understand why having read The Devil's Flute Murders.

Seishi Yokomizo is a consummate storyteller who knew how to weave effortlessly many story threads together and structure a complex and ingenious mystery that leaves you intrigued and guessing until the very end, but that never gets you lost along the way.

Kindaichi is hired by the daughter of a recently fallen aristocrat who has committed suicide, leaving her with many questions she'd want answered. This simple if unusual case rapidly spirals into a locked-room mystery that's only the beginning of a string of mystifying and perplexing and gradually darker events that haunt the feuding members of the formerly influential family, leaving Kindaichi struggling to pull the threads together. dig up hidden secrets and solve the mystery.

Obviously inspired by the best of the golden age anglo-saxon whodunits, Yokomizo offers his own take on the genre, delivering a novel that feels at the same time classic and fresh. The narrator (Yokomizo or an unnamed fictional writer) writes about the case years after the fact, with "help and permission from Kosuke Kindaichi", which gives the narrative a little of the style of Dr. Watson, though in this case without the writer of the tale being himself a protagonist. Overall, this is more reminiscent of the golden age of crime fiction, such as some of the works of Agatha Christie, and Yokomizo has nothing to envy to those masters of the genre. The framing narrative device gives him the opportunity to add some larger context to the tale and the time it took place in after the fact, and to make clever use of foreshadowing that adds a lot to the suspense at key moments. The English translation is fluid and modern, keeping the authenticity of the setting and period but (as it's alas often done) without peppering the text with Japanese words to make it artificially more "exotic" (there's as expected the occasional piece of traditional clothing, decor or object, and that's it), making it very accessible and relatable even to people unfamiliar with the culture.

While Yokomizo keeps the focus on the intricate plot and doesn't get much lost in the scenery, it is nonetheless a very interesting novel from a cultural and sociological standpoint, as he set it in a lesser known period of the Shōwa era, in the struggling and fast changing Japan immediately after the second world war, when the nobility that greatly increased in power and influence after the Meiji Restoration got stripped down of all its privileges (and the imperial stipends that ensured their way of life) with the post-war Constitution, throwing many families, like the one at the core of the novel, into turmoil. While at least some basic knowledge of the Meiji and Shōwa periods certainly lets the reader get more from the novel, Yokomizo efficiently wove the key historical and social elements into the narrative, making the story perfectly accessible to anyone.

Several others Kindaichi titles are also available in English from Pushkin Vertigo, and I certainly hope they keep translating more of them in the future.

I adore thrillers and mystery novels, especially when it presents an absolutely absurd or complex mystery. It's why I adore the Poirot books by Agatha Christie, for example. While I'm very familiar with the tropes of Western mystery and detective novels, I'm not as knowledgeable about the genre's forms in other literatures. This brought me to Japanese thrillers and I'm utterly delighted that Puhskin Vertigo continues to publish brilliant translations of Seishi Yokomizo's Kosuke Kindaichi-series. The Devil's Flute Murders was a thrilling ride which has solidified Kindaichi as one of my favourite detectives. Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Seishi Yokomizo book and my third Japanese "locked room mystery" novel. The thriller genre has its formulas, which you become familiar with pretty quickly if you're an avid reader of the genre. The genre differs per culture and country, though, as the popularity of Skandi-Noir also showed. Japanese thrillers bring a totally different set of tropes, figures, and elements with them, which I am slowly becoming familiar with. While I am in no way capable of guessing where the book is going, I'm already becoming more adept at picking up the right clues and recognising "weird" behaviour in the suspects. I'm also appreciating the way in which these thrillers teach me about Japanese culture and history in an indirect way. In The Devil's Flute Murders, Yokomizo comments upon, or engages with, the "sunset class", a name given to the class of Japanese nobles who lost their estates, wealth and eventually titles after World War II. The consequences of the war echo throughout the book, as the characters make their way through cities and landscapes which are still in ruins. This was something that I had only been vaguely aware of, so the way Yokomizo engaged with it was very interesting to me.

The narrator of The Devil's Flute Murders begins the book by telling us of his hesitancy to commit the crimes and horrors of the plot to paper. It is a truly horrendous crime, whose roots lie in the slow decline of Japanese nobility after the Second World War. But the true horror, as is so often the case, lies at home. In The Devil's Flute Murders various crimes come together, from a poisoning at a jewelry store to active murders and crimes of a more intimate, scandalous nature. Throughout it all, we follow detective Kosuke Kindaichi as he tries to make sense of it all. How did a murder take place in a locked room? What does the nun on a distant island have to do with it all? And has someone returned from the dead for revenge? The Devil's Flute Murders truly is a wild ride and I enjoyed every second of it. Kosuke remains one of my favourite detectives, from his messy appearance, to his messy hair, all the way to his kindness towards the people he deals with. I'm so glad Pusking Vertigo is making these novels available to English readers!

An element of Yokomizo's fiction which I really enjoy is the strong presence of the narrator. As I mentioned above, the narrator is with us from the very first page. The way in which this narrator frames the events and characters, the way he sometimes freezes the narrative to give us extra information, or how he comments upon the characters, is all fascinating to me and something I now miss in Western thrillers. While there is a lack of introspection, in the sense that we don't get the deep and personal thoughts of each of the characters, there is a lot of attention to the ways in which they behave. Their clothes, their facial expressions, the inflection of their voices, and more, it all gets attention and thereby allows the reader to really create an image of the characters. What I also enjoyed about The Devil's Flute Murders is how propulsive it is. There are constant little asides about how no one knew disaster was around the corner, how no one knew this little thing would become important, etc. It really focuses you as a reader and it meant I had to literally force myself to stop reading at 2am. I naturally continued the moment I woke up around 7. I will be reading every book by Yokomizo I can get my hands on. Jim Riontranslation is also excellent and I found it very accessible while still feeling like I was reading a book from a different culture to mine, if that makes sense.

The Devil's Flute Murders is a brilliant stand-alone mystery which also ties into the wider Kindaichi series very well. Full of fascinating details, shocking crimes, and surprising twists, The Devil's Flute Murders is a thriller I can recommend to anyone.

Will update with links on publication day.

Such a good mystery! This reminded me a lot of Sherlock Holmes!

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC

I'm pretty hesitant on what score to give it because it was oscillating all the time.

It reminded me a lot of some of Christie's books where we have a million characters and they connect with each other. I made a list with the names and relationships and how things were happening because there came a time when I was not understanding anything.

I would love to know how he wrote the book, because I don't understand how he didn't get dizzy with so much.

It became a bit heavy for me during the course of the story, as I felt that it was not flowing, that it was stagnating and I no longer wanted to read it so much. But I think it's something of the way it was written before, and that one is no longer used to that. Although I'm not one of the people who want everything NOW in novels, I don't like this rhythm either... because it was slow.

I can't rate it less because the story itself is incredible. It is very well thought out and the truth is that one is really surprised. I liked the way the ending unfolded, the way it told those last moments. Yeah!

A new Japanese author discovered! A new experience.

Thank you Pushkin Press for the ARC that I read through NetGalley.

Set in the 1940’s, Detective Kindaichi investigates an apparent suicide, and becomes entangled with an unpleasant aristocratic extended family with disturbing secrets. Gruesome murders follow, including a locked room mystery. As the investigation continues, the detective travels around a Japan that is still recovering from the effects of war. Atmospheric but a bit annoying with regards to the treatment of women at that time. Took me a little time to get used to the names of the characters, and the use of ‘e’ instead of ‘i’ to reflect the different accents of people from specific parts of Japan, but that is due to my own ignorance rather than anything else. Written in an engaging style, and a story that keeps you guessing.

This has definitely been the most complex Kindaichi book so far translated. If I'd known when I started reading how much I'd need to concentrate I'd have got a pad and pen out to make notes. However it probably would have made zero difference. I'm always convinced I know the murderer and I'm always wrong. This time was no different.

I won't even attempt to describe the story apart from to say its absolutely diabolical, very near the knuckle and thankfully, not particularly bloody. The characters are generally unlikeable, some are quite revolting. Even Kindaichi seems more scruffy and out of sorts than his usual self.

However I still love these stories. They are far more Christie than Rankin. Not totally cosy but definitely story and character driven than trying to shock you with the actual crime.

I knocked a star off because the complexity finally gave me a headache. The good news is that the killer does explain everything in detail so if you're still a little befuddled it will make sense in the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Really interesting mystery. The characters and plot were unexpected. I enjoyed following along with the plot and trying to figure out what was going to happen next and what the end result would be.

I have read other Seishi Yokomizo books and was keen to read The Devil’s Flute Murders.

This book did not disappoint. Mineko, an aristocrat’s daughter, hires Kosuke Kindaichi to investigate her father’s disappearance/death.

I really enjoy this series of books and find the backdrop of Japan rebuilding shortly after the end of of World War II incredibly interesting. There are power cuts, food shortages, displaced people - all trying to survive.

I loved this locked room murder and it kept me guessing to the end of the book! I really hope more books in this series are published!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pushkin Press, for making the ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another fantastic locked room mystery by Seishi Yokomizo. After reading all the prior books in the series, I was definitely looking forward to this one.

Following the sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi, it's time for another cerebral mystery. If you're familiar with the format, you won't be disappointed.

As always, the writing style was filled with suspense. Despite the high-brow thinking the novel asks you of, it still manages to be a page-turner that you can fly through.

I would highly recommend this and all the other Kindaichi books. I hope more in the series are translated into English and released.

3.75 stars

The Devil’s Flute Murders is the fifth book by Seishi Yokomizo starring private detective Kosuke Kindaichi to be translated into English. This book was originally published as a serial from 1951-1953 in Japanese and follows Kosuke Kendaichi as he becomes embroiled in the investigation of a string of murders that seem to be connected to the apparent suicide of a composer and possibly, an infamous unsolved mass poisoning.

I haven’t read any of the other novels by Seishi Yokomizo and I found myself wishing that I knew a little bit more about the background of our scruffy private detective, Kosuke Kindaichi, as I was reading The Devil’s Flute Murders. So perhaps, this isn’t the best place in the series to jump into (although if you do start here you won’t be confused). What I did get to know of Kosuke Kindaichi’s character I liked, and would definitely read the other books that have been translated into English so far.

The mystery itself quickly sucked me in. I was very invested in finding out how everything (and everyone) was connected, who done it, and why. Which is exactly what I want from a mystery! Along with the mystery being investigated, there is very much an eerie sense of dread and foreboding woven throughout which really added to my reading experience and, I’m hoping is a part of Seishi Yokomizo’s writing style.

I found the book to be a little bit slow at the beginning but once the stage is set, the pace picks up. I do think the book overall could have been a little shorter (but I know it was originally released as a serial so it makes sense). I also found the explanation of the why and how during the big reveal at the end slightly convoluted and overly complicated.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Devil’s Flute Murders and look forward to picking up more by Seishi Yokomizo.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the eARC. This is my honest review.

"The Devil's Flute Murders" by Seishi Yokomizo is a captivating locked room mystery that immerses readers in a thrilling guessing game. Yokomizo's skillful storytelling and intricate plot keep you hooked from the first page to the shocking finale. The feuding family, the brooding composer, and the chilling devil's flute symbol all add layers of intrigue to this mind-bending Japanese mystery. With well-developed characters, atmospheric descriptions, and relentless suspense, this classic crime novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. Prepare to be engrossed in a world where everyone has something to hide, and the truth waits to be unveiled in the darkest corners of the human psyche.

With many thanks to Pushkin Press, I’ve become enamored of the classic Japanese mysteries that they have been publishing, many seeing their first appearance in English. Their new volume, The Devil’s Flute Murders, may be one of the best Japanese crime novels I’ve ever read.

Set in post WW2 Japan, a locked room murder (I freely admit to loving the sub genre) has occurred. Kosuki Kindaichi, a famous detective (featured in prior books by the author), has been asked to investigate. But everything is not as it seems, and as the investigation proceeds, the reader is also drawn into a web of dark family secrets. I was completely sucked into the incredibly complex plotting, and just loved following Kindaichi’s investigative trials and tribulations.

Highly recommended.

My thanks to Pushkin Press and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.

Detective Kosuke Kindaichi is back in a mystery that starts with the suicide of flautist who married into an aristocratic family and a divination session that results in a locked room murder. After a young woman hires the detective to look into her father's suicide, Kindaichi finds himself at the family compound and a sort of seance that goes wrong, followed by a murder in locked room. Before the end of the investigation, more people are dead as he tries to suss out an intricate plan and sordid history.
Writing-wise, this was as good and compelling as the other books I've read in Yokomizo's series. I did find myself lost for awhile in the middle, as the investigation leaves the premises as Kindaichi goes searching for various people to fill in missing bits of information. The hunt took longer than it needed to, only divulging tidbits of answers one by one, and dragged down what wasn't that long of a book. However, once Kindaichi started putting the puzzle pieces together, the narrative picked up again and resulted in a complex but intriguing solution. Not my favorite of the three books I've read in the series, but still enjoyable. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Another creepy and twisty locked-room mystery by classic writer Seishi Yokomizo. I usually find Japanese puzzle novels too cerebral to enjoy, like the authors are more worried about letting readers see all the clues, than character development. Kosuke Kindaichi’s mysteries are not like that. They also pose unsolvable questions, but the answers are really simple in the end. I also like that the most puzzling part is not how the murderer did it, but why. Kindaichi is quirky, smart and likable. Besides a clever and entertaining whodunit, I enjoyed the historical background of the novel. The characters all suffer the hardships of post-war Tokyo, so that part was also fascinating, as it is a look into a time that is not widely known in the West. The cast of suspects (and victims) is sometimes too over-the-top, but I think that’s the way classic mysteries were written at the time. The key part is that readers can sympathize with Kindaichi’s young client and that the plot is suspenseful and, in my case at least, impossible to figure out.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Pushkin Vertigo!

The writing style is perfection. Whether the author’s original work was so well done or the translator was a genius, I don’t know, but this is a book which is a joy to read for the language and style alone. The characters and plot live up to this, thankfully, and it makes for a cracker of a mystery.

"An ingenious classic locked-room murder mystery about the feuding family of a composer that's perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Anthony Horowitz.

Featuring the scruffy sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi - the most famous Japanese detective - created by one of Japan's greatest crime writers: Seishi Yokomizo, the "Japanese Agatha Christie"

Locked room mysteries are hot again, and this classic from the golden age of crime presents a mind-bending Japanese mystery from the great Seishi Yokomizo, whose fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi is a pop culture phenomenon akin to Sherlock Holmes.

This time the beloved scruffy sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi investigates a series of gruesome murders within the feuding family of a brooding, troubled composer, whose most famous work chills the blood of all who hear it. Readers will be totally engrossed by one of Yokomizo's most clever guessing games, in which everyone has something to hide..."

Have locked room mysteries ever not been hot? Asking because I seriously always love them.