Seishi Yokomizo's "The Devil's Flute Murders" is a masterfully crafted murder mystery that transports readers to 1937 Japan. With intricate plotting and a rich atmospheric setting, this novel showcases Yokomizo's prowess as a pioneering voice in Japanese crime fiction.

The story follows the investigation into the peculiar deaths of two men, both found clutching Japanese flutes. As the enigmatic Kosuke Kindaichi unravels the case, Yokomizo deftly weaves a tapestry of clues and red herrings, challenging readers to piece together the puzzle alongside the detective.

What truly elevates this novel is Yokomizo's meticulous attention to detail, from the vivid depictions of Japanese culture and traditions to the intricate psychological profiles of the characters. The author's deep understanding of human nature lends depth and complexity to the narrative, transcending the boundaries of a mere whodunit.

While the pacing occasionally lags, Yokomizo's skill in misdirection and his ability to maintain suspense until the final, satisfying reveal more than compensate for any minor lulls. "The Devil's Flute Murders" is a captivating and immersive journey into the golden age of Japanese crime fiction, solidifying Yokomizo's status as a master of the genre.

DNF at 33%

I'm a bit upset because I really wanted to get into this as I want to read more translated literature and I've heard that Seishi Yokomizo was a very famous and well loved Japanese crime writer. I think unfortunately, and I would say this is more my fault, I kept getting confused because of the large cast of characters. I also wasn't super invested in the mystery and I think that was because of my confusion. I would like to try another novel by this author though because I think there's one out there for me, but this isn't it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve read a handful of Japanese mysteries and am always fascinated by their construction. This one is no different. It’s distinctly different from American and British mysteries, so you have to know what you’re getting into when you start. However, they’re intricately plotted, with minute clues dropped throughout. This book also includes a darkness that I wasn’t fully prepared for and that I found compelling.

A locked room mystery with a twist so dark it will blow your mind. I haven't read anything like it. The introduction itself has incidents that will at first seem ordinary, but as I got into it further , it got more and more twisted.
The writing is brilliant, the whole atmosphere is disturbing and mysterious. I suspected every single person in this convoluted family full of vendetta and trickery, even towards the end I couldn't find out who or why of this mystery.
It was definitely interesting and gives more food for our thoughts throughout. What didn't work for me was the pacing, it was rather slow for my liking. For some time almost nothing happened in between.

The story unfolds in post-war Japan, circa 1947. The narrative begins with the apparent suicide of Hidesuke Tsubaki, a famous composer and flutist. While tragic, the grim discovery only spirals into a complex web of mystery when Hidesuke's daughter, Mineko Tsubaki, suspects foul play. She enlists the aid of private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Disheveled and bumbling, with an understated brilliance, he is clearly a nod to the iconic character 'Columbo'.

The narrative soon takes a turn when a murder occurs in seemingly impossible circumstances. Steps can be heard in empty rooms; Hidesuke's most ethereal, eerie tune keeps playing … This conjures a haunting and claustrophobic atmosphere that adds to the intrigue. Kindaichi, with his keen eye, navigates the intricate maze of the Tsubaki family's secrets, while red herrings and dubious alibis keep the reader guessing.

Seishi Yokomizo is known for his intricate and detailed narratives, and this novel is no exception! Rooted in the 'honkaku' genre, it pays homage to classic Western crime novels, while vividly painting Japan's unique cultural landscape. The Western reader who is not familiar with Japanese names might despair: There's a plethora of characters to keep track of! But thankfully, the novel starts with a few pages that list their names and their role in the story.

This might not be the right novel for readers who prefer fast-paced, straightforward narratives, but it's a feast for the connoisseur of complex whodunits, complex and rich in cultural depth. Over the years, I have come to adore the Japanese genre 'honkaku', which is defined by fiendishly clever puzzles and locked-room mysteries – with the clear mission statement that every mystery needs to be solvable by the reader! All the necessary clues are there, you just have to read with an eye for the details.

In essence, «The Devil's Flute Murders» is an excellent addition to the realm of mystery literature. It invites the reader into a world where every detail matters, encapsulating the essence of a genre that delights in the intellectual pursuit of unraveling the truth hidden within an intricate plot.

The story unfolds in post-war Japan, circa 1947. The narrative begins with the apparent suicide of Hidesuke Tsubaki, a famous composer and flutist. While tragic, the grim discovery only spirals into a complex web of mystery when Hidesuke's daughter, Mineko Tsubaki, suspects foul play. She enlists the aid of private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Disheveled and bumbling, with an understated brilliance, he is clearly a nod to the iconic character 'Columbo'.

The narrative soon takes a turn when a murder occurs in seemingly impossible circumstances. Steps can be heard in empty rooms; Hidesuke's most ethereal, eerie tune keeps playing … This conjures a haunting and claustrophobic atmosphere that adds to the intrigue. Kindaichi, with his keen eye, navigates the intricate maze of the Tsubaki family's secrets, while red herrings and dubious alibis keep the reader guessing.

Seishi Yokomizo is known for his intricate and detailed narratives, and this novel is no exception! Rooted in the 'honkaku' genre, it pays homage to classic Western crime novels, while vividly painting Japan's unique cultural landscape. The Western reader who is not familiar with Japanese names might despair: There's a plethora of characters to keep track of! But thankfully, the novel starts with a few pages that list their names and their role in the story.

This might not be the right novel for readers who prefer fast-paced, straightforward narratives, but it's a feast for the connoisseur of complex whodunits, complex and rich in cultural depth. Over the years, I have come to adore the Japanese genre 'honkaku', which is defined by fiendishly clever puzzles and locked-room mysteries – with the clear mission statement that every mystery needs to be solvable by the reader! All the necessary clues are there, you just have to read with an eye for the details.

In essence, «The Devil's Flute Murders» is an excellent addition to the realm of mystery literature. It invites the reader into a world where every detail matters, encapsulating the essence of a genre that delights in the intellectual pursuit of unraveling the truth hidden within an intricate plot.

The style is fairly consistent - and one the author Seishi Yolomizo explores well - deep, dark family secrets, which when brought into open, give birth to jealousy, greed and ultimately ... murder. And here again, we have all those elements: a family saga of love and hate, revenge and redemption; many suspects but always one whom you are least likely to suspect; a suspenseful mystery, tied together by a long narrative that conveys the essence of the story, location and characters to perfection. This is Yokomizo's trademark.

In this instance we have a mysterious disappearance, a locked room murder mystery, a jewel robbery, and the haunting and ominous tones of a flute.

I cannot recommend this series enough, with our detective, Kindaichi, who according to the local policeman, looks more like a criminal than a world famous detective!

I really enjoy Japanese fiction (of the ones I've read, anyway!) and The Devil's Flute Murders appealed to me due to its locked-room mystery plot. I'm a fan of a classic murder mystery and this didn't disappoint. The structure of the plot did remind me of Agatha Christie and would highly recommend for any fans of the great lady herself!

I read Inugami Curse and liked it. Devil's Flute Murder too is a brilliant installment. Kindaichi series has a separate fanbase due to it's different style of writing from thrillers and mysteries like that of Keigo Higashino.

I will not talk about it details lest I give out spoilers which I definitely don't want to do. A chilling yet engaging read. I may have been addicted to Yokomizo Seishi's writing ngl.

I loved this book but this a book you need to sit down and spend dedicated time to reading in long sittings to really get into the story.

The characters and plot was well developed and I enjoyed the flow a lot more than I do with others in the genre!

I thought it was so well written I have purchased seishi yokomizos other books and I look forward to delving in his world further!

This is not a book for new readers but would be loved by anyone who is already an avid fan of the murder mystery genre!

I love the creepy, otherworldly mysteries from this author. No doubt there are numerous layers I am missing due to my own lack of knowledge about Japanese culture, but I hope Pushkin Vertigo keeps making these available to English-speaking audiences.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, via NetGalley. I enjoyed this book, although it took me a little longer to get into, in the end I couldn't put it down! Would recommend!

I really enjoyed the previous books from this author but this one had way too many characters and I was confused all the time. The translation made it difficult too and the fact that I’m not familiar with the Japanese names and the way they change depending on who they are made it very difficult to follow. Also, the ending was kind of far fetched. I will continue reading these translations but this one just wasn’t for me.

Grateful for the opportunity to dive into the ARC of this book, though it didn't quite captivate me enough to reach the final page.

Perfect for fans of classic mystery and Agatha Christie, the translation of The Devil's Flute Murders brings a classic locked door mystery to a whole new audience and wow them with with the final reveal. Yokomizo has quickly become one of my favourite authors with his smooth writing style and and twisted family drama that makes the plot all the more thrilling.

Yokomizo is inventive and created an atmospheric mystery, with an ending that satisfying pulled all of the threads together. I might read more of his works, particularly because I enjoy this style of mystery (with a character detective whose out-of-the-box thinking sheds new light on a case). I also really liked the setting in post-WWII Japan and how much current events factored into the mystery.
That being said, I felt like I had to drag myself through a good part of this book and wasn't enthralled as a whole. While I thought the ending was a satisfying conclusion, I also didn't enjoy the themes used to conclude the mystery and felt like there were too many threads. The characters fell flat for me in some ways as well, particularly because most of the supporting characters felt one-note and didn't have meaningful engagement with the story.

This book brought to my mind a typical Christie novel, with a large cast of rich and despicable family members in which you wouldn't like most of the characters, but the mystery that lies at the heart of an unspeakable family secret is so compelling that you cannot stop reading the book, until you reach the very end. This is the second book in a row I'm reading which is set in Japan during the year 1947(coincidence?)

Detective Kosuke Kindaichi is approached by a distressed young woman Mineko, who wants him to solve the mystery surrounding her father, Hidesuke Tsubaki's disappearance and then discovery of his death. Her father, who had committed suicide, has made a dramatic reappearance in the form of a spirit and to get to the bottom of this, the family has decided to hold a divination in their mansion. This is how Kindaichi gets involved in the matter and as he investigates deeper, he realizes just how complex the case is. I couldn't guess the ending so when the big mystery was revealed, I was shocked and amazed at how well the plot was done. The only thing that I felt was a little odd was that when Kindaichi had an inkling of who the real murderer was, why didn't he take appropriate measures to prevent further tragedies in the family? I enjoyed reading the book and it made me crave for a Christie book(I haven't read even one this year).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-copy of the book.

This was my first time reading a book in the series, even though I do have a physical copy of another book in my possession.
The plot and the execution of the story is very much high drama, reminiscent of Asian dramas, with subplots and reveals meant to keep you guessing, and to keep you reading. My experience with the book was that, I found myself disinterested with the story during the first half of the narration. I was not a fan of the lead investigator’s expressions described in the book, which for me felt like a little overdone, something you would see in a drama, rather than have described in a book, and it was only his. Also considering the narration was by him, and done in a way he describes or writes it down, made it all the more so.
The plot itself is long winding, with elements of a closed room mystery, one where suspicion of supernatural is in place, with all it being revealed in the end. The second half of the book was more interesting to me with the emphasis on the backstories and the narration diving deeper into the mystery of it all coming to together.
The reveal and the entirety of the plot was good, but I am not sure I liked the way it was presented.
Thank you #NeTgAlLeY and #Pushkinvertigo for the opportunity to review the book.

Brilliant translation and a very gripping story. It was a bit old school, but I enjoyed that aspect a lot. Highly recommended, especially if Japanese mysteries are your thing.

After reading Death on Gokumon Island, I knew I'd be interested in reading more Seishi Yokomizo - and here I am.

"The Devil's Flute Murders" is just as intricate and atmospheric as "Death on Gokumon Island" - although its charm comes less from the gruesomeness of the murders themselves (I'm aware this is an odd thing to write) and more from the slowly dawning horror of a gothic family saga.

A viscount killed himself. A mild, nice man, wrongly accused of a gruesome murder and robbery, he was revealed to be beyond suspicion, but committed suicide anyway, after writing a song called "The Devil Comes and Plays His Flute". Much later, detective Kindaichi is contacted by the viscount's daughter to investigate whether her father is really dead or not, since he's supposedly been seen here and there.

And then the murders start in the family home, where more people than expected live - the mother's uncle and her cousin, as well as both their spouses, servants... well. There are people, is the point. Soon after holding a seance interrupted by the song of the dead man's flute, the first person dies.

Kindaichi and the police start investigating, and their clues lead them on the dead viscount's tail, researching events that took place many years before, revealing dark and entangled family secrets.

I wasn't entirely happy with the way Akiko was described a couple of times as having a fire burning in her that only a forceful man could control - even if it's foreshadowing some of the gothic family horror, it felt embarrassingly like it's saying "she was such a slut and a weakling she would mindlessly run off with anyone who offered". I mean, I get why Seishi Yokomizo wants to paint a picture of wrongness with bold strikes, but it still doesn't work for me no matter how I look at it.

Overall, it made for a nice read, even if the plot moved to a different part of Japan for a while, and even if I kept getting lost between names and relations. During the first pages, Seishi Yokomizo makes sure to drill these into our heads almost as if we're reading a report, but, nonetheless, I messed up and forgot people. (If I had had the paperback, however, looking up the characters by flipping back to the beginning would have been very easy.)