"𝐀𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥. 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞... 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲."

The Labyrinth House Murders is the third instalment of loosely connected books, each featuring a unique house designed by architect Nakamuri Seiji where impossible crimes occur and amateur detective Shimada tries to solve the case.

Four mystery authors, a critic, an editor and his wife, and a mystery novel aficionado have been invited to the infamous Labyrinth House for famed mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro's birthday, but soon all are drawn into a bizarre deadly competition that sees them locked in with no escape. Can the aficionado, Shimada, and the editor, Utayma, solve the crimes before all are dead?!

This story-within-a-story is quite addicting. It takes a second to understand the set-up: the beginning and end of the book are 'real life people' while the rest is the published story of what happened at Labyrinth House. Once I understood this, I was fully invested in this Japanese murder mystery classic. Translations can be tricky, as they don't always flow the way they do in their native language, but Ho-Ling Wong does a great job at balancing tone and flow. I listened to a portion of the story at the beginning, which I found very useful. Kaipo Schwab reads with a lot of expression, bringing the story to life; hearing character names pronounced correctly helped me keep track of them and allowed me to read their names properly. The plot is a bit convoluted, but once the murders start, they come fast and furious, heightening the sense of claustrophobia and danger. I adored the two amateur detectives, Shimada (who reminds me of a Japanese Poirot) and Utayma (who is the Hastings to Shimada). Just when the story seems like it came to a logical ending, Yukito Ayatsuji adds an epilogue that blows things out of the water! I appreciated the explanation Ayatsuji gave in breaking down the twisty plot.

The Labryinth House Murders is prime example of Japanese murder mysteries, with atmosphere and satisfying twists. Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Not difficult to follow at all. Fun to read and try and figure it out as you go. Interesting cast of characters that aren't confusing or difficult to tell apart. Really enjoy this author's work.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the audio also! This one felt layered and like YOU ARE FATALLY INVITED. While the basis of a literal locked room (or house in the case) wasn't new, I enjoyed all the different layers that felt original.

Another banger from Yukkito Ayatsuji.
I do worry sometimes about how far it can go but this slapped again! Such clever clever writing once angain! Actually obsessed with the ending, by far one of the best thriller books i've read to date!

The Labyrinth house murder had the stilted, cold narration that I find to be pretty typical in translated Japanese fiction, however I don’t mind it terribly in a murder mystery story. The puzzle itself was intriguing and I had quite a good time taking notes, making diagrams, and trying to solve the mystery with all the little clues, though the on page rehashing of clues was pretty repetitive. I also enjoyed the allusions to Greek mythology. Unfortunately, none of the things I liked could make up for the horrendous, misogynistic, medically inaccurate reveal. I am genuinely shocked that this ended up with a translation/republish in 2025. It seems as though the author has never before encountered a woman.

Pushkin Press is reissuing Yukito Ayatsuji's House /Shimadamurder series bringing more recognition to this master craftsman. The Labyrinth House Murders is by far my favorite of the three, although I really enjoy them all.

A group of young mystery writers comes to the house at the bequest of an esteemed older writer who lives in an underground house that is literally a Labyrinth, with all rooms decorated and named after the Minotaur myth. When on of the party does, and a strange competition ensues, it's a good thing detective Shimada Kiyoshi was in the party.

As the death toll rises, and there's no way out, we, the reader, are tricked and turned every which way.
Let me tell you: the ending is stunning, and you will not have come to the conclusion yourself, although the Fair Play ethos lays it out for you.

A famed murder mystery writer is celebrating his 60th birthday with a party for a select few. Invitees include four up and coming writers of the same genre, critics, and his editor. The guest of honor never showed, and it's revealed he committed suicide and has left a will with a competition for the writers to inherit. The writer's death is only the beginning of death as murders keep occurring and it's up to those left to work out whodunnit.

I've read several Japanese murder mysteries, and they are generally quite enjoyable. This one was surprising for how modern it was and that put me off track a bit. This one also was a book within a book which was a good premise, and it definitely kept me off balance some of the way through. I had figured out part of the mystery but the revelations at the end took me by surprise. And yet they really weren't so surprising as they sort of fit the book better than earlier reveals. I must admit that part of the revelation didn't quite sit right with me and perhaps this is a sign of the times when it was written.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book that is sure to appeal to those who enjoy a good murder mystery. Thank you to Pushkin Vertigo and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. My review has been completely voluntary.

Having enjoyed previous books from this author I was hopeful that I’d feel similarly about this but I’m afraid what let it down was the lack of character development. I didn’t care for any of the characters and it’s such a pity because the story itself would have been so much more engaging had they been fleshed out more.

The period explanation really took me out of it too and I felt the author really doesn’t understand women’s bodies and how they work. It just felt a bit all over the place. The concept was interesting but the execution of it let it down.

The Labyrinth House Murders is the fourth in series for Ayatsuji's detective, Shimada Kiyoshi. All three have involved labyrinthine houses and Labyrinth House is (surprisingly) no different, having been designed by the same architect, Nakamura Seiji.

The story, thankfully, is nowhere near as complicated as the last two and the cast of characters is not quite as enormous. I still didn't work out whodunnit, so some things don't change.

The plot revolves around Miyagaki Yõtarõ, a terminally author who invites several people to his home, Labyrinth House, for his birthday party. Amongst the guests are a critic, his editor and four mystery writers.

However almost as soon as the stay begins a tragedy occurs and then a strange and deadly game begins which leaves all the guests trying to find the answers before more tragedy happens. And it's not easy even navigating Labyrinth House, let alone trying to work out what's going on.

This was my favourite of the series so far, mainly because I didn't get hopelessly lost. It does throw several curveballs at you along the way and the twisty end is excellent. My only advice is not to ignore the afterwords or epilogues.

Definitely recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Vertigo for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

This is my second time reading a japanese murder mystery book and they're great. A famous mystery writer lives alone in the middle of nowhere in the labyrinth house. He invites amateur authors and critics to his house for his birthday but instead they all end up involved in a real life murder mystery game, not only do they have to figure out who the killer is and how to stay safe, but they also have to navigate the labyrinth house too.
Throughout the story you find yourself saying, I know who the killer is but when it came to the epilogue it just turns everything onto its head, it seems so unrealistic but in the layout of the story it works.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this book. Ive read a few Japanese murder mystery book and there's just something about them I love,

would recommend this book to any mystery lover

Imagine being trapped in a maze overnight with a murderer…

A rich retired mystery novel author invites a group of mystery authors, a critic, an editor and a mystery fan to his mansion, which features a mysterious maze in the middle of the house. When a murder occurs and the group realised they may be trapped in the labyrinth with a potential murderer, they must work together to solve the clues based on the Greek myth of the Minotaur to identify the killer.

The concept of the characters trapped in a maze with a murderer was quite creepy, but the eccentric cast of mystery writer characters kept the story from being too dark. The plot was exciting and moved fast, and I did not expect the twists at the end!

I don’t normally ready mystery novels but will definitely read Yukito Ayatsuji’s other books after this one!

Thank you Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

The third translated installment of the Bizarre House Mystery series by Yukito Ayatsuji - and a third hit for me! If you enjoyed both The Decagon House Murders and The Mill House Murders, The Labyrinth House will take you along similar paths in a new twisty (literally) mansion in a remote location.

The Labyrinth House Murders follows a group of writers, editors, critics, and our unassuming detective Shimada Kiyoshi as they arrive for the 60th birthday of renowned mystery author, Miyagaki Yotaro, at his house designed by Nakamura Seiji - an underground home with a literal labyrinth steeped in Greek mythology at its heart. Things take a turn when someone is found dead, and a deadly competition for a chance at fame and fortune begins. Who will make it out of The Labyrinth House alive?

Full transparency, while The Labyrinth House is probably my favorite of the series so far, there is an aspect of the final reveal that I didn't care for. It was still a good time though, and I'd recommend it to anyone who has a love or an interest in classic or golden age murder mysteries, locked room mysteries, and the like. I will keep reading them as they are translated!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for a digital arc - all opinions are my own.

A famous writer invites a group of authors and others to his isolated house. The house is built like a maze and various parts are named after characters from the Greek myth of Theseus. Immediately the group are informed that their host is dead and that his will sets a competition in which the winner will receive a huge bequest. However, soon all the writers have been murdered and it is up to the remaining visitors to solve the mystery.
This is a very Japanese twist on the locked room mystery and is a rather refreshing interpretation. I can imagine the translator had to work hard to ensure that the translation did not give away too many clues. I was finding the story very odd but the final twists really made a difference to my enjoyment.

The Labyrinth House Murders is the third book in Yukito Ayaysuji’s House Murders stories and it’s a return to form after the mediocre book 2.

Four murder mystery writers plus sundry literary critics are invited to the unusual home of master author Miyagaki Yotaro for a birthday party, but all is not as it seems and people start to be murdered one by one. I don’t want to spoil the plot, but the architecture of the house and the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur are central to the plot.

A recommended read for lovers of Japanese mysteries.

I liked the format, book within a book and the trickeries related to that.
Locked room mystery
8 people stranded in mansion
Interesting characters
Mythology referencea
Creepy mansion

I couldn't find the actual murderer, but the book had me thinking I had it all figured out all along and that dimmed the intrigue for a long time until I realised I was being tricked all along. But it was interesting to see the 'how'dunnit.

I even checked that particular detail in the beginning, so it was purposeful. I don't know how to feel about that. I am not a fan of intentionally keeping things from the reader just for the same of plot twist.

If you like books that are tightly plotted and provide you multiple tools for solving in your own, you would enjoy Yukito Ayatsuji’s books. This book is more of the same, with the layout of the Labyrinth House provided and playing an important role in the case. If you also read a lot of old mysteries, you’ll enjoy this one in particular. All of the participants are mystery authors, and their roles move from competitors in a game, to fighting for their lives using their puzzle solving skills.

If you are interested in more character heavy stories, these don’t do well on this front. The details of the characters are important, but not particularly engaging. This book engages your brain much more than your heart. But it’s a good puzzle.

Absolutely nothing is as it seems. Question everyone and everything.. I. Read this 3 months ago and I still replay it over and over in my head.

I wish I read the books previous to this one in the series. Though you can read it as a standalone, I think it would have helped me to know some details from cases before.

🔍🩸🏠Labyrinth House Murders🩸🏠🔍

This is my second book from this author and I have another one (The Mill House Murders) that I'm in the middle of reading, I am a sucker for a Japanese murder mystery and this was just what I needed.

A closed-in Murders mystery in a unique location with a cast of characters that keep you guessing on whodunnit and who might be next.

I usually get ahead of myself and guess who the culprit is and typically still enjoy the novel. Not this one. Just when I thought I knew who, they pulled the rug from under my feet and point out a lot of things I missed from the beginning! it was such a good mystery! It's part of a series of translated mysteries that I look forward to reading all of them!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for allowing me to read the e-book ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I have become something of a fan of Japanese murder mysteries in the past years. I love how they require close reading, play with genre expectations, and seem to delight in providing all the information. So naturally I was intrigued by The Labyrinth House Murders, which promptly became one of my favourites. Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favourite aspects of The Labyrinth House Murders is the whole meta approach of it, the novel-inside-the-novel, with even the publication information being reproduced. The inside-book, also called 'The Labyrinth House Murders' also comes with its own map and I think it would be a joy to read this book physically, rather than on an e-Reader because of this. (To differentiate between the two, the actual book is in italics while the book-in-the-book is between quotation marks.) So much of Labyrinth and 'Labyrinth' expect you to pay close attention because Yukito Ayatsuji has carefully planned everything, from the smallest detail to the biggest plot points. I think it is this aspect I enjoy so much about Japanese murder mysteries in comparison to general thrillers, that you can't assume you know where it's going, that nothing is as it seems. Setting this within the industry of murder mystery publishing just adds an extra layer to that. Everyone in the novel has a deep understanding of the genre, either writing it, editing it, reviewing it, or enjoying it as a reader. Because of that, everyone is almost "levelled up" from the beginning, keeping an eye out for clues, pondering motives, and being familiar with the trappings of the locked room mystery. This makes reading Labyrinth House as an enjoyed of the genre myself very fun, because no one is being dumb.

A little note, in the novel itself, the names are listed in Japanese order, meaning family name precedes a given name. I'm retaining that here.

The Labyrinth House Murders is a delightfully twisty murder mystery. It begins with the Prologue when Shimada receives a new book, 'The Labyrinth House Murders' itself, from its author, Shishiya Kadomi. It is based on the actual murders which took place in the Labyrinth House of the famed murder mystery author Miyagaki Yōtarō. Not only was the author present, although they're hiding their identity, but it seems, so was Shimada. From there, we dive into the "novel" itself. Miyagaki Yōtarō has invited four of his protegees to his Labyrinth House for his birthday. Alongside them his editor, Utayama Hideyuki, and his wife, Keiko, and the reviewer Samejima Tomoo make up the other guests. But then an unexpected death changes the party into a more serious kind of game. The four authors must come up with a short story each over a period of a few days, all set at the Labyrinth House itself, to win an enormous prize. The game takes a murderous turn, however, and fact and fiction begin to intertwine. Utayama Hideyuki is the focal point of 'Labyrinth House' and through him we experience the game, the dramatic consequences, and the resolution. Afterwards, we return to Shimada, finishing the novel himself and we get his thoughts on how it all came together. I loved this playing with expectations and it truly is the kind of book where the last chapter's twist is an actual delight, rather than something that feels done for surprise value.

It is difficult to talk about this book and all the things I loved, because I absolutely do not want to spoil anything. Going into this book as blindly as possible is absolutely the way to go! Yukito Ayatsuji truly came up with a brilliant plot, which ties into the other books in his 館シリーズ series without being dependent on them for information. Because Labyrinth House is a book about books I really feel that Yukito played with the writing as well which, as I mentioned above, means that paying close attention and reading with intention really pay off. I also really liked the character of Utayama Keiko. I've sometimes had issues with the characterisation of female characters in Japanese murder mysteries, which is, I think, to a large extent because I lack a nuanced understanding of Japan's culture and history. Keiko was a very interesting character though, bringing knowledge and insight to the table in a way that surprised me. I also liked the Labyrinth House itself, which is delight to imagine with its various rooms and a rather impressive entrance. The Greek myth theme behind the house, centred around King Minos, the labyrinth, and the Minotaur is woven into the plot nicely as well, in that it is actually relevant rather than a gimmick. Ho-Ling Wong does a brilliant job with the translation as well, which is extremely important as some clues depend on those details that require things to line up with the Japanese. I am definitely looking out for more translations of Yukito Ayatsuji's work!

The Labyrinth House Murders is a delightful novel and gives the reader exactly what they hope for! It is genuinely one of the most delightful murder mysteries I have read in a long while. A solid recommendation for anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and meta-novels!