The Samurai Detectives sounds like slightly mad mash up of genres, but this is, apparently, a Japanese classic story. Those looking for a gonzo mix of katana and magnifying glass might not have all their wishes fulfilled, but this set of adventures and problems, told in a measured style, with sword fights and dishonourable dealings to sort out has much to recommend it.

The samurai involved are not generally detectives in the classic sense, they find themselves connected to or involved in events that involve some danger to others or a mystery to look into. Out of a sense of duty or friendship or loyalty they try to sort them out.

One of the books best parts is its view of another culture and another time. It is set during Japan’s Edo period: a long period of peace and the role of the samurai has changed from that of knight and warrior to something more like gentleman. Parts are familiar, others not at all. Modern western readers may find our central character’s almost mystical abilities, as a master swordsman, reminder of how martial arts reflect not just fighting, but philosophy and spiritual enlightenment; we might be surprised by the reference to income at the introduction of each new character; a character whose desire to fight only arrives when he realises but that his opponent is far more deadly than he had thought in a duel likely to end with the loss of his life, shows an aspect of the samurai thought process we may not naturally share. Other readers may find our central character’s attractiveness to young women some 40 odd years his junior puzzling (and for some perhaps a little disturbing). It would be a shame to let that put you off, however. Modern readers might also be interested in the young woman who acts as a samurai too and whose life becomes entangled with the main character and his son.


The telling of the tale is easy to read. The author’s voice conversational. There is much to enjoy in its portrait of a very different world.

If the concept appeals, it’s worth having a read.

Advance copy supplied in return for honest review

Set in the Edo period of Japan, we follow detective Kohei, his samurai son Daijiro, and the strong female warrior Mifuyu.
This is a very enjoyable read with crisp writing and translation, interesting setting and characters, and some cool cases to solve.
I can say that I now invested in the characters and hooked, and hope the plots of the next cases are even more interesting than this installment.
3.5 stars.

Very enjoyable cozy mystery. I have been to Japan before so found myself able to picture the settings. I did struggle with the all the characters and names.
The description states “ shogun meets Sherlock Holmes” and I could not agree more, as someone who has read all of the Sherlock books.

I really enjoyed The Samurai Detectives and would describe it as feeling a little like a Samurai Sherlock Holmes - interlocking mysteries which are solved with a judicious amount of behind the scenes guile! Kohei is a fun main character but the reason these stories work is the community of characters around him.

I found the opening chapters a little hard going as there was a lot of contextual information which was difficult to digest but once I'd got to know the main characters it was easier to know what was important to retain. If I'd been reading it in print I think it would have been helpful to have a glossary of some of the terms to flick to but this didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.

Would recommend to anyone who has been enjoying the recent glut of Japanese detective fiction as well as aficionados of Sherlock Holmes or Father Brown. Fingers crossed there are more volumes to come!

An interesting read for those who enjoy Japan's history of samurais!

This book is based in the late 1700s of samurai warriors and lords. We follow three main characters:
Akiyama Kohei is the main detective who solves mysterious happenings and deaths.
He is accompanied by his son Akiyama Daijiro who runs a separate dojo and still awaiting for his first set of pupils.
Sasaki/Tanuma Mifiyu is the daughter of the shogunate, who is practically a tomboy, and who ends going to Akiyama Kohei for help on several occasions.

The book itself has a lot of characters for each mystery/circumstance, so I had started writing a character list. You really need to pay attention to which character is which, otherwise you won't be able to follow the story.

A four star book for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Genuine UK for this copy!

This translated Japanese epic follows Kohei and his disciples across various dojos and mansions, doing its duty in entertaining the reader while creatin a vivid image of Japan during its Edo period. The Samurai Detectives go between capturing scheming swordsmen and solving filthy revenge tales. all while questioning the shogunate and its implications, allowing the reader to stick with them throughout all the seasons, across rivers and between forests. Japan becomes something the reader can hear - in the rustling of the leaves and the hitting of the oar against the water as they row between homes - and taste - in the sake and the mute neighbour's soup - and in this, the short novel becomes more than a pageturner, immersive in both its mystery and its dedication to preserving this interesting moment in Japanese history.

Due to its episodic nature, the reader can engage and disengage without losing the thread or interest, which allows for a quick if somewhat detached read. This structure unfortunately also falls victim to repetition, with certain cunningness losing its strength as it is rehashed, and certain plotlines becoming somewhat less gripping. However, since it is presented as one big story, it is easy to become fond of the whimsical and weird family of detectives who all approach each mystery in a distinct way with the help of a view conveniently located sidekicks. Overall, a perfect bedtime story that makes up for its slight lack of intrigue with its rich tone and setting.

4.5-5 stars.

With a name like Samurai Detectives I had high expectations and they were not disappointed. I had a slight worry at the beginning that the book was going to get bogged down in family histories but this was soon dismissed as the first story got going. The stories/translation felt very fresh and avoided feeling too cosy, which is a plus for me. Looking forward to the next volume.