The Honjin Murders
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-30 08:56:39
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Seishi Yokomizo
- ISBN：1782275002
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
One of Japan's greatest classic murder mysteries， introducing their best loved detective， 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 around the village。
Then， on the night of the wedding， the Ichiyanagi household 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。 Soon， amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is on the scene to investigate what will become a legendary murder case， but can this scruffy sleuth solve a seemingly impossible crime？
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 around the village。
Then， on the night of the wedding， the Ichiyanagi household 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。 Soon， amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is on the scene to investigate what will become a legendary murder case， but can this scruffy sleuth solve a seemingly impossible crime？
Reviews
Nidhi Puthran
，
3。5
Chiara
，
Dopo Tokyo express， un altro giallo giapponese da cui sono rimasta affascinata！ Kenzō， il primogenito di una famiglia benestante， e la moglie vengono ritrovati assassinati nella depandance durante la loro prima notte di nozze。 La singolarità di questo caso è che ci troviamo davanti a un perfetto delitto a porte chiuse: l’abitazione viene ritrovata completamente chiusa dall’interno mentre l’arma del delitto， un’antica spada giapponese， è rinvenuta all’esterno della dependance。 Sarà il giovane det Dopo Tokyo express， un altro giallo giapponese da cui sono rimasta affascinata！ Kenzō， il primogenito di una famiglia benestante， e la moglie vengono ritrovati assassinati nella depandance durante la loro prima notte di nozze。 La singolarità di questo caso è che ci troviamo davanti a un perfetto delitto a porte chiuse: l’abitazione viene ritrovata completamente chiusa dall’interno mentre l’arma del delitto， un’antica spada giapponese， è rinvenuta all’esterno della dependance。 Sarà il giovane detective Kindaichi a far luce su questo crimine ricco di particolarità e minuziosi indizi， fornendoci un’accurata spiegazione dei fatti che non ci saremmo mai aspettati。 。。。more
Meaghan Veseth
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I loved this book so much。 I haven’t enjoyed a mystery this much in quite a while。 I will definitely be reading more by the author。
Angela
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Fan of Agatha Christie？ Then you will LOVE this book！ I am so glad I picked this up from the library。 It is very much in the vein of the "golden age detective story" books。 It's got the rich， dysfunctional family living in their big mansion。 It's got the quirky private detective， Kosuke Kindaichi， who is like a combination of Sherlock Holmes， Poirot and my favourite Hong Kong comedian， Stephen Chow and very likeable。 It's got the mysterious locked-room murder and a great red herring。 And it's go Fan of Agatha Christie？ Then you will LOVE this book！ I am so glad I picked this up from the library。 It is very much in the vein of the "golden age detective story" books。 It's got the rich， dysfunctional family living in their big mansion。 It's got the quirky private detective， Kosuke Kindaichi， who is like a combination of Sherlock Holmes， Poirot and my favourite Hong Kong comedian， Stephen Chow and very likeable。 It's got the mysterious locked-room murder and a great red herring。 And it's got the big reveal at the end。 What distinguishes from others in the genre is that the police and side-kick are not bumbling idiots in order to show off the brilliance of the detective more。 The story itself was done well and had me guessing almost to the end。 I felt the ending was very believable given the psychology and culture involved。 There is a fair amount of foreshadowing throughout so be warned！ I didn't find it overly annoying though I think it could definitely have been left out。 I can't believe his work has only recently been translated into English and cannot wait to read them all！ 。。。more
k reads
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Fun golden-aged mystery。
Teck Wu
，
Japanese Sherlock Holmes！
Angela
，
I can’t fault the book for being a product of its time and place， but I must admit that by the end I was thinking it was an example of toxic masculinity， authoritarianism， and purity culture。
Arend
，
Well crafted murder mystery， written through a distanced perspective， which gives it a curious newspaper magazine feel。 Interesting too for the time frame （just after WW2） and the mores of the time in Japan （not to mention the careful minimal mention of the war）。 Great translation that avoids the stiltedness of many Japanese translations。
Shankar Singh
，
3。5⭐️Seishi Yokomizo’s The Honjin Murders， first serialised in 1946 and later published in 1973， recently translated into English in 2019。 It is a quintessential example of the classic locked room mystery。 This is the first of a series of an eventual 77 books featuring detective Kosuke Kindaichi。This story centres around the wealthy Ichiyanagi family who prepares for the wedding of their eldest son to a young woman of a humbler origins。 On the night of their wedding they are found slashed to dea 3。5⭐️Seishi Yokomizo’s The Honjin Murders， first serialised in 1946 and later published in 1973， recently translated into English in 2019。 It is a quintessential example of the classic locked room mystery。 This is the first of a series of an eventual 77 books featuring detective Kosuke Kindaichi。This story centres around the wealthy Ichiyanagi family who prepares for the wedding of their eldest son to a young woman of a humbler origins。 On the night of their wedding they are found slashed to death in their room。 The one thing becomes clear that the murderer could not have escaped the premises after the deed。 The whole village is shaken and the local police feels stuck with the case unless one young and unassuming amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi arrives。Set in 1937 in a rural Japanese village， this is an unique story narrated by an unnamed narrator based on the facts he had collected for his novel。 The author provides the reader helpful hints throughout the entire story， but there are enough red herrings to keep you guessing。 It’s a bit on the darker side towards the end of the novel。 One of the delightful thing about it that it vividly reflects the Japanese culture and history of pre WW-2。 It is worth mentioning that the solution to the mystery is complicated and perhaps implausible。 The other weakness， it is heavy on technical aspect but light on the emotional and human aspect， leaving various characters somewhat bland。 Keeping in mind when this book was written， it’s a wickedly fun and interesting read。Highly recommended。 。。。more
Carol
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The Honjin Murders take place right after WWII。 Detective Kosuke Kindaichi takes on the case of the death of a bride and groom on their wedding night。 He won't take any case， but this one was the classic closed room murder where there doesn't appear to be a way for the murderer to leave the scene。 The book is so short it is almost like a short story。 It was very clever and intriguing with a good insight into the Japanese rural society。 Nobody except Kindaichi could have solved the case。 The Honjin Murders take place right after WWII。 Detective Kosuke Kindaichi takes on the case of the death of a bride and groom on their wedding night。 He won't take any case， but this one was the classic closed room murder where there doesn't appear to be a way for the murderer to leave the scene。 The book is so short it is almost like a short story。 It was very clever and intriguing with a good insight into the Japanese rural society。 Nobody except Kindaichi could have solved the case。 。。。more
Lộc Hoàng
，
Một cuốn sách trinh thám khá hấp dẫn， cũng khá rùng rợn， đọc có yếu tố giải trí và dễ dàng hiểu rõ về phong tục， tập quán của nước Nhật nói riêng và Châu Á nói chung。 Một tác phẩm dễ đọc， có chịu ảnh hưởng của các tác giả lớn của trinh thám thế giới。 Hay
Glen
，
In post WWII times， Japan grew adept at copying Western products and selling them more cheaply。 Unfortunately in the early years of that effort the items were often inferior and even defective。 I sort of think of this book in that context。 Blatantly and up front admitting that the work is based on European and US mystery writers， the author fabricates a Agathie Christie style read that even that grand dame of the ridiculous gimmicks would be embarrassed by。 It is a quick read （in the tradition） In post WWII times， Japan grew adept at copying Western products and selling them more cheaply。 Unfortunately in the early years of that effort the items were often inferior and even defective。 I sort of think of this book in that context。 Blatantly and up front admitting that the work is based on European and US mystery writers， the author fabricates a Agathie Christie style read that even that grand dame of the ridiculous gimmicks would be embarrassed by。 It is a quick read （in the tradition） and probably worth the time just to have some context for subsequent and much superior Japanese crime， detective and noir stories。 。。。more
Jon Neal
，
3。5 I enjoyed this neat and tidy short book。 The writing style was a little confusing， in that I wasn't fully clear who it was that was narrating。 Anyway， clever mystery， with lots of bits to it， and a nice locked room murder。 3。5 I enjoyed this neat and tidy short book。 The writing style was a little confusing， in that I wasn't fully clear who it was that was narrating。 Anyway， clever mystery， with lots of bits to it， and a nice locked room murder。 。。。more
Arpita Srivastava
，
First ever translated book that I have read， recommended by and borrowed from a dear friend。The novel reads like a classic Sherlock Holmes， definitely。 Breezy， fast-paced and to the point。 Two plot lines merged at the end and I was hoping for the second one to be a little more on the front。 But okay！ That's my brain brewing alternate endings， so。 It was interesting learning tidbits of the Japanese culture， music， and architecture， especially。 I kept Googling words to visualize better。 The koto g First ever translated book that I have read， recommended by and borrowed from a dear friend。The novel reads like a classic Sherlock Holmes， definitely。 Breezy， fast-paced and to the point。 Two plot lines merged at the end and I was hoping for the second one to be a little more on the front。 But okay！ That's my brain brewing alternate endings， so。 It was interesting learning tidbits of the Japanese culture， music， and architecture， especially。 I kept Googling words to visualize better。 The koto gave the perfect eerie feels！ Eager to read more of Kosuke Kindaichi's endeavors。 。。。more
Susanna Neri
，
il classico enigma della stanza chiusa， ho trovato la soluzione ed alcune parti improbabili e il detective con poco spessore， interessante la parte relativa al matrimonio e alla tradizioni giapponesi
Julie
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Classic 1940's Japanese mystery。 I always enjoy a well-plotted locked room mystery。 Bonus points for the setting -Japan in 1937。 It's cool to learn new things about a culture different from your own。 A honjin is an inn that only the upper class from the Edo era could use。 Who knew？ Not me。 The extreme class consciousness in Japan really reminds me of Britain。 Classic 1940's Japanese mystery。 I always enjoy a well-plotted locked room mystery。 Bonus points for the setting -Japan in 1937。 It's cool to learn new things about a culture different from your own。 A honjin is an inn that only the upper class from the Edo era could use。 Who knew？ Not me。 The extreme class consciousness in Japan really reminds me of Britain。 。。。more
Eva
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A murder mystery with eccentric characters set in historical Japan。 I adore Detective Kosuke Kindaichi and I am looking forward to reading more of this series。 The conclusion is sometimes ridiculous but it may just be because there are some parts I can't visualize。 I'd be thrilled if I can see all of it play out in a film version。 A murder mystery with eccentric characters set in historical Japan。 I adore Detective Kosuke Kindaichi and I am looking forward to reading more of this series。 The conclusion is sometimes ridiculous but it may just be because there are some parts I can't visualize。 I'd be thrilled if I can see all of it play out in a film version。 。。。more
Renita D'Silva
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Very clever
Jo
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very interesting to read a Japanese classic detective novel - really enjoyed it
H
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2。5。 This book was just okay。 It was entertaining and intriguing enough， but the reveal was a bit disappointing。 Detective Kosuke Kindaichi is an interesting character， though， so I wouldn't mind reading other books featuring him。 2。5。 This book was just okay。 It was entertaining and intriguing enough， but the reveal was a bit disappointing。 Detective Kosuke Kindaichi is an interesting character， though， so I wouldn't mind reading other books featuring him。 。。。more
Michelle Aurelia
，
3。5
Ted
，
Tricky but plodding， this Japanese classic of the “locked room” murder requires patience with Japanese translations and cultural knowledge I didn’t possess。
Ash Stally-chudasama
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Captivating and zippy little who'dunit Captivating and zippy little who'dunit 。。。more
Silke
，
Set in a Japanese Village in 1937 a newlywed couple is found dead in their house which unfolds to a classic locked-room-tale。 It's the first in a series about Detective Kosuke Kindaichi and was translated into english by Louise Heal Kawai。 I really enjoyed the classic mystery feel， the small glimpses into Japanese culture， which I know very little about so there was a lot to educate myself on and the calm and rather detached way the story was told。 Set in a Japanese Village in 1937 a newlywed couple is found dead in their house which unfolds to a classic locked-room-tale。 It's the first in a series about Detective Kosuke Kindaichi and was translated into english by Louise Heal Kawai。 I really enjoyed the classic mystery feel， the small glimpses into Japanese culture， which I know very little about so there was a lot to educate myself on and the calm and rather detached way the story was told。 。。。more
Kate
，
There is nothing like a good locked-room mystery。 I enjoyed reading the Honjin Murders more for the insight it gave into Japanese life than the actual mystery itself。 The murders in question are that of a recently married couple。 The person solving the crime is Kosuke Kindaichi， an amateur detective who then became a regular in Seishi Yokomizo novels。 Didn't find any faults with the translation， and I would like to read more by the same author。 There is nothing like a good locked-room mystery。 I enjoyed reading the Honjin Murders more for the insight it gave into Japanese life than the actual mystery itself。 The murders in question are that of a recently married couple。 The person solving the crime is Kosuke Kindaichi， an amateur detective who then became a regular in Seishi Yokomizo novels。 Didn't find any faults with the translation， and I would like to read more by the same author。 。。。more
Shashank
，
Decently paced， with some peculiar detailing and motives。 However， I just didn't think the overall premise was that compelling Decently paced， with some peculiar detailing and motives。 However， I just didn't think the overall premise was that compelling 。。。more
Christina
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Sherlock Holmes， but make it Japan。 Loved the reveal， you got most of the information needed to solve it， which is just nice。
Shannon Vanderstreaten
，
I did enjoy this book！ I think some of the finer details were slightly lots to me as an English reader （I struggled to picture the room set ups and the relevance of the koto） but it had twists and turns in abundance！ I also got a bit confused with the characters and had to keep flicking back to the beginning page。 I would read more of Yokomizo’s work if it has been translated， but I don’t think anything is going to top a Miss Marple for me in terms of a murder mystery novel
Bernard
，
A charming and brief read。 A very elegant & readable translation。 The narrator is himself a writer of detective novels so the story of the crime and its solution is told in a deliberately detached & knowing manner。 This means that the characters & even the detective are somewhat remote from us - however， the atmosphere & social issues of pre- and post- WWII Japan are evoked very well。 Am keen to read more of Yokomizo’s work。
Simon Butler
，
This is the first in the eventual 77（！） book long Kosuke Kindaichi series。 A classic locked room mystery set in rural Japan in the 1930s。 A newlywed couple in a prestigious local family have been found murdered with a katana， but the murder weapon is found outside the building， which remained locked from the inside。 It takes the ingenious deductions of the scruffy， young private detective Kindaichi to find an explanation。The novel had a good set up with a few judiciously placed red herrings and This is the first in the eventual 77（！） book long Kosuke Kindaichi series。 A classic locked room mystery set in rural Japan in the 1930s。 A newlywed couple in a prestigious local family have been found murdered with a katana， but the murder weapon is found outside the building， which remained locked from the inside。 It takes the ingenious deductions of the scruffy， young private detective Kindaichi to find an explanation。The novel had a good set up with a few judiciously placed red herrings and misdirections。 The real solution to the mystery was hard to predict， if a bit outlandish。 With it's repeated references to other mystery authors （e。g Agatha Christie， A。A。Milne & Arthur Conan Doyle） The Honjin Murders is also partly a homage to the detective novel genre itself。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Honjin Murders
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Honjin Murders&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Honjin Murders&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0