Description

‘Truly ingenious’ Guardian

Japan’s greatest classic mystery, from the author of Murder at the Black Cat Cafe

A pair of newlyweds are brutally murdered on their wedding night. Their bedroom was locked from the inside. A samurai sword thrust into the snow is the only clue.

One freezing night in the winter of 1937, the Ichiyanagi household is woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music. Death has come to the village of Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword thrust into the pristine snow.

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?

PRAISE FOR SEISHI YOKOMIZO

‘Fiendishly complex and wonderfully atmospheric’ S.J. Bennett, author of Murder Most Royal

Publisher Review

Plenty of golden age ingredients… with a truly ingenious solution * Guardian, Best New Crime Fiction * Readers will delight in the blind turns, red herrings and dubious alibis… Ingenious and compelling * Economist * At once familiar and tantalisingly strange… It’s an absolute pleasure to see his work translated at last in these beautifully produced English editions * Sunday Times * With a reputation in Japan to rival Agatha Christie’s, the master of ingenious plotting is finally on the case for anglophone readers * Guardian * An iconic slice of classic Japanese crime fiction — Tom Hindle, author of Murder on Lake Garda The Japanese Agatha Christie — Sara Cox, on BBC2’s Between the Covers The perfect read for this time of year. Short and compelling, it will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie looking for a new case to break * Irish Times * A classic murder mystery… Comparisons with Holmes are justified, both in the character of Kindaichi and Yokomizo’s approach to storytelling – mixing clues, red herrings and fascinating social insight before drawing back the curtain to reveal the truth * Japan Times * The premise alone is dazzling [and] the solution to this mystery came as a complete surprise – exactly what I asked for * New York Times * For lovers of classic mystery and mayhem, these newly translated offerings are a must * Tokyo Weekender * A delightfully entertaining locked room murder mystery… There are plenty of twists, red herrings, and suspects in this monkey puzzle of a story… An ideal book to curl up with on a winter’s night * NB Magazine * A classic locked room mystery… Its intricate thrills just as exciting as they were 70 years ago * CrimeReads * Essential reading for fans of detective and historical fiction… [the] solution to the whole mystery does actually make your jaw drop * Deccan Herald * A wickedly fun time. Its short length, quirky cast of characters, engaging mystery, and theatrical setting and plot make for a fantastic murder mystery tale. * Books and Bao * The master of Japanese crime * Tuttolibri * The perfect gift for any fan of classic crime fiction or locked room mysteries * Mrs Peabody Investigates * A perfect puzzle… Doesn’t fail to deliver in its extremely fun and chilling premise. You’ll be reading way past your bedtime! * Litreactor * Think you got a Sherlock Holmes knack for crime puzzles? Then have a try at Yokomizo’s clever mystery riddle * Metropolis Magazine, The Best Japanese Mystery Novels to Read in 2025 * This Golden-Age Japanese mystery reminded me of Twin Peaks, with a mysterious three-fingered man, the perfect couple of newlyweds, and the perfect crime: a locked room that literally no one could have entered — Anna Fitzgerald Healy, author of ‘Etiquette for Lovers and Killers’ An absolute hoot — Ross Montgomery, author of ‘Murder at Worlds End’ A classic locked-door mystery with a chilling twist * Book Riot *