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館シリーズ #3
The Labyrinth House Murders
The twisty and ingenious fourth installment in the Bizarre House Mysteries
The famed mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro lives a life of seclusion in the remote Labyrinth House. When Yotaro invites four young crime authors to his home for a birthday party, they are honoured to accept. But no sooner have they arrived than they are confronted with a shocking death, then lured into a bizarre, deadly competition…
As the twisted contest gathers pace, murder follows murder. The ingenious sleuth Shimada Kiyoshi investigates, but can he solve the mystery of the house before all those trapped in its labyrinth are dead? And can you guess the solution before he does?
The famed mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro lives a life of seclusion in the remote Labyrinth House. When Yotaro invites four young crime authors to his home for a birthday party, they are honoured to accept. But no sooner have they arrived than they are confronted with a shocking death, then lured into a bizarre, deadly competition…
As the twisted contest gathers pace, murder follows murder. The ingenious sleuth Shimada Kiyoshi investigates, but can he solve the mystery of the house before all those trapped in its labyrinth are dead? And can you guess the solution before he does?
269 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 1988
About the author
Yukito Ayatsuji
113 books723 followers(Japanese: 綾辻 行人)
'Yukito Ayatsuji' is the original creator of Another. He is a famous writer of mystery and Japanese detective fiction. He is also one of the writers that demands restoration of the classic rules of detective fiction and the use of more self reflective elements. He is married to Fuyumi Ono, author of The Twelve Kingdoms and creator of Ghost Hunt, Juuni Kokuki, and the author for a few other manga.
'Yukito Ayatsuji' is the original creator of Another. He is a famous writer of mystery and Japanese detective fiction. He is also one of the writers that demands restoration of the classic rules of detective fiction and the use of more self reflective elements. He is married to Fuyumi Ono, author of The Twelve Kingdoms and creator of Ghost Hunt, Juuni Kokuki, and the author for a few other manga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 760 reviews
February 24, 2025
Wow, I never knew that one last chapter or just an epilogue could change the direction of the story in such a drastic way. This is my first book from this series and it intrigued me enough to go pick up the second book right away!
To be honest, I was very smug that I had figured out the identity of the murderer and lots of other twists very early on in the story. It seemed simple and the most plausible explanation but that last chapter just simply blew my mind away and at the same time it also seemed a little far fetched. What I though was my genius brain deducing was just the author steering me with carefully concealed crumbs leading to that conclusion.
I also liked the whole creepy atmospheric vibe with confusing labyrinth forming the corridors to the house and the Greek mythology inspired structure of the house. The other thing that I like about most Japanese mysteries is that the authors get right into the plot from the beginning and introduce the cast in a very methodical way.
A completely engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read this was!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the book.
To be honest, I was very smug that I had figured out the identity of the murderer and lots of other twists very early on in the story. It seemed simple and the most plausible explanation but that last chapter just simply blew my mind away and at the same time it also seemed a little far fetched. What I though was my genius brain deducing was just the author steering me with carefully concealed crumbs leading to that conclusion.
I also liked the whole creepy atmospheric vibe with confusing labyrinth forming the corridors to the house and the Greek mythology inspired structure of the house. The other thing that I like about most Japanese mysteries is that the authors get right into the plot from the beginning and introduce the cast in a very methodical way.
A completely engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read this was!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the book.
August 24, 2025
Four mystery writers are invited to celebrate the birthday of an older writer. When they arrive, they find that the invitation didn’t really involve a celebration, but a competition. When a death occurs in this unique house, one of the invitees becomes a detective, and this book describes their investigation and conclusions.
This is a very cleverly constructed book. The author of the book within a book claims to be following the fairness rules of classic mysteries. Frankly, you would have to read the book at last twice to be sure that the clues were all honesty presented. We don’t find out until the end of the book who the author is (and even then I am not certain of their identity). There are red herrings and locked rooms, and the house itself is a puzzle. Pay attention to the epilogues and character descriptions. But I am certain that I never would have been able to solve this crime. This book is part of a series, but each book features a different house and works as a standalone.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a very cleverly constructed book. The author of the book within a book claims to be following the fairness rules of classic mysteries. Frankly, you would have to read the book at last twice to be sure that the clues were all honesty presented. We don’t find out until the end of the book who the author is (and even then I am not certain of their identity). There are red herrings and locked rooms, and the house itself is a puzzle. Pay attention to the epilogues and character descriptions. But I am certain that I never would have been able to solve this crime. This book is part of a series, but each book features a different house and works as a standalone.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
October 5, 2024
Oh man, I was all set to come here and say this was my favourite of the Bizarre House Murders so far. 5 stars. Love the labyrinth. Love the use of Greek mythology. Love "the great detective" Shimada (always love Shimada).
But that dumbass final twist.
I wish I could say I loved the rest of the book enough that I could brush it off as One Of Those Things you simply have to put up with when you're reading a book written in the '80s by a male author, but it was so heinously unnecessary I cannot. This could have just been the book within the book and it would have been perfect. Some reviewers have said the resolution for that was too easy (maybe it was, I figured it out before Shimada after all) but I'll take easy over idiotic any day of the week.
If you want to be mega spoiled before you decide to read: You know what? Writing that out, I'm downgrading this to two stars. Everything else was so entertaining but ugh.
But that dumbass final twist.
I wish I could say I loved the rest of the book enough that I could brush it off as One Of Those Things you simply have to put up with when you're reading a book written in the '80s by a male author, but it was so heinously unnecessary I cannot. This could have just been the book within the book and it would have been perfect. Some reviewers have said the resolution for that was too easy (maybe it was, I figured it out before Shimada after all) but I'll take easy over idiotic any day of the week.
If you want to be mega spoiled before you decide to read: You know what? Writing that out, I'm downgrading this to two stars. Everything else was so entertaining but ugh.
May 30, 2025
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.
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.
February 14, 2025
Me while reading: I mean, it's good, but it's a bit predictable.
Me at the end: HOLY HECK DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING.
Yet another Japanese locked room mystery that I really enjoyed. There are puzzles throughout, and even when I thought I knew what was happening there were parts I couldn't solve. Really kept me guessing.
Fascinating characters, fun explanations, and appropriately ghastly deaths.
Also really enjoyed the brief reference to my other current favourite Japanese Detective, Kosuke Kindaichi.
I'll definitely be looking for more in this series.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
Me at the end: HOLY HECK DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING.
Yet another Japanese locked room mystery that I really enjoyed. There are puzzles throughout, and even when I thought I knew what was happening there were parts I couldn't solve. Really kept me guessing.
Fascinating characters, fun explanations, and appropriately ghastly deaths.
Also really enjoyed the brief reference to my other current favourite Japanese Detective, Kosuke Kindaichi.
I'll definitely be looking for more in this series.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
November 24, 2024
What a twisted story! I have always been a fan of classic murder mystery & this book is an ode, a love letter to this type of story, a fascinating story within a story that will engaged you throughout the reading. With its ingenious architecture of a Labyrinth House designed by the illustrious architect, Nakamura Seiji with puzzling secrets & twisted games, this story took to another level of crime puzzle
4 novelists, editors & a sleuth detective were invited to the 60th birthday party organized by the legendary crime mystery writer, Miyagaki Yotaro to his Labyrinth House. A party meant for fun turned odd when Miyagaki Yotaro was found to be dead of suicide & now the 4 writers must write 4 stories featuring themselves as a victim in the house in order to win the inheritance. Soon, the game turned deadly as more bodies pilling up one after another, how far this game will go until it stop
I love this novel a lot! I enjoyed it from beginning to end as someone who adored this level of mystery with puzzle & games in the line. We opened up in a prologue of Shimada reading a book titled Labyrinth House Murders based on the gruesome murder sent by the author, so we started with a story in this book. With a large cast of characters, it does take time to get familiar with them but there are certain characteristics & quirks about them. However, I love how the structure of the house reminiscent of the previous houses in the last two books in the series where this house are built in a design that meant to baffle the visitors and in this one, its a labryinth underground which is brilliant & scary. Imagine having to go from one room to another & getting lost in the maze 🥲, i might cry in despair if that happened to me. The Greek Mythology was entwined in the House with significance of their myth to the murders which made all of thesr gory murders very interesting to solve. The plot twist was brilliant! I certainly didnt expect that coming as when the first ending of the book came, it left me with an average feeling but the real ending after the book was so damn clever that I'm reeling from not realizing it faster!
Overall, if you are a fan of honkaku mystery which involved the locked room murder mystery with a classic twists, this one surpassed any expectations I have and I think u will enjoy this too
Thank u @definitelybooks for the review copy
4 novelists, editors & a sleuth detective were invited to the 60th birthday party organized by the legendary crime mystery writer, Miyagaki Yotaro to his Labyrinth House. A party meant for fun turned odd when Miyagaki Yotaro was found to be dead of suicide & now the 4 writers must write 4 stories featuring themselves as a victim in the house in order to win the inheritance. Soon, the game turned deadly as more bodies pilling up one after another, how far this game will go until it stop
I love this novel a lot! I enjoyed it from beginning to end as someone who adored this level of mystery with puzzle & games in the line. We opened up in a prologue of Shimada reading a book titled Labyrinth House Murders based on the gruesome murder sent by the author, so we started with a story in this book. With a large cast of characters, it does take time to get familiar with them but there are certain characteristics & quirks about them. However, I love how the structure of the house reminiscent of the previous houses in the last two books in the series where this house are built in a design that meant to baffle the visitors and in this one, its a labryinth underground which is brilliant & scary. Imagine having to go from one room to another & getting lost in the maze 🥲, i might cry in despair if that happened to me. The Greek Mythology was entwined in the House with significance of their myth to the murders which made all of thesr gory murders very interesting to solve. The plot twist was brilliant! I certainly didnt expect that coming as when the first ending of the book came, it left me with an average feeling but the real ending after the book was so damn clever that I'm reeling from not realizing it faster!
Overall, if you are a fan of honkaku mystery which involved the locked room murder mystery with a classic twists, this one surpassed any expectations I have and I think u will enjoy this too
Thank u @definitelybooks for the review copy
March 2, 2025
Author Yukito Ayatsuji took Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, gave it several twists and produced the suspenseful The Decagon House Murders. However, using And Then There Were None yet again with this, the fourth book in his House Murders series, just left me cold. (Goodreads counts it as the third, as the true third has yet to be translated into English. It’s OK, but, had I known it was a near-retread, I shouldn’t have bothered. I didn’t really care about any of the characters, not even Shimada Kiyoshi, the amateur sleuth who appears in all four of the books in the series. The twist at the end was good enough to elevate the novel to three stars but not good enough to make up for the ennui leading up to the denouement.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Pushkin Press and Pushkin Vertigo in exchange for an honest review.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Pushkin Press and Pushkin Vertigo in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2024
มิตรสหายบอกไว้ว่าสืบสวนสอบสวนเป็นรสนิยม เราเห็นด้วยมากๆ เพราะซีรีย์นี้ (โดยเฉพาะเล่มนี้) หลายเสียงบอกสนุก แต่สำหรับเราคือจะสนุกกี่โมง
แต่ก็ต้องบอกว่าด้วยความที่มันเก่า เลยรู้สึกว่าหนังสือของอายาสึจิหลายเล่มถูกเอาไปชำแหละแล้วสร้างใหม่ในยุคนี้ เล่มนี้มีครบถ้วนของหนังสือไขปริศนาที่สนุกและแนวนักสืบน่าติดตาม
แต่ฮะ ผมไม่ชอบเงื่อนไขปิดตาย ไม่ว่าจะห้องปิดตาย บ้านปิดตาย วังปิดตาย เขาวงกตปิดตายก็ตาม
จบ
แต่ก็ต้องบอกว่าด้วยความที่มันเก่า เลยรู้สึกว่าหนังสือของอายาสึจิหลายเล่มถูกเอาไปชำแหละแล้วสร้างใหม่ในยุคนี้ เล่มนี้มีครบถ้วนของหนังสือไขปริศนาที่สนุกและแนวนักสืบน่าติดตาม
แต่ฮะ ผมไม่ชอบเงื่อนไขปิดตาย ไม่ว่าจะห้องปิดตาย บ้านปิดตาย วังปิดตาย เขาวงกตปิดตายก็ตาม
จบ
September 18, 2025
I really liked most of the book: the set up, how fun the idea for the mystery is, the references to and inspiration by golden age detevtive novels, how the characters attempt to solve this... You could do even more with the house and I always persive Japanese books as a bit more distant from the characters than Western books, but both of these tiny criticisms weren't anything that dragged the novel down for me: I was having a good time. This felt like exactly the kind of murder mystery I enjoy.
Then, the book within the book had a bit of an anticlimatic ending, which dissapointed me, but fine, I was ready for the epilogue to make up for that. The epilogue however: WTF. Not only did it make me feel like the author didn't play fair, but one of the explanations given is so stupid. Everyones experience of being a woman is different, but I call bullshit on a specific reveal. Apart from that, the solution just didn't feel satisfying or earned. The ending is integral to a mystery, because of that, it would feel wrong to rate the book any higher, even if I enjoyed most of it.
Then, the book within the book had a bit of an anticlimatic ending, which dissapointed me, but fine, I was ready for the epilogue to make up for that. The epilogue however: WTF. Not only did it make me feel like the author didn't play fair, but one of the explanations given is so stupid. Everyones experience of being a woman is different, but I call bullshit on a specific reveal. Apart from that, the solution just didn't feel satisfying or earned. The ending is integral to a mystery, because of that, it would feel wrong to rate the book any higher, even if I enjoyed most of it.
April 13, 2025
THIS BOOK GASLIT ME SO HARD, IT MADE ME CHANGE MY GUESS BUT I WAS RIGHT!! (I drew my conclusions a bit differently) BUT I WAS RIGHT!!!
June 28, 2025
My first Japanese crime book and it was a winner! It had so many interesting characters and a a plot line that you might think you have sussed out but think again. The twists in this book were amazing and blew my mind. Very very clever.
We have books inside a book inside a book. We have a house that is designed like a labyrinth. We have a bunch of crime writers stuck in that house. And we have locked room murder mystery’s. Oh and it is set in the 80s so no internet or mobile phones. And it is set in Japan, my new favourite country 🩷
Such a fun book to listen to. Thank you to Libro.Fm for my ALC. out now
We have books inside a book inside a book. We have a house that is designed like a labyrinth. We have a bunch of crime writers stuck in that house. And we have locked room murder mystery’s. Oh and it is set in the 80s so no internet or mobile phones. And it is set in Japan, my new favourite country 🩷
Such a fun book to listen to. Thank you to Libro.Fm for my ALC. out now
July 9, 2014
Murder At the Mansion of Maze reveals a murder mystery taking place within a mansion which was based on the famous Minos' maze and Minotaur myth.
The owner of the Mansion, a wealthy detective novelist invited four talented detective novelists to his home and encouraged them to join a competition in order to win the right to be the heir of the childless novelist's billions fortune. The four novelists must finish writing their masterpieces within five days while being locked down with the 'judges' in the Mansion of Maze; and the novelist who managed to write the best detective novel would win the old novelist's fortune. But shortly after the competition started the aged novelist was found committing suicide and the competitors were killed one by one, who was the killer?
Well, this book really would keep you guessing till the end, but I must highlight the author Mr. Ayatsuji hid a few key facts from the readers, which makes it nearly impossible to guess the identity of the murderer. It so isn't a fair fight, Mr. Ayatsuji; but strangely I still enjoy this book.
The owner of the Mansion, a wealthy detective novelist invited four talented detective novelists to his home and encouraged them to join a competition in order to win the right to be the heir of the childless novelist's billions fortune. The four novelists must finish writing their masterpieces within five days while being locked down with the 'judges' in the Mansion of Maze; and the novelist who managed to write the best detective novel would win the old novelist's fortune. But shortly after the competition started the aged novelist was found committing suicide and the competitors were killed one by one, who was the killer?
Well, this book really would keep you guessing till the end, but I must highlight the author Mr. Ayatsuji hid a few key facts from the readers, which makes it nearly impossible to guess the identity of the murderer. It so isn't a fair fight, Mr. Ayatsuji; but strangely I still enjoy this book.
January 9, 2022
U là trời đỉnh quá dạ, xứng đáng 5 sao :)))
Án lồng trong án, truyện lồng trong truyện, mà không chỉ là lồng 1 2 lớp thôi đâu ạ @@.
Plot twist cũng được chia thành từng lớp lang tương ứng với từng tầng truyện, đọc mà phê hết biết.
Sướng hơn nữa là cách tả cảnh của tác giả hay dễ sợ, từ quyển Thủy Xa Quán qua tới quyển này làm mình thật sự có cảm giác như đang ở trong những cái Quán này luôn, thực sự cảm nhận cái không khí ma mị với rùng rợn kèm thêm cái sự choáng ngợp của những kiến trúc này nữa, y như coi phim vậy.
Mình cũng rất thích và ngưỡng mộ việc tác giả thể hiện sự tôn trọng và "kính ngưỡng" đến nhưng khai quốc công thần của dòng truyện trinh thám và cài cắm các chi tiết liên quan vào cốt truyện. Điều mà mình cũng đã rất thích ở Series Tiệm sách cũ Biblia.
Án lồng trong án, truyện lồng trong truyện, mà không chỉ là lồng 1 2 lớp thôi đâu ạ @@.
Plot twist cũng được chia thành từng lớp lang tương ứng với từng tầng truyện, đọc mà phê hết biết.
Sướng hơn nữa là cách tả cảnh của tác giả hay dễ sợ, từ quyển Thủy Xa Quán qua tới quyển này làm mình thật sự có cảm giác như đang ở trong những cái Quán này luôn, thực sự cảm nhận cái không khí ma mị với rùng rợn kèm thêm cái sự choáng ngợp của những kiến trúc này nữa, y như coi phim vậy.
Mình cũng rất thích và ngưỡng mộ việc tác giả thể hiện sự tôn trọng và "kính ngưỡng" đến nhưng khai quốc công thần của dòng truyện trinh thám và cài cắm các chi tiết liên quan vào cốt truyện. Điều mà mình cũng đã rất thích ở Series Tiệm sách cũ Biblia.
January 22, 2024
Đây là tác phẩm thứ 2 của Yukito Ayatsuji mà bản thân đọc :
Cuốn đầu là "Thập giác quán" thì khá giống "Mười người da đen nhỏ " của Agatha Christie
Cuốn này thì lại giống " 14 ngày kinh hoàng " của Ninh Hoàng Nhất
Giống nhưng vẫn có chất riêng kèm suy luận hấp dẫn làm cho mình hoàn thành sách chỉ trong vỏn vẹn 1 ngày
Qua cuốn này còn biết thêm nhiều về các mối quan hệ trong thần thoại Hy Lạp - tên các vị thần được đặt cho các căn phòng trong Mê Lộ và truyền thuyết về đầu bò mình người Minotaur , lồng ghép thêm nhiều tác phẩm trinh thám nổi tiếng cùng với đó là tên tác giả của những quyển đó chẳng hạn như Scar và Poe .
Cuốn đầu là "Thập giác quán" thì khá giống "Mười người da đen nhỏ " của Agatha Christie
Cuốn này thì lại giống " 14 ngày kinh hoàng " của Ninh Hoàng Nhất
Giống nhưng vẫn có chất riêng kèm suy luận hấp dẫn làm cho mình hoàn thành sách chỉ trong vỏn vẹn 1 ngày
Qua cuốn này còn biết thêm nhiều về các mối quan hệ trong thần thoại Hy Lạp - tên các vị thần được đặt cho các căn phòng trong Mê Lộ và truyền thuyết về đầu bò mình người Minotaur , lồng ghép thêm nhiều tác phẩm trinh thám nổi tiếng cùng với đó là tên tác giả của những quyển đó chẳng hạn như Scar và Poe .
July 5, 2017
Ôi má ơi!!! Cái plot twist cuối cùng không ai ngờ tới! Đọc mà rớt hàm lượm không kịp luôn!
Thôi, đừng đùa với bác Yukito Ayatsuji nữa :)) Còn bao nhiêu cuốn trong series "... Quán" thì xuất bản hết đi nhá IPM :D
Thôi, đừng đùa với bác Yukito Ayatsuji nữa :)) Còn bao nhiêu cuốn trong series "... Quán" thì xuất bản hết đi nhá IPM :D
November 22, 2025
Quelle terrible twist. J'en reviens pas comme la fin est wack.
April 1, 2025
The House Labyrinth Murders has a very eye-catching cover and some intriguing elements like the labyrinth maps and insights into the use of author pseudonyms in Japanese literature. But, the reading experience didn’t quite land for me. The book-in-a-book structure - multiplied four times - felt excessive, making the narrative unnecessarily convoluted rather than alluring and captivating.
One of my biggest gripes was the infamous “bull head” reveal, which felt like a cringeworthy example of men writing women in ways that simply don’t make sense. The writing style didn’t help either - straightforward to the point of being dry, with an ending that overexplains everything instead of leaving room for nuance or imagination. Adding to the frustration, this isn’t a true “fair play” mystery, as some key details are deliberately kept from the reader, making the resolution feel cheap rather than satisfying.
While I can see how this might have been groundbreaking decades ago, it didn’t hold up for me. If you’re a fan of classic Japanese mysteries or Ayatsuji’s other works, you might still enjoy it, but personally, I struggled to stay engaged.
A thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
One of my biggest gripes was the infamous “bull head” reveal, which felt like a cringeworthy example of men writing women in ways that simply don’t make sense. The writing style didn’t help either - straightforward to the point of being dry, with an ending that overexplains everything instead of leaving room for nuance or imagination. Adding to the frustration, this isn’t a true “fair play” mystery, as some key details are deliberately kept from the reader, making the resolution feel cheap rather than satisfying.
While I can see how this might have been groundbreaking decades ago, it didn’t hold up for me. If you’re a fan of classic Japanese mysteries or Ayatsuji’s other works, you might still enjoy it, but personally, I struggled to stay engaged.
A thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
February 9, 2025
i liked it until i read the epilogue (please forbid men from using menstruation as a plot device)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2026
The setting of this Japanese murder mystery is truly unique; it is influenced by Greek myth. At the core of this book is a labyrinthine house inspired by Daedalus’s labyrinth, which he built to imprison the Minotaur. Even the rooms of this house are named after Greek figures such as Ariadne, Minos, Pasiphae, etc. In that house lives the famous mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro. The patriarch invites several people to his birthday party, but on the day of the celebration, tragedy strikes. A bizarre competition begins (and of course a huge fortune is at stake), followed by multiple murders. The book is basically a classic locked-room “whodunit?” mystery.
If I talk about my experience with this book, I’d say the characters felt flat and I couldn’t connect with any of them. After all, it’s a plot-driven book, and the house is the main focus. Still, I enjoyed the majority of it except for the part where we get the “shocking” revelation. Yes, it is kind of shocking, but the execution wasn’t done well. Throughout the entire story, we are led to believe or rather directed toward a certain person being the perpetrator. Then, in the epilogue, it turns out that the previous murderer is just another victim.
Now, a small spoiler, even knowing it’s a spoiler, I doubt anyone would be able to guess this person’s identity. While committing their first murder, the culprit was so shocked that they started bleeding from a certain part of their body, which helped our little detective Shimada solve the case. This “bleeding” detail truly feels far-fetched and rather silly. It feels like the author found an easy way out and used a subterfuge to wrap everything up.
Overall, it’s an okay-ish little book whose precise tone creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere inside that unique underground labyrinth house. I like it, but I can’t say it’s lovable. And the ending is a big no. So would I recommend it? Not really. I’m not an expert in this genre, but I’m sure there are better murder mysteries out there. ★: 3
If I talk about my experience with this book, I’d say the characters felt flat and I couldn’t connect with any of them. After all, it’s a plot-driven book, and the house is the main focus. Still, I enjoyed the majority of it except for the part where we get the “shocking” revelation. Yes, it is kind of shocking, but the execution wasn’t done well. Throughout the entire story, we are led to believe or rather directed toward a certain person being the perpetrator. Then, in the epilogue, it turns out that the previous murderer is just another victim.
Now, a small spoiler, even knowing it’s a spoiler, I doubt anyone would be able to guess this person’s identity. While committing their first murder, the culprit was so shocked that they started bleeding from a certain part of their body, which helped our little detective Shimada solve the case. This “bleeding” detail truly feels far-fetched and rather silly. It feels like the author found an easy way out and used a subterfuge to wrap everything up.
Overall, it’s an okay-ish little book whose precise tone creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere inside that unique underground labyrinth house. I like it, but I can’t say it’s lovable. And the ending is a big no. So would I recommend it? Not really. I’m not an expert in this genre, but I’m sure there are better murder mysteries out there. ★: 3
February 11, 2025
3.5 stars. Ayatsuji's House Murders series is a lot of fun. Hopefully you have already read The Decagon House Murders, and if so you will probably not completely pass out once you see the house map in this book. A house map to end all house maps. It is a signal: buckle up.
Once again, Ayatsuji is playing with golden age mystery tropes and getting a little meta with the way readers and writers are obsessed with the genre. This has a couple very solid turns, though it's not trying very hard to keep the murderer a secret. But even if you are pretty sure the entire book that you know who did it, there is plenty to keep you entertained along the way.
I really hope we are getting the 4th book translated as well!
Once again, Ayatsuji is playing with golden age mystery tropes and getting a little meta with the way readers and writers are obsessed with the genre. This has a couple very solid turns, though it's not trying very hard to keep the murderer a secret. But even if you are pretty sure the entire book that you know who did it, there is plenty to keep you entertained along the way.
I really hope we are getting the 4th book translated as well!
July 28, 2024
He got me good 😭😭 już myślałam że dobrze odgadłam
August 14, 2025
This was a lot of fun! I will say the final reveal was a little….much. But overall I had a lot of fun reading it!
If you like short, closed circle mysteries, give it a try!
Watch to hear my full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/FIPfqJV1Q30?si=rGO4X...
Content: no spice, no language, violence off page, descriptions of dead bodies (it is a murder mystery after all lol)
If you like short, closed circle mysteries, give it a try!
Watch to hear my full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/FIPfqJV1Q30?si=rGO4X...
Content: no spice, no language, violence off page, descriptions of dead bodies (it is a murder mystery after all lol)
January 21, 2025
A good mystery — a well constructed, carefully crafted whodunnit — should leave readers guessing about the identity of the culprit right on up until the grand (and, occasionally, grandiose) finale, when that very last domino tips over and all stands smartly and logically revealed.
By this criteria, then, The Labyrinth House Murders by Japanese author Yukito Ayatsuji is a successful mystery. That does not, however, make it a satisfying mystery. Although it is smartly constructed, with plenty of reveals and cunning wordplay, and Ayatsuji is careful not to overplay his hand or leave behind too many obvious clues, the work never manages to bridge that gap between logic and emotion to truly connect with it or make it memorable. There’s a certain cold calculatedness to the work as a whole, befitting the work’s place a logic puzzle, but Ayatsuji fails to give readers much of a reason to care for the book’s happenings beyond simply being a puzzler. The Labyrinth House Murders is a nice mental exercise, but it makes for a fairly shallow story.
I’d be lying if I said The Labyrinth House Murders didn���t have my full attention, though. I found myself curious to see how the victims lured into this underground, labyrinthine puzzle-house would be dispatched and whether or not my guesses about the murderer and the clues left behind, formed quite early on in the proceedings, were accurate. Ayatsuji’s novel revolves around a dying mystery writer, Miyagaki Yōtarō, hosting four of the genre’s greatest up-and-comers for his 60th birthday, along with a book critic, the editor Utayama and his pregnant wife, and the “everyman” reader, Shimada. Of course, Yōtarō dies and leaves behind a will challenging the writers to craft the perfect 50-page mystery by April 6, with the winner awarded Yōtarō’s sizable wealth. With several billion yen at stake, it’s the kind of writing prize worth killing for.
The murders are uniquely staged scenes, with each fresh victim dispatched according to the Greek myth of the room they are assigned. The Labyrinth House has rooms named after Icarus, Minos, Theseus, and the like, and the discovery of the bodies left behind and the methods in which they have been murdered are easily the best parts of the book. The characters themselves, unfortunately, are one-dimensional cardboard cut-outs, lacking any depth or personality to distinguish one from another beyond the absolute broadest of strokes. We have the joker, the worrier, the woman, and… some other guy that, even now, I’m struggling to recall, their dynamism so ill-defined and incorporeal that one can’t help but wonder why Ayatsuji even bothered to name them aside from such conventions being standard practice in a book. Utayama and Shimada are our central leads and guides through the Labyrinth. Shimada gets the most character development in the form of various ticks and routinely shouting “Aha!” as if he were a caricature of a mystery detective rather than an actual detective, with Utayama proving to be the more mentally sluggish of the two. I never cared a whit about anybody in The Labyrinth House Murders.
Originally published in Japan in 1988, there’s also Ayatsuji’s casual sexism, or perhaps Japan’s well-noted misogyny, to compound matters further. When introduced, the male authors are all given sterling bona fides to justify their inclusion in this writing contest. Of course, in a fit of Men Writing Women, Ayatsuji forgoes detailing any of Madoka’s achievements and awards as a mystery author, opting instead to describe her bustline and sexy physique. The only other woman present is Yōtarō’s maid who, aside from one particular scene late in the book, exists only to serve the men tea or dinner, and to curl up in a distraught ball and either worry or mutter prayers or do both simultaneously until the next tea time.
While it does have its few moments of intrigue, I can’t help but think that The Labyrinth House Murders read better when it was originally published nearly 40 years ago, and perhaps even more-so in its original Japanese, as I also can’t help but suspect certain aspects have unfortunately been lost in translation. As it stands in 2025, it feels more like an artifact with occasional charm (I can’t help but laugh at the scene in which a group of prolific writers must have the concept of typing explained to them), or at least better suited to those who have read fewer than, say, five locked room mysteries. The Labyrinth House Murders is a smart puzzler, but one that lacks heart and soul.
By this criteria, then, The Labyrinth House Murders by Japanese author Yukito Ayatsuji is a successful mystery. That does not, however, make it a satisfying mystery. Although it is smartly constructed, with plenty of reveals and cunning wordplay, and Ayatsuji is careful not to overplay his hand or leave behind too many obvious clues, the work never manages to bridge that gap between logic and emotion to truly connect with it or make it memorable. There’s a certain cold calculatedness to the work as a whole, befitting the work’s place a logic puzzle, but Ayatsuji fails to give readers much of a reason to care for the book’s happenings beyond simply being a puzzler. The Labyrinth House Murders is a nice mental exercise, but it makes for a fairly shallow story.
I’d be lying if I said The Labyrinth House Murders didn���t have my full attention, though. I found myself curious to see how the victims lured into this underground, labyrinthine puzzle-house would be dispatched and whether or not my guesses about the murderer and the clues left behind, formed quite early on in the proceedings, were accurate. Ayatsuji’s novel revolves around a dying mystery writer, Miyagaki Yōtarō, hosting four of the genre’s greatest up-and-comers for his 60th birthday, along with a book critic, the editor Utayama and his pregnant wife, and the “everyman” reader, Shimada. Of course, Yōtarō dies and leaves behind a will challenging the writers to craft the perfect 50-page mystery by April 6, with the winner awarded Yōtarō’s sizable wealth. With several billion yen at stake, it’s the kind of writing prize worth killing for.
The murders are uniquely staged scenes, with each fresh victim dispatched according to the Greek myth of the room they are assigned. The Labyrinth House has rooms named after Icarus, Minos, Theseus, and the like, and the discovery of the bodies left behind and the methods in which they have been murdered are easily the best parts of the book. The characters themselves, unfortunately, are one-dimensional cardboard cut-outs, lacking any depth or personality to distinguish one from another beyond the absolute broadest of strokes. We have the joker, the worrier, the woman, and… some other guy that, even now, I’m struggling to recall, their dynamism so ill-defined and incorporeal that one can’t help but wonder why Ayatsuji even bothered to name them aside from such conventions being standard practice in a book. Utayama and Shimada are our central leads and guides through the Labyrinth. Shimada gets the most character development in the form of various ticks and routinely shouting “Aha!” as if he were a caricature of a mystery detective rather than an actual detective, with Utayama proving to be the more mentally sluggish of the two. I never cared a whit about anybody in The Labyrinth House Murders.
Originally published in Japan in 1988, there’s also Ayatsuji’s casual sexism, or perhaps Japan’s well-noted misogyny, to compound matters further. When introduced, the male authors are all given sterling bona fides to justify their inclusion in this writing contest. Of course, in a fit of Men Writing Women, Ayatsuji forgoes detailing any of Madoka’s achievements and awards as a mystery author, opting instead to describe her bustline and sexy physique. The only other woman present is Yōtarō’s maid who, aside from one particular scene late in the book, exists only to serve the men tea or dinner, and to curl up in a distraught ball and either worry or mutter prayers or do both simultaneously until the next tea time.
While it does have its few moments of intrigue, I can’t help but think that The Labyrinth House Murders read better when it was originally published nearly 40 years ago, and perhaps even more-so in its original Japanese, as I also can’t help but suspect certain aspects have unfortunately been lost in translation. As it stands in 2025, it feels more like an artifact with occasional charm (I can’t help but laugh at the scene in which a group of prolific writers must have the concept of typing explained to them), or at least better suited to those who have read fewer than, say, five locked room mysteries. The Labyrinth House Murders is a smart puzzler, but one that lacks heart and soul.
November 15, 2025
This is soooooooo good!
If you love twisty, classic-style mysteries, The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji is a great pick.
Yukito Ayatsuji’s The Labyrinth House Murders is a clever, puzzle-box mystery set in a remote, eerie mansion known as the Labyrinth House. The story begins when Miyagaki Yotaro, a famous mystery writer, invites four young crime novelists (his favorite "junior"), including his editor and critic to his secluded home for a birthday celebration.
What seems like an honor quickly turns sinister. Soon after their arrival, a shocking death occurs, and the guests find themselves trapped in a deadly game. The house itself is a maze, both physically and psychologically, and the guests are forced into a bizarre competition where murder follows murder.
Enter Shimada Kiyoshi, the brilliant and composed detective who also appears in Ayatsuji’s other “House” mysteries (and yes, you should absolutely read the previous two, they’re so good!). As the body count rises, Shimada must navigate the twisted layout of the house and the tangled motives of the guests to uncover the truth. The question isn’t just who did it; but why, and how the house itself plays a role in the killings.
My POV
The writing is so clean and classic. It starts slow, then builds momentum as the murders unfold. I absolutely love locked-room puzzles, eerie settings, and racing the detective to the truth. This one delivers a twist that made me grin. If you love mysteries that tease your brain and keep you guessing, The Labyrinth House Murders is a must-read!
Definitely 5-star reading for me :)
#bookreview #honkaku #japanesemystery
#JapaneseLiterature
#JapaneseAuthor
If you love twisty, classic-style mysteries, The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji is a great pick.
Yukito Ayatsuji’s The Labyrinth House Murders is a clever, puzzle-box mystery set in a remote, eerie mansion known as the Labyrinth House. The story begins when Miyagaki Yotaro, a famous mystery writer, invites four young crime novelists (his favorite "junior"), including his editor and critic to his secluded home for a birthday celebration.
What seems like an honor quickly turns sinister. Soon after their arrival, a shocking death occurs, and the guests find themselves trapped in a deadly game. The house itself is a maze, both physically and psychologically, and the guests are forced into a bizarre competition where murder follows murder.
Enter Shimada Kiyoshi, the brilliant and composed detective who also appears in Ayatsuji’s other “House” mysteries (and yes, you should absolutely read the previous two, they’re so good!). As the body count rises, Shimada must navigate the twisted layout of the house and the tangled motives of the guests to uncover the truth. The question isn’t just who did it; but why, and how the house itself plays a role in the killings.
My POV
The writing is so clean and classic. It starts slow, then builds momentum as the murders unfold. I absolutely love locked-room puzzles, eerie settings, and racing the detective to the truth. This one delivers a twist that made me grin. If you love mysteries that tease your brain and keep you guessing, The Labyrinth House Murders is a must-read!
Definitely 5-star reading for me :)
#bookreview #honkaku #japanesemystery
#JapaneseLiterature
#JapaneseAuthor
September 10, 2025
This is a mysterious book. I enjoyed reading it immensely.
As soon as the book started an event occurred, and I thought I knew who the murderer was.
I should explain that after the main part of the book, there are two epilogues with an afterword between the two.
The main part of the book ends with a conclusion where one person is identified as the murderer of five other people. This is the murderer I guessed.
The afterword indicates the story is based on a real-life case.
However, the second epilogue contains a conversation the detective has with the writer, where the real murderer is identified and where the writer shows the subtle clues that show who did it.
As soon as the book started an event occurred, and I thought I knew who the murderer was.
I should explain that after the main part of the book, there are two epilogues with an afterword between the two.
The main part of the book ends with a conclusion where one person is identified as the murderer of five other people. This is the murderer I guessed.
The afterword indicates the story is based on a real-life case.
However, the second epilogue contains a conversation the detective has with the writer, where the real murderer is identified and where the writer shows the subtle clues that show who did it.
January 2, 2026
2.5 maybe
i loved the first two books in this series but this one was just too complicated for me to follow from a certain point on lol i am sorry but i am just stupid okay, it is the way it is
i loved the first two books in this series but this one was just too complicated for me to follow from a certain point on lol i am sorry but i am just stupid okay, it is the way it is
October 21, 2024
อธิบายไม่ถูก แต่รู้สึกว่าไม่ใช่แนวขนาดนั้น สังเกตได้จากความลื่นไหลในการอ่าน ถ้าชอบจริงจะอ่านจบได้ไวกว่านี้
May 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji is an intriguing and witty murder mystery, masterfully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable. While I understand that the novel and its many translations have received mixed reviews, with some dismissing it as "old-fashioned," I find it timeless and potentially even a classic. It comes down to personal taste. If you didn’t enjoy the novel because of its locked-room themes, it might simply be that you weren’t the "intended" or "active" reader this book was written for. As someone who loves cozy, classic detective mysteries and is a fan of Agatha Christie, I found this story to be an exceptional piece of entertainment and a wonderfully immersive adventure.
One of the best aspects of murder mystery novels for me is the puzzle, the gradual unraveling of clues by a sharp detective who pieces together fragment after fragment until arriving at the big reveal. This book delivers fully on that front. There is immense satisfaction in solving puzzles alongside the detective, and the more complex, the better. The story challenges the reader to think critically, to analyze and question every character’s motives, keeping you fully engaged. The closed setting of the labyrinth house was a brilliant touch, adding an extra layer of tension and intrigue. Locked-room mysteries are among my favorite subgenres, and this one hits all the right notes.
I also appreciated the meta aspects of the story. It is a narrative about writers, editors, and critics, and I’ve always enjoyed books that explore the art of writing and literature. This one offered a clever, witty commentary on that world. One thing I found especially impressive was how the characters were introduced. At first, I was nervous about the long list of names and roles presented at the beginning of the book. It seemed overwhelming, and I worried I’d confuse the characters, especially since many of them shared similar job titles and were of comparable ages. However, the author skillfully introduced each character sequentially, giving them unique and memorable entrances.
For example, when Kiyomura is introduced, he is playing a prank on one of characters. This playful and joking demeanor immediately set him apart and gave readers a sense of his personality, making him feel vivid and real. This kind of attention to detail made the characters feel fully fleshed out and realistic. In many mysteries with large casts, it is easy for the characters to blur together, especially if they are all introduced in one chaotic scene. Here, the early chapters were carefully divided into smaller sections, each focusing on a new character, offering just enough insight into their nature and personality to make them stand out.
Another aspect I loved was the balance between plot and character development. The story is plot-driven, filled with puzzles and mysteries, but the characters’ contributions feel meaningful and human. They are not reduced to mere tools for the plot; instead, they are dynamic and engaging, with just enough depth to make them feel alive. As a highly imaginative person, I often visualize everything I read. However, I sometimes struggle to picture characters when they are described too flatly. In this novel, though, the author provided just enough detail to make each character vivid without bogging the narrative down in unnecessary description.
Lastly, the book is incredibly readable. I was hooked from the start and flew through 50 percent of it in a single sitting, a rare feat for me as a naturally slow reader. In fact, I devoured the entire novel in just two days. It was that gripping.
The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji is an intriguing and witty murder mystery, masterfully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable. While I understand that the novel and its many translations have received mixed reviews, with some dismissing it as "old-fashioned," I find it timeless and potentially even a classic. It comes down to personal taste. If you didn’t enjoy the novel because of its locked-room themes, it might simply be that you weren’t the "intended" or "active" reader this book was written for. As someone who loves cozy, classic detective mysteries and is a fan of Agatha Christie, I found this story to be an exceptional piece of entertainment and a wonderfully immersive adventure.
One of the best aspects of murder mystery novels for me is the puzzle, the gradual unraveling of clues by a sharp detective who pieces together fragment after fragment until arriving at the big reveal. This book delivers fully on that front. There is immense satisfaction in solving puzzles alongside the detective, and the more complex, the better. The story challenges the reader to think critically, to analyze and question every character’s motives, keeping you fully engaged. The closed setting of the labyrinth house was a brilliant touch, adding an extra layer of tension and intrigue. Locked-room mysteries are among my favorite subgenres, and this one hits all the right notes.
I also appreciated the meta aspects of the story. It is a narrative about writers, editors, and critics, and I’ve always enjoyed books that explore the art of writing and literature. This one offered a clever, witty commentary on that world. One thing I found especially impressive was how the characters were introduced. At first, I was nervous about the long list of names and roles presented at the beginning of the book. It seemed overwhelming, and I worried I’d confuse the characters, especially since many of them shared similar job titles and were of comparable ages. However, the author skillfully introduced each character sequentially, giving them unique and memorable entrances.
For example, when Kiyomura is introduced, he is playing a prank on one of characters. This playful and joking demeanor immediately set him apart and gave readers a sense of his personality, making him feel vivid and real. This kind of attention to detail made the characters feel fully fleshed out and realistic. In many mysteries with large casts, it is easy for the characters to blur together, especially if they are all introduced in one chaotic scene. Here, the early chapters were carefully divided into smaller sections, each focusing on a new character, offering just enough insight into their nature and personality to make them stand out.
Another aspect I loved was the balance between plot and character development. The story is plot-driven, filled with puzzles and mysteries, but the characters’ contributions feel meaningful and human. They are not reduced to mere tools for the plot; instead, they are dynamic and engaging, with just enough depth to make them feel alive. As a highly imaginative person, I often visualize everything I read. However, I sometimes struggle to picture characters when they are described too flatly. In this novel, though, the author provided just enough detail to make each character vivid without bogging the narrative down in unnecessary description.
Lastly, the book is incredibly readable. I was hooked from the start and flew through 50 percent of it in a single sitting, a rare feat for me as a naturally slow reader. In fact, I devoured the entire novel in just two days. It was that gripping.
May 23, 2022
Thật thật giả giả, hư lồng trong hư, đọc nhũn cả não, trình lừa gạt độc giả của tác giả thật thượng thừa 😂😂
Mê lộ quán...
...vốn sẽ là 4 tác phẩm của 4 nhà văn Suzaki Shosuke, Kiyomura Junichi, Hayashi Hiroya, Funaoka Madoka,
...sau lại là "tác phẩm cuối cùng" của nhà văn Miyagaki Yotaro,
....mà cũng là tác phẩm của tác giả Shishiya Kadomi,
...và cũng lại là tác phẩm trinh thám của Yukito Ayatsuji mà chúng ta đang đọc đây.
Nhiêu đó thôi là đủ mệt rồi, chưa nói những thứ khác 😅
2.5*
Mê lộ quán...
...vốn sẽ là 4 tác phẩm của 4 nhà văn Suzaki Shosuke, Kiyomura Junichi, Hayashi Hiroya, Funaoka Madoka,
...sau lại là "tác phẩm cuối cùng" của nhà văn Miyagaki Yotaro,
....mà cũng là tác phẩm của tác giả Shishiya Kadomi,
...và cũng lại là tác phẩm trinh thám của Yukito Ayatsuji mà chúng ta đang đọc đây.
Nhiêu đó thôi là đủ mệt rồi, chưa nói những thứ khác 😅
2.5*
October 20, 2025
SPOILERS, sorry this is so long!
I absolutely HATED the twist in this story so much!!!
I love the idea of a twist within a twist where we think we have finally solved it and the secret passageways and the faked death and all that and thats all good and well (if not a teeny tiny bit predictable but ok I can accept that). But then the two final twists-the one big one, the REAL real murderer, and the second one regarding Shimada and his real name/brother's existence, were so underwhelming, unneccesary, and infuriating and I'll do my best to explain why.
First, Shimada's true identity of his brother being the author of the book, under a pen-name thats also an anagram of Shimada's name: felt kinda silly and stupid to be honest and just added a completely unnecessary and kinda irrelevant layer to this reveal. Could have been completely left out and I would have walked away from this story with an unchanged opinion of this book as a whole. Just felt like a silly little way of saying 'im clever and i know how to add in little twists and tricks like this' but it added no real value to the story or to the mystery other than a few moments of trying to unravel the name and letters which felt like doing a word puzzle meant for a 5th grader. Especially when it was so neatly spelled out and put in our faces like "hey just incase you missed this little secret, look at the names and the spelling more closely, this is my brother writing the book! haha! so clever!! wow right!!" and of course we missed it and of course it had to be spelled out right infront of our faces bc the author quite literally is not a chatacter in the book and his name is only even written down in the pages like two times. Felt like trying way too hard for a little bitty "Gotcha!" moment that was unnecessary and not very well written imo.
Speaking of trying too hard for a "Gotcha" moment, this brings me to my main issue with this whole book, the "twist" that ruined the whole story and honestly made me regret the couple of hours I spend reading the rest of the mystery. This book should have ended with Miyagaki (spelling prob wrong sorry) being the accepted murderer, and to make it a little extra sneaky and spicy, it could have had a little epilogue where Shimada and his brother have a conversation and poke holes in the accepted version of events. They could have just left it at, "what if, in theory, someone else who knew Miyagaki and was screwed over by him, and also somehow knew he was planning this little game, knew their way around the house, and had their own motive for killing Miyagaki and getting the money, could have been sneaking around the house just under our noses and actually committed some and/or all of the murders including Miyagaki, and used their knowledge of Miyagakis plans to conduct this elaborate game w the four writers as a way to disguise their role in the murders and frame Miyagaki himself." They could have discussed their theories and exposed the ways an alternate suspect could have potentially plausibly been the murderer, therefore poking holes in the accepted conclusion and leaving a tiny bit of a cliffhanger, and left it at that.
Instead, the revelation that the REAL murderer was actually Samejina is the biggest cop out and disappointment of this entire novel and made me feel it was a complete waste of my time reading this. It made me wish I had not read the afterword and just left it at that.
First, the author's smugness thinking they are soooo clever in writing ambiguously so as to hide that Samejino is a woman was so ridiculously dumb to me. They highlight the passage where they say "Some years ago, the critic might have been taken for a very handsome young man indeed, if only Samejina had made a little more effort to dress fancier". I took this line to mean exactly that she is a woman, just not a very attractive woman who could do with a bit of a makeover. Which is such a trope already so its kinda dumb but ok. Point being this "clever" writing did not really disguise anything, as I thought Samejina was a woman throughout the entirety of this book.
Second, if Samejina was privy to Miyagaki's plans to set up this elaborate game to "bring out the best in the 4 proteges to compete for his large estate" way prior to this week in April, and was indeed upset enough to even consider concocting AND enacting a plan like this, seems likely she would have been smart enough to weigh the risks and come up w a better plan to get her son the money she believes he is rightly owed. Considering this woman is the sole person who knows that she has a living CHILD with Miyagaki, she has the power to blackmail him from the start, and also arguably has the upper hand the entire time as she has the ability to release this information to the public and at least attempt to soil the great Miyagaki's reputation simply by exposing the fact that he fathered a disabled child he clearly knows about but wants nothing to do with and also plans to leave nothing to in his will. She could have gone at him publicly and gotten what she ultimately wanted, which seems to be inheritance for her disabled son's care. If she brought this truth to light there might have even been a legal way to acquire funds for the biological child of Miyagaki, if not simply by humiliating Miyagaki and threatening his repuation by exposing his coldhearted cruelty and neglect of his son, which probably would have prompted him to amend his plans for his fortune to at least include him in part. Even if he didnt get everything, it sounds like even a half or a fourth of the fortune would have been quite substantial. She could have accomplished her main goals, to get money for her son in the will and to bring recognition to what kind of person Miyagaki was by exposing his blatant neglect to their son, without murdering anyone and risking everything by carrying out such a risky plan. Because even with the most intricately calculated and well thought out plan there would always be a risk she could be caught and therefore eventually sent to jail, leaving NO parents to care for her disabled son, which when you are already the sole parent of said disabled son, feels like an IMMENSE risk that clearly was not absolutely necessary.
Honestly it all felt like a desperate attempt to force the storyline to adhere to the twist within a twist within a twist trope and it just did not work out well in my opinion.
The final and most abhorrent problem I have with Samejina being the murderer is the main piece of evidence being the blood as the reason for the decapitation.
First, we are completely overlooking the fact that simply covering blood with more blood does NOT make the underlying blood disappear, and while I acknowledge that this is set in 1987, it is acknowledged in the chapter that blood testing is already a technology that all the players are aware exists in the world at that time, so police could still certainly identify whos blood was mixed with Suzaki's with enough careful inspection and testing.
I get that they reasoned that they didnt want the others to suspect that it was them until later on or whatever but this is such a thinly veiled coverup bc assuming the police are competent and as consumed with solving this mystery as they are described to be once the crime is reported and they are called to the scene, you'd think, especially with it being such an important part of the unfolding of events, that theyd go out of their way to thoroughly test all the blood on the carpet to confirm or deny their theory that the decapitation was to hide the killers blood. Wouldnt they take that theory and test every centimeter, if not every millimeter, of the carpet to prove or disprove this and find the blood that was covered up? And if they indeed found multiple different samples of blood from two different people, it seems a next step would logically be to first compare to the blood of everyone known to be in the house at the time, which included Samejina, and then she would have been caught and arrested and therefore unavailable to care for her son who is seemingly her main motive for all of this. It wouldve made more sense to me if there was like a square of carpet removed and poorly covered up w a replacement AND a bunch of blood or something like that but okay, I can sort of accept the major plot hole here.
Second, they all seem to agree that if the reason for the decapitation was to cover even a tiny singular drop of blood from the killer, then they need to check everyone for obvious cuts on their legs and arms and visible bodies. Shimada thinks hes so smart for surmising that a nosebleed would be another possible explanation too. All of the people in the room are aware that women have menstrual blood at this time of this discussion, and the reason none of them speak up and say out loud, "well what about a females menstrual blood, that doesnt require an injury to the body" is because THAT IS CLEARLY THE DUMBEST FUCKING THING IVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE!!!
First, the killer could have literally gotten a tiny pinprick puncture somewhere and bled literally one single drop of blood and that would absolutely not be immediately recognizable in their dumb little inspections of eachothers bodies. Even in the nosebleed theory, I'm sure the actual killer would take care to rinse their nasal cavity thoroughly on the off chance they decided to administer silly little exams like they did, so thats still not even fully ruled out as a possibility. But especially since the most time elapsed from Suzuki's death and when they found him, they estimate at least 5-6 hours, a teeny tiny paper cut like thing could easily be indistinguishable on someones body by the time the body inspections were conducted.
And finally, to acknowledge the most moronic, idiotic, borderline mysogynistic, sexist, uneducated explanation of Samejina GETTING HER FUCKING PERIOD BLOOD on the carpet and THAT being the cause for the blood, is the most insane thing ive ever heard and is so dumb and stupid I wish I never opened this book.
Does the author not personally know a single real human woman in their life??? Did they do even an ounce of research into womans bodies or menstruation whatsoever???? It is simply not possible for that version of events to be plausible in any reality where womans bodies work the way they do in real life. The idea that a period can come on that quickly and THAT heavily that it could BEGIN OUT OF NOWHERE BLEED THROUGH A SKIRT AND UNDERWEAR IN SECONDS AND SOAK THROUGH TO THE CARPET IN ONE SINGULAR INSTANT IS THE MOST MORONIC, IGNORANT, UNEDUCATED NOTION I HAVE EVER HEARD!!!!!
For a woman to go from not bleeding at all, even right on the eve of getting her period, to bleeding THAT much within SECONDS, something is either severely wrong with her health or menstrual cycles in general, or they are quite literally having a miscarraige. In no other instance would menstrual blood ever possibly exit the body in that way so as to STAIN A CARPET MERE SECONDS AFTER STARTING HER PERIOD! Even with the idea that she fell to the ground and in her skirt that she was wearing bc she was surprised by her period coming early (silly dumb woman not expecting her own menstrual cycle so she wore a skirt?) her butt would have had to hit the ground with such force, in such a specific angle, and her underwear would have had to be FLOODED with blood before she fell in order for it to soak through her skirt and leave a stain on the ground. Which is INSANE. Unless youre having an active miscarraige, or some other acute health issue causing you to actively bleed at that fast and heavy of a rate, that is just NOT how periods work!! Even if she had PCOS or another menstrual condition that make periods very unpredictable and heavy, it would be more believable if somehow her tampon/pad literally fell out onto the carpet than to genuinely insinuate that the "shock of the murder that SHE COMMITTED (and carefully planned for months in advance)" caused BOTH her period to come early/surprisingly, and in that EXACT instant, AND for her to drop to the ground and bleed so hard and fast that it STAINS THE GROUND WHERE SHE FELL is the most insane and impossible idea ever concocted obviously by a very very ignorant man.
This feels like it was legit written by an 11 year old boy in health class who just learned about periods and tried to write a mystery where theyve predetermined that the ultimate twist is that a woman got her period unexpectedly which somehow proves she is the murderer. Even if you are someone who has a lot of heavy, painful periods and has a very irregular cycle thats hard to predict, for the blood to START from zero to one hundred THIS quickly, which is so INSANELY extreme and unrealistic that it cannot be considered a normal menstrual cycle, the woman would have to have a condition that would likely have other symptoms, like PCOS does, and any good mystery wouldnt in good faith leave those symptoms out of the character descriptions that, in THIS extreme of a case would HAVE to have been at least somewhat noticeable to any outside observer.
And even if I do suspend my belief in reality long enough to buy that a womans period could truly come out of nowhere and begin that hard and fast in the shock of the moment to actually leave a stain on the outside of at least two layers of fabric, there are still so many plot holes that I have mentioned above that this conclusion really just makes me angry enough to write all this out. Which is not something I usually do even if I don't like the conclusion of a book/mystery.
It just feels like such a dumb middle school level cop out and almost like a crude joke again made by an 11 year old boy to their seatmate in health class upon just learning about womens menstruation for the first time. It seems to be a common belief among men that women just GUSH blood the minute their periods start which is so untrue in general. Although it can vary greatly for every woman and some do suffer MUCH more severe symptoms and bleeding than others, that woman would surely know that about herself prior to planning this whole thing and if she could be so prepared in every other aspect, its just simply not believable that she overlooked such a severe side effect of her own menstrual cycle. And at 38 years old and having gone through pregnancy and birth and many years of menstruation is just crazy unbelievable. Which is why again, I would honestly believe this story more if something crazy happened like the pad in her underwear literally unstuck and fell on the carpet leaving a stain more than I can even pretend to believe that her period BEGAN IN THAT SINGULAR INSTANT AND GOT SO HEAVY WHILE SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FALLING TO THE GROUND THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH BLOOD PRESENT IN HER UNDERWEAR BY THE TIME SHE HIT THE GROUND TO LEAVE A STAIN. Even with an exceptionally heavy, extreme period that had started that same day perhaps (which would explain why she was unprepared with proper menstrual products and simultaneously was so prepared in planning this whole thing down to the T but somehow missed that her period might arrive anytime in this entire week and also somehow at 38 years old doesnt know her body or her cycle at all), it would have HAD to have at least started before the exact moment that she killed a man she had been planning to kill for months and fell to the ground from shock.
And honestly, I just hate the idea of "wow you guys overlooked the semi secret third possibility of the blood coming from a woman!! bc they get their periods and bleed every month remember that?! betcha didnt think of that didya?! gotcha!", this is already a very annoying sort of cop out solution to the "where did the blood come from" question. I would have loved it if it was something like "she accidentally pricked her finger on the needle that she had in her pocket for the subsequent trap she was setting up, and maybe she was even pricked w a little bit of nicotine but shes immune bc shes clearly a habitual smoker so she was fine from the nicotine but it left a drop of blood on the ground".
To me, that or literally anything other than "omg it was a woman getting surprised by her period!!" would have been a wayyyy more satisfactory reveal.
Overall the book would have been at least a 6 or 7 out of 10 to me until being put face to face with this ridiculous twist that made me give it a 1 and honestly wish I hadnt purchased a physical copy of this book!
I absolutely HATED the twist in this story so much!!!
I love the idea of a twist within a twist where we think we have finally solved it and the secret passageways and the faked death and all that and thats all good and well (if not a teeny tiny bit predictable but ok I can accept that). But then the two final twists-the one big one, the REAL real murderer, and the second one regarding Shimada and his real name/brother's existence, were so underwhelming, unneccesary, and infuriating and I'll do my best to explain why.
First, Shimada's true identity of his brother being the author of the book, under a pen-name thats also an anagram of Shimada's name: felt kinda silly and stupid to be honest and just added a completely unnecessary and kinda irrelevant layer to this reveal. Could have been completely left out and I would have walked away from this story with an unchanged opinion of this book as a whole. Just felt like a silly little way of saying 'im clever and i know how to add in little twists and tricks like this' but it added no real value to the story or to the mystery other than a few moments of trying to unravel the name and letters which felt like doing a word puzzle meant for a 5th grader. Especially when it was so neatly spelled out and put in our faces like "hey just incase you missed this little secret, look at the names and the spelling more closely, this is my brother writing the book! haha! so clever!! wow right!!" and of course we missed it and of course it had to be spelled out right infront of our faces bc the author quite literally is not a chatacter in the book and his name is only even written down in the pages like two times. Felt like trying way too hard for a little bitty "Gotcha!" moment that was unnecessary and not very well written imo.
Speaking of trying too hard for a "Gotcha" moment, this brings me to my main issue with this whole book, the "twist" that ruined the whole story and honestly made me regret the couple of hours I spend reading the rest of the mystery. This book should have ended with Miyagaki (spelling prob wrong sorry) being the accepted murderer, and to make it a little extra sneaky and spicy, it could have had a little epilogue where Shimada and his brother have a conversation and poke holes in the accepted version of events. They could have just left it at, "what if, in theory, someone else who knew Miyagaki and was screwed over by him, and also somehow knew he was planning this little game, knew their way around the house, and had their own motive for killing Miyagaki and getting the money, could have been sneaking around the house just under our noses and actually committed some and/or all of the murders including Miyagaki, and used their knowledge of Miyagakis plans to conduct this elaborate game w the four writers as a way to disguise their role in the murders and frame Miyagaki himself." They could have discussed their theories and exposed the ways an alternate suspect could have potentially plausibly been the murderer, therefore poking holes in the accepted conclusion and leaving a tiny bit of a cliffhanger, and left it at that.
Instead, the revelation that the REAL murderer was actually Samejina is the biggest cop out and disappointment of this entire novel and made me feel it was a complete waste of my time reading this. It made me wish I had not read the afterword and just left it at that.
First, the author's smugness thinking they are soooo clever in writing ambiguously so as to hide that Samejino is a woman was so ridiculously dumb to me. They highlight the passage where they say "Some years ago, the critic might have been taken for a very handsome young man indeed, if only Samejina had made a little more effort to dress fancier". I took this line to mean exactly that she is a woman, just not a very attractive woman who could do with a bit of a makeover. Which is such a trope already so its kinda dumb but ok. Point being this "clever" writing did not really disguise anything, as I thought Samejina was a woman throughout the entirety of this book.
Second, if Samejina was privy to Miyagaki's plans to set up this elaborate game to "bring out the best in the 4 proteges to compete for his large estate" way prior to this week in April, and was indeed upset enough to even consider concocting AND enacting a plan like this, seems likely she would have been smart enough to weigh the risks and come up w a better plan to get her son the money she believes he is rightly owed. Considering this woman is the sole person who knows that she has a living CHILD with Miyagaki, she has the power to blackmail him from the start, and also arguably has the upper hand the entire time as she has the ability to release this information to the public and at least attempt to soil the great Miyagaki's reputation simply by exposing the fact that he fathered a disabled child he clearly knows about but wants nothing to do with and also plans to leave nothing to in his will. She could have gone at him publicly and gotten what she ultimately wanted, which seems to be inheritance for her disabled son's care. If she brought this truth to light there might have even been a legal way to acquire funds for the biological child of Miyagaki, if not simply by humiliating Miyagaki and threatening his repuation by exposing his coldhearted cruelty and neglect of his son, which probably would have prompted him to amend his plans for his fortune to at least include him in part. Even if he didnt get everything, it sounds like even a half or a fourth of the fortune would have been quite substantial. She could have accomplished her main goals, to get money for her son in the will and to bring recognition to what kind of person Miyagaki was by exposing his blatant neglect to their son, without murdering anyone and risking everything by carrying out such a risky plan. Because even with the most intricately calculated and well thought out plan there would always be a risk she could be caught and therefore eventually sent to jail, leaving NO parents to care for her disabled son, which when you are already the sole parent of said disabled son, feels like an IMMENSE risk that clearly was not absolutely necessary.
Honestly it all felt like a desperate attempt to force the storyline to adhere to the twist within a twist within a twist trope and it just did not work out well in my opinion.
The final and most abhorrent problem I have with Samejina being the murderer is the main piece of evidence being the blood as the reason for the decapitation.
First, we are completely overlooking the fact that simply covering blood with more blood does NOT make the underlying blood disappear, and while I acknowledge that this is set in 1987, it is acknowledged in the chapter that blood testing is already a technology that all the players are aware exists in the world at that time, so police could still certainly identify whos blood was mixed with Suzaki's with enough careful inspection and testing.
I get that they reasoned that they didnt want the others to suspect that it was them until later on or whatever but this is such a thinly veiled coverup bc assuming the police are competent and as consumed with solving this mystery as they are described to be once the crime is reported and they are called to the scene, you'd think, especially with it being such an important part of the unfolding of events, that theyd go out of their way to thoroughly test all the blood on the carpet to confirm or deny their theory that the decapitation was to hide the killers blood. Wouldnt they take that theory and test every centimeter, if not every millimeter, of the carpet to prove or disprove this and find the blood that was covered up? And if they indeed found multiple different samples of blood from two different people, it seems a next step would logically be to first compare to the blood of everyone known to be in the house at the time, which included Samejina, and then she would have been caught and arrested and therefore unavailable to care for her son who is seemingly her main motive for all of this. It wouldve made more sense to me if there was like a square of carpet removed and poorly covered up w a replacement AND a bunch of blood or something like that but okay, I can sort of accept the major plot hole here.
Second, they all seem to agree that if the reason for the decapitation was to cover even a tiny singular drop of blood from the killer, then they need to check everyone for obvious cuts on their legs and arms and visible bodies. Shimada thinks hes so smart for surmising that a nosebleed would be another possible explanation too. All of the people in the room are aware that women have menstrual blood at this time of this discussion, and the reason none of them speak up and say out loud, "well what about a females menstrual blood, that doesnt require an injury to the body" is because THAT IS CLEARLY THE DUMBEST FUCKING THING IVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE!!!
First, the killer could have literally gotten a tiny pinprick puncture somewhere and bled literally one single drop of blood and that would absolutely not be immediately recognizable in their dumb little inspections of eachothers bodies. Even in the nosebleed theory, I'm sure the actual killer would take care to rinse their nasal cavity thoroughly on the off chance they decided to administer silly little exams like they did, so thats still not even fully ruled out as a possibility. But especially since the most time elapsed from Suzuki's death and when they found him, they estimate at least 5-6 hours, a teeny tiny paper cut like thing could easily be indistinguishable on someones body by the time the body inspections were conducted.
And finally, to acknowledge the most moronic, idiotic, borderline mysogynistic, sexist, uneducated explanation of Samejina GETTING HER FUCKING PERIOD BLOOD on the carpet and THAT being the cause for the blood, is the most insane thing ive ever heard and is so dumb and stupid I wish I never opened this book.
Does the author not personally know a single real human woman in their life??? Did they do even an ounce of research into womans bodies or menstruation whatsoever???? It is simply not possible for that version of events to be plausible in any reality where womans bodies work the way they do in real life. The idea that a period can come on that quickly and THAT heavily that it could BEGIN OUT OF NOWHERE BLEED THROUGH A SKIRT AND UNDERWEAR IN SECONDS AND SOAK THROUGH TO THE CARPET IN ONE SINGULAR INSTANT IS THE MOST MORONIC, IGNORANT, UNEDUCATED NOTION I HAVE EVER HEARD!!!!!
For a woman to go from not bleeding at all, even right on the eve of getting her period, to bleeding THAT much within SECONDS, something is either severely wrong with her health or menstrual cycles in general, or they are quite literally having a miscarraige. In no other instance would menstrual blood ever possibly exit the body in that way so as to STAIN A CARPET MERE SECONDS AFTER STARTING HER PERIOD! Even with the idea that she fell to the ground and in her skirt that she was wearing bc she was surprised by her period coming early (silly dumb woman not expecting her own menstrual cycle so she wore a skirt?) her butt would have had to hit the ground with such force, in such a specific angle, and her underwear would have had to be FLOODED with blood before she fell in order for it to soak through her skirt and leave a stain on the ground. Which is INSANE. Unless youre having an active miscarraige, or some other acute health issue causing you to actively bleed at that fast and heavy of a rate, that is just NOT how periods work!! Even if she had PCOS or another menstrual condition that make periods very unpredictable and heavy, it would be more believable if somehow her tampon/pad literally fell out onto the carpet than to genuinely insinuate that the "shock of the murder that SHE COMMITTED (and carefully planned for months in advance)" caused BOTH her period to come early/surprisingly, and in that EXACT instant, AND for her to drop to the ground and bleed so hard and fast that it STAINS THE GROUND WHERE SHE FELL is the most insane and impossible idea ever concocted obviously by a very very ignorant man.
This feels like it was legit written by an 11 year old boy in health class who just learned about periods and tried to write a mystery where theyve predetermined that the ultimate twist is that a woman got her period unexpectedly which somehow proves she is the murderer. Even if you are someone who has a lot of heavy, painful periods and has a very irregular cycle thats hard to predict, for the blood to START from zero to one hundred THIS quickly, which is so INSANELY extreme and unrealistic that it cannot be considered a normal menstrual cycle, the woman would have to have a condition that would likely have other symptoms, like PCOS does, and any good mystery wouldnt in good faith leave those symptoms out of the character descriptions that, in THIS extreme of a case would HAVE to have been at least somewhat noticeable to any outside observer.
And even if I do suspend my belief in reality long enough to buy that a womans period could truly come out of nowhere and begin that hard and fast in the shock of the moment to actually leave a stain on the outside of at least two layers of fabric, there are still so many plot holes that I have mentioned above that this conclusion really just makes me angry enough to write all this out. Which is not something I usually do even if I don't like the conclusion of a book/mystery.
It just feels like such a dumb middle school level cop out and almost like a crude joke again made by an 11 year old boy to their seatmate in health class upon just learning about womens menstruation for the first time. It seems to be a common belief among men that women just GUSH blood the minute their periods start which is so untrue in general. Although it can vary greatly for every woman and some do suffer MUCH more severe symptoms and bleeding than others, that woman would surely know that about herself prior to planning this whole thing and if she could be so prepared in every other aspect, its just simply not believable that she overlooked such a severe side effect of her own menstrual cycle. And at 38 years old and having gone through pregnancy and birth and many years of menstruation is just crazy unbelievable. Which is why again, I would honestly believe this story more if something crazy happened like the pad in her underwear literally unstuck and fell on the carpet leaving a stain more than I can even pretend to believe that her period BEGAN IN THAT SINGULAR INSTANT AND GOT SO HEAVY WHILE SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FALLING TO THE GROUND THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH BLOOD PRESENT IN HER UNDERWEAR BY THE TIME SHE HIT THE GROUND TO LEAVE A STAIN. Even with an exceptionally heavy, extreme period that had started that same day perhaps (which would explain why she was unprepared with proper menstrual products and simultaneously was so prepared in planning this whole thing down to the T but somehow missed that her period might arrive anytime in this entire week and also somehow at 38 years old doesnt know her body or her cycle at all), it would have HAD to have at least started before the exact moment that she killed a man she had been planning to kill for months and fell to the ground from shock.
And honestly, I just hate the idea of "wow you guys overlooked the semi secret third possibility of the blood coming from a woman!! bc they get their periods and bleed every month remember that?! betcha didnt think of that didya?! gotcha!", this is already a very annoying sort of cop out solution to the "where did the blood come from" question. I would have loved it if it was something like "she accidentally pricked her finger on the needle that she had in her pocket for the subsequent trap she was setting up, and maybe she was even pricked w a little bit of nicotine but shes immune bc shes clearly a habitual smoker so she was fine from the nicotine but it left a drop of blood on the ground".
To me, that or literally anything other than "omg it was a woman getting surprised by her period!!" would have been a wayyyy more satisfactory reveal.
Overall the book would have been at least a 6 or 7 out of 10 to me until being put face to face with this ridiculous twist that made me give it a 1 and honestly wish I hadnt purchased a physical copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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