Pet Shop of Horrors: Collector's Edition Vol. 3

Pet Shop of Horrors: Collector's Edition #3

by Matsuri Akino

MURDER MYSTERY

When a reclusive systems engineer is found dead in his apartment, Leon heads to the pet shop to ask Count D for help with the victim’s collection of expensive tropical fish. However, it soon becomes clear that the count can do more than just care for the fish—he can talk to them too! Can Leon set aside his disbelief long enough to solve the murder with D’s help?

Don't miss this all-new translation of the cult classic!

Genres: Manga, Horror, Supernatural, Fantasy, Josei

312 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

Matsuri Akino (秋乃 茉莉 Akino Matsuri), is a Japanese manga artist from Mitaka, Tokyo, now a resident of Yokohama. Her work is a mix of the fantasy, mystery, and horror genres. Her self portrait is usually a kappa, sometimes with braids or an odango hairstyle.

Reviews

[Mizuki]

Pre-review: I brought the Pet Shop of Horrors e-books and I have been binge-reading them for a week.

Premise: Meet Count D, an ageless and mysterious Asian young man (supposedly from China) running a pet shop in Chinatown, New York. Count D can give his customers any pets and wild animals of their hearts' deepest desires...with a price and a signed contract of loving and looking after those pets forever. If the customers fail to fulfill their end of the agreement, they will surely suffer the unpredictable consequences.


(1) The second book of the series introduces us to more of Count D's exotic 'pets' and the humans who encounter them. I enjoy the story about the Qilin and how the holy beast chooses her owner.......and legends have it that the person who possesses a Qilin is destined to become 'king'. This time the holy beast picks a hapless American young man from a politically powerful family as her new owner, but are things really as they seem?

(2) There is a story about a young rider and her deaf but beloved horse, and how they make it to an important race. It is an interesting story but I think it's just so-and-so.

More to come.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The definition of "pet" is starting to get much looser.
What if a plush friend, or a plant, or just a fancy life simulation software

[Ryofire · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fun to see D continuing to work on seducing Leon, though it's painful to see Leon continue to be really racist to him. D must really want to get in those pants. You can at least see more of why D likes him this volume, with insight into Leon's issues with his job (and even perhaps light hints at Leon's suicidality). The story still isn't all that thoughtful about the realities of the US criminal system and policing, using it more as action movie background than considering why Leon shoots so many people or gets injured so much (or including the factoid that it's more likely for Leon to get shot by himself or his coworkers than suspects; certainly it was bizarre that he pulled a gun out when the horse lost control, as if he was, what, going to shoot the horse and solve the problem somehow? I'm surprised D didn't criticize him for it, and how he endangered himself and the staff). It doesn't have to be realistic, and it feels like it's going somewhere with Leon realizing that shooting people for work makes him feel uncomfortable around normal people, even if he can't quite place what that is.

I don't remember most of this from the first time I read it all those years ago, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get, immediately, that Geordie was a crossdresser or perhaps even trans or otherwise genderqueer. It's interesting going back now, being introduced to Merrow, and immediately twigging that this was the plot. And for all its issues, I respect that the story, to a degree, brought up genderqueer people, even if it's unfortunately in the context of said character being murdered.

The rating went down a little because I'm just not into bodyswap stories. I appreciate it's just a one-off story, and hope it doesn't happen again.

Overall, this was a good release, even if I hate iOS releases that don't include chapter breaks. It makes moving back and forth between the book frustrating. Looking forward to volume 4!

[Allison Schilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great volume! This is probably my favorite so far. So many stories I found myself adoring. The vampire chapter was a favorite, and the final chapter was so sweet! I’m excited for the new character that one brought in.

I wish Leon’s opinion of D would evolve a little more. I feel like that final chapter gave him a good dose of growth, though, so maybe we’ll see that in the future?

I love seeing D toting around the babies in the shop. So cute.

Also, though Akino’s art style probably isn’t for everyone, her comedic drawings (reactions/chibis) are just so cute.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point I'm far passed whatever I owned in physical form back from highschool, so I was really happy to be able to push forward. Plus, its refreshing to see little author notes again. I definitely agree with Akino-san. American beer does suck. lol

[Dan P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still going strong. The introduction of a kid sibling can often be an annoying shark jumping moment for a series or TV show, but here it's one of the best stories yet

[Say · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again another solid volume!
And this might be my fave so far.
Loved all the stories and getting a background story for Leon as well.

[ChelseaFace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite manga ever 🥰 I love this!!

[T. Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mushi-shi fans: I would definitely recommend the series.
I'm so glad it's back! I forgot how much I loved it. Dual is probably my favorite chapter so far.

[Kai Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one may be my fave so far

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual and Day care hit me right in the feels and I was not expecting that.

[Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5

The stories in the first two volumes felt stronger and more unique. With that said, I still enjoyed this volume a lot, and I'm glad I finally got to pick up the next volume in this series!