อย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน

Detective Kosuke Kindaichi #3

by Seishi Yokomizo, เซชิ โยโคมิโซะ, 横溝 正史

ข้ามาถึงโตเกียวแล้วอีกไม่นานก็จะพบเจ้า...เจ้าจงอย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน จดหมายประหลาดถูกส่งมาถึงยาชิโยะลูกสาวคนเดียวแห่งตระกูลฟุรุงามิผู้มั่งคั่งพร้อมกับรูปถ่ายไร้หัวของชายลึกลับ หญิงสาวหวาดผวากับจดหมายพิสดารหวั่นใจว่าชายใดรอบกายเธอจะเป็นคนผู้นั้น แต่ระหว่างนั้นเองฆาตกรรมแสนสยดสยองได้เปิดฉากขึ้นฆาตกรหั่นคอศพ...ศพแล้วศพเล่า

Genres: Mystery, Japan, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Crime, Murder Mystery, Mystery Thriller

212 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1973

About the author

Seishi Yokomizo (横溝 正史) was a novelist in Shōwa period Japan.
Yokomizo was born in the city of Kobe, Hyōgo (兵庫県 神戸市). He read detective stories as a boy and in 1921, while employed by the Daiichi Bank, published his first story in the popular magazine "Shin Seinen" (新青年[New Youth]). He graduated from Osaka Pharmaceutical College (currently part of Osaka University) with a degree in pharmacy, and initially intended to take over his family's drug store even though sceptical of the contemporary ahistorical attitude towards drugs. However, drawn by his interest in literature, and the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo (江戸川 乱歩), he went to Tokyo instead, where he was hired by the Hakubunkan publishing company in 1926. After serving as editor in chief of several magazines, he resigned in 1932 to devote himself full-time to writing.
Yokomizo was attracted to the literary genre of historical fiction, especially that of the historical detective novel. In July 1934, while resting in the mountains of Nagano to recuperate from tuberculosis, he completed his first novel "Onibi" (『鬼火』), which was published in 1935, although parts were immediately censored by the authorities. Undeterred, Yokomizo followed on his early success with a second novel Ningyo Sashichi torimonocho (1938–1939). However, during World War II, he faced difficulties in getting his works published due to the wartime conditions, and was in severe economic difficulties. The lack of Streptomycin and other antibiotics also meant that his tuberculosis could not be properly treated, and he joked with friends that it was a race to see whether he would die of disease or of starvation.
However, soon after the end of World War II, his works received wide recognition and he developed an enormous fan following. He published many works via Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in serialized form, concentrating only on popular mystery novels, based on the orthodox western detective story format, starting with "Honjin Satsujin Jiken" (『本陣殺人事件』) and "Chōchō Satsujin Jinken" (『蝶々殺人事件』) (both in 1946). His works became the model for postwar Japanese mystery writing. He was also often called the "Japanese John Dickson Carr" after the writer whom he admired.
Yokomizo is most well known for creating the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi (金田一 耕助). Many of his works have been made into movies.
Yokomizo died of colon cancer in 1981. His grave is at the Seishun-en cemetery in Kawasaki, Kanagawa (神奈川県 川崎市).

Reviews

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

old review:
Really impressive murder mystery, I couldn't see the ending coming at all when I first read this splendid crime novel (by Seishi Yokomizo) years ago.

Updated@15/12/2021:

A new book cover for this Yokomizo's classic! How can I resist...

New review starts here:

Night Walk is one of the finely crafted classic Detective Kindaichi mystery novels.

This time the story is narrated by a third-ranked detective novelist, he was invited to the remote family manor of his well-to-do friend. In the manor, the novelist met his friend's eerie family members, one of them being a beautiful but wanton young woman, and she had an unusual suitor: a humpbacked painter.

The men within the family seemed to all harbor complicated/incestuous feelings toward this young woman, plus when cursed bloodline, family's secrets, madness, lust and greed came into play, murder and beheading ensured.

Beheading! All the beheading in the story is really...interesting to say the least. Plus it's also worth noticing that the story takes place in a time period when DNA testing hadn't ever existed, that enables the murderer to do what they did.

Overall, the story is on the melodrama side but for a whole novel I'm fully entertained, the plot twists are neat and the murder mysteries really can keep you guessing, although Kindaichi only shows up at around the late 2/3 part of the story, still the story carries itself nicely, from start to end.

There is one thing, since it's a novel penned decades ago, so it's hard to overlook all the discrimination against disable people in the text, the characters in the book always talk like humpbacked people are mentally unbalanced and abnormal because they are handicapped! At the back of the book, I found the Taiwanese publisher noted that they are aware of the outdated discriminations in the story so they had already adjusted the wording and the tone in this reprint! If what I'd read is already the 'adjusted' version then the original text has to be really offensive. *sighs* I'm not holding it against Mr. Yokomizo, but still.

PS: here is one small detail, the murderer in the end confessed that they were 'used to beheading people during the war', *sighs* now I remember I read from another book that the Imperial Japan Army tended to kill their war prisoners by beheading them because they claimed they 'didn't have enough resource to keep war prisoners alive', that really sucks.

My Top Ten Yokomizo's Detective Kosuke Kindaichi Mysteries novels

1.惡魔的手毬歌 / A Devilish Temari Song (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
2.本陣殺人事件 / The Honjin Murders (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
3.犬神家一族 / The Inugami Clan (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
4.獄門島 / Gokumon Island (my review for Gokumonto: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
5.夜行 / Night Walk (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
6.惡魔吹著笛子來 / The Devil Comes and Plays His Flute
7.惡靈島 / Demon Island (my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
8. 醫院坡上吊之家 / The House of Hanging on Hospital Slope
9. 女王蜂 / Queen Bee
10. 八墓村 / The Village of Eight Graves

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro fue una grata sorpresa para mí.

Estaba navegando por NetGalley y, al ver las categorías y la portada de este libro, me intrigó, así que fui a leer la sinopsis y no tuve más remedio que solicitarlo. Ya solo con eso me tenía totalmente cautivada. No me importó ni siquiera que solo tuviera dos días para leerlo antes de que se archivara; al contrario, eso me motivó a terminarlo más rápido.

Les cuento muy por encima la sinopsis para que me entiendan: Imagínense una mansión gigante en el campo, una familia de la alta sociedad donde todos se odian y tienen secretos turbios, y de la nada aparece un cuerpo decapitado y mutilado.

El detective Kosuke Kindaichi (nada que ver, pero me recordó a Hércules Poirot) tiene que meterse en este círculo lleno de locura, alcoholismo, secretos y hasta una supuesta maldición familiar (y una espada) para descubrir al asesino antes de que sea demasiado tarde.

Esto es una locura brutal. Nunca había leído nada de este estilo y con lo único que puedo compararlo es con un misterio de Agatha Christie, pero en versión siniestra. Claramente seguiré leyendo al autor; esta fue la mejor carta de presentación que pude tener de él.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Christian Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Walks At Night is a classic mystery whodunit. The story is told from the perspective of a self described "third-rate mystery novelist" who is pulled into a murderous family drama by his university friend Yashiro.

This excellently written and translated novel takes the reader on a journey involving sleepwalking, cursed swords, mistaken identities, old resentments and many enjoyable twists and turns.

I recommend picking up this book to see if you can solve the mystery before Detective Kosuke Kindaichi reveals the hidden motives and actions of the sinister killer preying on the Furugami Family.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reading copy in return for an honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

we’re so back

[Ploy Inthira · Rating 5 out of 5]

ให้คะแนนเพราะตอนเฉลยความจริงล้วนๆ นี่สินะความรู้สึกของคนที่โดนหลอก 55555555555

[Pete WK. · Rating 5 out of 5]

เป็นคินดะอิจิตอนยาวตอนแรกที่ได้อ่านในรอบ 4 ปี
ซึ่งถือว่าไม่ทำให้ผิดหวังเลย

ท้าวความก่อนว่า เมื่อประมาณปี 2014 -2015 ตอนนั้นก็เริ่มอ่านคินดอิจิมาเรื่อยๆ จนถึงเล่มที่ 5
แต่ด้วยเหตุผลอะไรก็ไม่รู้ ตอนนี้เราก็จำไม่ได้ เลยทำให้หยุดอ่านไปพักนึง หลังจากนั้นพอจะกลับไปตามซื้อตามเก็บ ตามอ่าน
มันกลับไม่มีความ "อยาก" ที่จะทำ เหมือนหมดความสนใจไปเลย

จนกระทั่งปีที่แล้ว เริ่มกลับมาสนใจตามเก็บนิยายอีกรอบ ซึ่งก็ตามเก็บเรื่องที่อยากได้จนครบ จนมันไม่เหลืออะไรให้เก็บ
เลยหันกลับมามองเรื่องที่เราได้หันหลังให้กับมัน นั่นก็คือคินดะอิจินี่แหละ

จากนั้นก็หาข้อมูล หาหนังสือเพื่อทบทวนความทรงจำ จนได้ทราบว่า คินดะอิจิฉบับแปลบ้านเรานั้น เค้าไม่ได้แปลแบบเรียงตอน
แต่เป็นการแปลแบบตามใจฉัน ไอเราก็เลยเกิดคตวามสงสัยว่า แล้วถ้ามีการเรียงลำกับตามไทม์ไลน์ มันจะเป็นยังไง

ก็เลยลองไปหาข้อมูลในเว็บของญี่ปุ่นและแปลออกมาคราวๆ จนได้รายชื่อตอนคินดะอิจิแบบที่เรียงตามช่วงเวลาที่เกิดขึ้นในเนื้อเรื่อง

จากนั้นเราก็ตามเก็บหนังสือ และเริ่มอ่านเรียงตามไทม์ไลน์มาเรื่อยๆ
ตามนี้


Showa 12 (1937)
On November 27 - 29
01. ในห้องที่ปิดตาย (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 9)

Showa 21 (1946)
Early September
02. บ่อพยาบาท (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 9)
03. ใต้ต้นยี่เข่ง (Talent 1 คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 31)

Late September - early October
04. คดีฆาตกรรมบนเกาะโกะกุมน (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 5)
Mid November
05. เจ้าหญิงชุดดำ (Talent 1 คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 31)
06. นายค้างคาวกับคุณนายทาก (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 16)

Showa 22 (1947)
March 26, 28 - 30
07. แมวในความมืด (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 15)
08. คดีร้านแมวดำ (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 9)

Mid April - 26th
09. ปีศาจฆาตกร (Talent 1 คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 31)

September 28 - October 11
10. บทเพลงปีศาจ (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 3)


Showa era 23 (1948)
May 5th - 9th
11. อย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน (Bliss คินดะอิจิยอดนักสืบ เล่มที่ 8)
Mid May - early September

ซึ่งเล่ม 5 และเล่ม 3 เราเคยอ่านแล้วเมื่อ 4-5 ปีที่แล้ว ก็เลยข้ามไป ส่วนตอนที่เหลือจะเป็นตอนคดีสั้นๆ จนมาถึงคดีลำดับที่ 11
นั่นก็คือตอน อย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน เลยเป็นที่มาที่ว่า นี่เป็นตอนขนาดยาวตอนแรกในรอบ 4 ปี



ทุกๆอย่างในเล่มนี้เราชอบหมดเลย และจุดพลิกของเรื่องก็ทำได้น่าประทับใจ ซึ่งบอกตามตรงว่าเดาไปถึงจุดนั้นไม่ได้เลย
ตอนนี้ก็เข้าใจแล้วว่าทำไมคนอ่านถึงชอบตอนที่เป็นเรื่องยาวมากกว่าเรื่องสั้น เพรามันมีพื้้นที่ให้เล่น และ หลอกคนอ่านนั่นเอง

พวกตอนสั้นๆก่อนหน้านี้ ก็ต้องบอกเลยว่าอ่านจบแล้วก็จบเลย ไม่ได้มีอะไรให้จดจำ

แต่จุดที่ใครหลายๆคนติในเรื่องนี้ก็คือ ความบังเอิญหลายๆอย่างๆ แต่สำหรับตัวเรากลับมองว่ามันคือความตั้งใจของคนเขียน
ที่ต้องการให้มันดูไม่เป็นธรรมชาติ แสดงถึงความบิดเบี้ยว และความเหนือจริง
คือมันไม่ปกติตั้งแต่ที่มีตัวละครหลังค่อม 2 คนทีหน้ารุปร่างหน้าตาคล้ายกัน หรือมีตัวลครที่เป็นโรคนอนละเม�� เดินไปเดินมาตอนกลางคืน คือมันมีหลายๆสิ่งที่ไม่น่าจะมารวมกันได้ขนาดนี้ แต่มันก็มาอยู่ในเรื่องนี้เรื่องเดียว คิดว่าคนอ่านคว��จะเอะใจตั้งแต่ได้อ่านแล้ว

ส่วนที่ชอบอีกหนึ่งอย่างคือ
บทก่อนที่จะถึงบทสรุป ในหน้าสุดท้ายของบทนั้นที่ตัวละครตัวนั้นกำลังไตร่ตรองและบอกเราว่าเค้ารู้ตัวคนร้ายแล้วว่าเป็นใคร
ซึ่งในหน้านี้ก็ทำเอาเราอึ้งแล้ว แต่บทถัดไป มันกลับพลิกไปอีกแบบนึง ทำเอาเราต้องอุทานคำหยาบถึง 2 ครั้งเลย555
ถือว่าคนเขียนฉลาดมาก

ยกให้เป็นอีก 1 ตอนที่เราชอบมากๆ

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Yokomizo is a master of the classics, and this is no exception. None are to be trusted, and even those closest to our narrator could be hiding secrets.

As an outsider, Yashiro gives his impressions of the Furugami house cast freely. At the side of his long time friend, Naoki, he’s drawn in immediately to the overbearing and overwhelming energy of the Furugami estate. His telling of the events is tense and fast paced as murder after murder plague the group, even as Kosuke Kindaichi appears. This may be the only down side of the book, as Kindaichi adds so much fun to some of the more tragic stories, and he was only mildly in this one. Overall, it felt like I knew where this was going, bounced around a few “it has to be them” and even skimmed across the truth at times, but ultimately found this inclusion into the series to be a thrill!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Book Night Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great reading experience for me!

I have read very few Japanese works and I'm always doubtful whether the translation will be good. But after reading this story, I can't help but say the translation was so good that I didn't even feel like I was reading a story set in a different language and culture!

The story's mystery element worked really well. For one thing, the setting with few mysterious characters brought in a suspenseful setting. Along with that, the narration of Torata, who was as much an outsider, as a reader was capable of showing the characters and the events in an objective manner.

What was so striking of this story was that I couldn't even guess who the killer was nor find the clue. Everything was carefully concealed from the readers, giving the story and its ending a memorable experience.

One thing I expected was for Kindaichi to appear from the beginning itself. But his appearance came only by the end and that too was a passive person. Even then, the work of the detective was supplemented by Torata who did the narration and found clues in the first half of the story.

Overall, it was a great book. I'm happy to have found a great author whose books have a touch of mystery and classic. And now, my goal is to read more of Seishi Yokomizo's works!

[Reader Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

สนุกดี รู้สึกเล่มนี้มีความเป็นละครน้อยกว่าเล่มอื่นๆ ทำให้ถูกใจผมมากกว่า มีการใส่อารมณ์ในแง่ลบไปกับตัวละครค่อนข้างเยอะ(แต่ก็ไม่ได้แปลกใจอะไร) ชอบวิธีการเขียนให้ตัวละครในเรื่องดูประหลาด ดูน่าสงสัยไปหมด รู้สึกไว้ใจใครไม่ได้ทั้งเรื่อง

เล่มเล็กอ่านง่ายดี ไม่มีช่วงเบื่อเลย เพราะถูกหนังสือชวนให้สงสัย ให้คิด หรือไม่ก็มีอารมณ์ร่วมกับตัวละครตลอด

ไม่ได้รู้สึกดีกับตอนจบ แต่ยอมรับว่าหักมุมแบบเกินคาดเลย ไม่คิดว่าจะเล่นมุกนี้

[Thiraphat Bunsitthimeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

ดีมาก หักมุมสุดๆๆ

[osa · Rating 3 out of 5]

เล่าเรื่องดี บรรยายเก่ง มีความซับซ้อน ปมเยอะแต่เอาอยู่

เรื่องย่อ: 'ข้ามาถึงโตเกียวแล้ว อีกไม่นานจะไปพบเจ้า ...เจ้าจงอย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน' จดหมายประหลาดถูกส่งมาถึงยาชิโยะ ลูกสาวคนเดียวแห่งตระกูลฟุรุงามิผู้มั่งคั่ง พร้อมกับรูปถ่ายไร้หัวของชายลึกลับ หญิงสาวหวาดผวากับจดหมายพิศดาร หวั่นใจว่าชายใดรอบกายเธอจะเป็นคนผู้นั้น แต่ระหว่างนั้นเองฆาตกรรมแสนสยดสยองได้เปิดฉากขึ้น ฆาตกรหั่นคอศพ...ศพแล้วศพเล่า...

คินดะอิจิ โคสุเกะ เป็นชื่อซีรี่ย์ที่ได้เห็นผ่านตาค่อนข้างบ่อย คนที่ชอบ mystery & thriller ฝั่งญี่ปุ่นมักแนะนำอยู่เสมอ ซึ่งเราเลือก 'อย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน' เป็นเรื่องแรกในการประเดิมให้ได้รู้จักกับฝีไม้ลายมือของ โยโคมิโซะ เซชิ

ตามปกติไม่ค่อยชอบแนวบรรยายอะไรเยอะ เพราะส่วนใหญ่ที่เจอมักเอาไม่อยู่ กว่าจะวกกลับมาประเด็นหลักได้ใช้เวลานานทีเดียว แต่เรื่องนี้ทำได้ดี ทั้งการวางความสัมพันธ์ของแต่ละคน บรรยายสิ่งต่างๆจนเห็นภาพ มีความซับซ้อนในโครงเรื่องแต่เขียนออกมาให้เข้าใจ สื่อสารออกมาได้ดี ไม่ทำให้ซับซ้อนหรือยุ่งเหยิงเข้าไปอีก มีคำตอบให้กับทุกคำถามที่สงสัย ไม่มีรอยรั่วให้ขัดใจ โดยรวมเป็นสองร้อยหน้าที่รู้สึกว่ากำลังดี

สำบัดสำนวนมีความสมัยก่อน ก็อย่างว่าตีพิมพ์ตั้งแต่ 1973 ถึงอย่างนั้นก็มีบางประโยคที่เรียบง่ายแต่ทำให้ฉุกคิดอะไรบางอย่าง เช่น

• "ยิ่งอ่อนแอยิ่งต้องมีภาพลักษณ์น่าเกรงขาม"
• "ความขัดแย้งกันในตัวเองบางครั้งก็เป็นความน่าหลงใหล"
• "คนรุ่นราวคราวเดียวกับเราล้วนถูกทอดเขี้ยวเล็บด้วยสิ่งที่เรียกว่า วัฒนธรรม"

ทุกคนในเรื่องไว้ใจไม่ได้ มีแรงจูงใจพร้อมกับพฤติกรรมแปลกๆกันทุกคน แต่ก็ไม่สามารถเดาได้ว่าใครคือคนร้ายที่แท้จริง ช่วงหลังโดน plot แนวนี้หลอกติดต่อกันมา 2 เล่ม ทั้ง คดีฆาตกรรมปริศนากับนกฟลามิงโก และ รูมเมต เหมือนไม่ยอมเข็ดซักที ขนาดคิดกลับไปกลับมา ไม่เชื่อใจใครสักคน พอใกล้จุดเฉลยก็เคาะคำตอบในหัวแล้ว สรุปโดนพลิกอีกรอบตามเคย

เป็นการประเดิมเรื่องแรกที่ดี เพราะทำให้อยากติดตามผลงานเรื่องอื่นๆ ต่อไป

[Tiffany Schulz · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
This is a new genre for me, and there is some cultural references that I did not understand and probably would have helped me to understand more about the families presented in this story.
It took me about 100 pages to become invested in the intensity of the suspense and murder mystery. There is a LOT of back stories of the two families, so much so I got overwhelmed. But once we started on the path of sleepwalking and beheading I was all in!
The author gives us a slow burn, explaining the landscape with eerie shadows, much like if you were there and could feel someone’s eyes on you.
Again, there were many references I missed, but the translation is eloquent and language almost poetic, with great care to grow the story at a pace I found maddening until then suddenly we were running at full speed.
A great whodunnit with a Japanese backdrop, with swords and beheadings and detective work

[เด็กแว่น · Rating 5 out of 5]

เล่มนี้หักมุมมาก พีคมาก เหมือนกำลังโดนหนังสือในเล่มหลอก อารม์ประมาณว่า อย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน ก็หมายถึง ฉันเตือนคุณแล้วนะเลยอ่ะครับ 55555

..........

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have marked this as a spoiler heavy review not because there are really any, however, I feel if you have read the Kindaichi novels to this point what little information I have given here will clue any reader familiar with Yokomizo's work to the identity of the culprit almost immediately. With this one I truly believe that the best part was how absolutely confusing the story was in terms of knowing who the killer was and yet not being able to prove it. I have used they/them when referring to the actual killer in order to hopefully maintain that confusion.

One afternoon Yashiro Totara's "friend" Naoki comes to him with a strange story regarding the woman he's in love with. A few months ago, a man by the name of Hachiya, who has the distinct feature of being a hunchback, was shot in the thigh at a cabaret club in Tokyo by a woman that not even the victim recognized. Naoki, however, immediately suspects Yachiyo, his crush, of the shooting due to a series of letters she received from a hunchback man stating in a menacing way that he would be coming to claim her. Not only that when Naoki finally confront Hachiya, she admits to this shooting but oddly enough she is now engaged to be married to the very man she shot and he is staying with her at his family's estate. To complicate matters even further her very own brother, Morie, who also happens to be a hunchback is there too and seems to have incestuous designs on his sister! Naoki is terrified that something awful will happen and so he enlists Totara to stay with him at the estate and hopefully unravel the tangled web Yachiyo seems to have weaved.

This was absolutely brilliantly done and while it does take the same theme of obscuring a victim's identity as we saw in the Black Cat Cafe, it takes it to an extreme. Like many of Yokomizo books it isn't so much that you don't know who the murderer is it's that it makes no logical sense that the murderer is who you think it is. There is simply no way for them to pull off the murder, in this book especially. Your suspicions make absolutely zero sense, so you just toss them out the window and hope that Kindaichi arrives on the scene to reveal the killer before someone else dies.

What I really loved about this one is that the messed-up family is actually not at the center of this story. Oh, they are profoundly messed up, you have a retainer family, that of Naoki and his father who have basically taken over the main family, that of Yachiyo and Morie to the point that no one really knows how anyone is related. There is distinct possibility that Naoki's dad is actually the father to Naoki, Yachiyo, and Morie so literally this Hayachi character is the only one who isn't crushing on his half-sister. Here's the thing though Morie I could definitely see trying to consummate this, Naoki not so much and I think he'd actually interfere if Morie tried to simply because hey sleeping with your sister is freaking wrong. So while this is definitely one Yokomizo's trademark dysfunctional families, it never feels like that has anything to do with it. Oh sure they all dislike each other greatly but it just feels like if they were going to have started killing each other off they would have done it a long time ago. It's the only thing that makes any sense though! And it is it truly, truly is kind of. Because per usual there are some clues that don't give us the answer you need to correctly identify the killer but do give you enough information to say "Hey, yeah there's something else going on here." Which I really, really loved.

Now, because of all of the above, everything that happens that looks like a twist or a turn or some huge revelation in the case is actually not at all and omigoodness that was absolutely genius. Every time no evidence came, or some new character arrived on the scene I was like "Okay now we are getting somewhere!" but literally none of it mattered. To be able to do that and make it completely believable until the very end is an absolute work of genius.

I also will say one thing about the actual killer; they were probably always going to do something like this. When they are giving their evil villain/ness monologue (which is like two chapters long which trust me is fine because Kindaichi calls them on their bs as I am right now) it doesn't feel right. It's quite frankly not selfish enough and by this point we know they lied to us at least once so it's hard to buy their "it was for me, but it was really for this other person" monologue. It's when they go into their second monologue in the last chapter that we get the idea that there was probably always just something wrong with this person and the war didn't help. Like when they are talking about their relationships with all of the characters it was like they weren't even trying very hard to convince anyone that they truly had a passionate hatred towards them. It just feels impossible for them to actually have any sort of large emotions like that, plus by this point we've had three chapters where they have admitted to lying so it's pretty difficult to believe anything they had to say. I think Kindaichi felt the same way too.

Of course, I recommend this book! I recommend all of Kindaichi's books, but this one was special, I think. As I mentioned earlier Yokomizo really expands on this idea of obscuring a victim's identity that he explored in the Black Cat Cafe on a scope that feels way too large for it to actually work but work it does. He also uses his trademark dysfunctional family plot against the reader which is absolutely brilliant. I don't think I have come across many writers who would choose to use a hallmark of their writing as a way to mislead their readers and for that alone I would recommend this!

[BookishDramas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.

I read this book from NetGalley as an advanced review copy. This review is based on my reading this book and is my honest feedback about it.

There is something deeply comforting about entering a classic Japanese mystery knowing full well that everyone is suspicious, every family has enough secrets to destabilise entire nations and somewhere in the middle of all that glorious dysfunction, a murder is waiting to happen.

As someone who has an undeniable weakness for locked room mysteries, impossible crimes, atmospheric manor houses and detectives who look entirely incapable of solving anything until they quietly dismantle everyone’s assumptions, She Walks at Night should have been a guaranteed five star read for me.

And for a while, I genuinely thought it might be.

Seishi Yokomizo does atmosphere so ridiculously well. The Furugami estate is not merely a setting. It is a mood, a warning and quite possibly an accomplice. There is an immediate sense of unease woven through the narrative, the kind that makes even ordinary conversations feel vaguely threatening. Add in sleepwalking, old family resentments, emotional instability, inherited bitterness and a murder involving a samurai sword and honestly, how was I not going to be entertained?

Kosuke Kindaichi remains one of my favourite kinds of detectives because he never arrives with theatrical brilliance or polished grandeur. He appears almost deceptively unremarkable, slightly chaotic even and then proceeds to notice everything. I adore detectives like that.

What worked beautifully for me was the gothic atmosphere. Seishi captures that delicious old school mystery energy where the house feels heavy with memory, where family members seem permanently on the verge of confession or collapse and where everyone appears to be hiding something equally dramatic. This is very much my kind of literary chaos.

But even with that, this was not quite the knockout I had hoped for.

The opening absolutely hooks you. The premise is deliciously strange and promises the kind of intricately layered mystery I love. But somewhere in the middle, the story loses some of its sharpness. There is a lot happening emotionally, a lot of family melodrama, shifting tensions, revelations and interpersonal turbulence, but not all of it serves the mystery with equal effectiveness.

I enjoy drama in detective fiction. In fact, I actively welcome it.

But here, it occasionally tipped from compelling gothic tension into prolonged emotional excess that slowed the investigative momentum. I found myself wanting the puzzle to tighten just a little more. And while this absolutely contains mystery elements I enjoy, it is less of a pure locked room or impossible crime puzzle than I had instinctively hoped for. Readers looking for a meticulous fair play brain teaser may find this leans much more heavily into family secrets and gothic intrigue.

The final reveal is satisfying, certainly. Clever enough to appreciate, dramatic enough to suit the story but it did not quite deliver enough for me. Still, even a slightly uneven Seishi remains immensely readable and looms heads over heels in this style of books.

If you love classic Japanese mysteries, gloriously dysfunctional families, sinister estates, gothic unease and detectives who quietly untangle emotional and criminal chaos with understated brilliance, this is absolutely worth picking up.

This may not be my most favourite book in this style of mystery but undeniably atmospheric, wonderfully strange and consistently entertaining.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a glutton for punishment (and someone who clicks through to request titles from certain publishers, forgetting I'd sworn off some of their authors), this is me trying once again with this frustrating J-murder writer (or whatever the genre might be called). This originally was the third in a whopping 77 books to feature the same detective lead, but much later in the cycle there was still a poorly written naivety about the books, that frustrated partly because their premise was always fine, yet not allowed to provide anything equally as good.

Here the scenario is quite a convoluted, and probably for the time almost scandalous, affair. A posh household with an in-breeding habit and rickets that causes hunchbacks is the host. Our narrator is a friend of a bloke whose place on the family tree is half with that family and half with that of their wilier retainers, who have been getting closer to power over the recent generations. The daughter of the household is destined, allegedly, to marry one of the hunchbacks – either someone who is actually her brother, or someone who is technically her brother, in that the man called her father begat her by a prior wife. What is intended to be simmering sexual frisson, mirrored by the possibly ill restraint of her mother, is added to by an allegedly cursed sword, sleep-walking, and the sheer bonkersness of a lot of it, before being removed from the page by the first murder.

That bonkersness does include some scientific details that concern genetics and haven't exactly aged well, but we have to forgive the author that. It's not the only issue, either, for this is a bit of a rum do, once more – the really weird set-up played straight, the way some clues are patently obvious but for reasons unknown, etc. While you often turn to such books happy to think one thing only to have the rug pulled from under your eyes, here I found no delights in that, for things seemed at times clever, at others quite ungainly.

In the end, for all the times I thought this was not going to work, I think it does – just about. The weather is its own character yet again with this author, but this isn't one of his over-written efforts. It's just that I think it breaks the rules of the classic mystery – I don't think it does allow you to guess the full solution, although it remains distinctive while doing what it does. So this is both a book with a memorable scenario, as the bulk of his are, and with a satisfying ending for a change – it's just that while both of those deserve their place in a four-star read, this wasn't one. The middle section, almost bad enough to make me fear giving another low grade, keeps this at three and a half. Which is on the whole enough to make this one of this author's more notable novels.

[Tom Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Walks At Night is a murder mystery novel by renowned Japanese mystery author Seishi Yokomizo. First published in Japan in 1973, it is now available in an English translation for the first time. This a really twisty mystery that will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

The story revolves around the wealthy Furugami family. The son, Naoki, is telling his detective novelist friend Torada about his sister Yachiro's impending engagement. Normally this would not be a big deal except that some weeks prior Yachiro had shot her soon to be fiancee in the leg. Naoki also worries because Yachiro sleep walks and is prone to all kinds of strange things. Naoki encourages Torada to come home with him to witness events for himself. However, a brutal murder occurs before Naoki and Torada get a chance to get at the truth. In the end, it's up to the brilliant private detective Kosuke Kindachi to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

There is a lot of misdirection thought the book. Often, a clue is revealed (such as Yachiro shooting her fiancee) but not fully explained until.the final solution is revealed. There are many thins in this book that are included either to confuse the reader or divert attention away from what is really important. It is incumbent upon the reader to pay close attention to all the information presented in order to have a chance at solving the puzzle.

There are a couple things that some readers might find disturbing or offensive. First, there's the issue of language. It's not uncommon when reading a book published several decades ago to come across language that may have been acceptable at the time of publication that is no longer acceptable. Two of the characters have kyphosis which is an exaggerated, forward rounding of the upper back. The word used to describe them would be considered a pejorative and some readers might consider it ableist. Though the word is really used as shorthand to describe the characters' conditions, its repeated use through the text could make some readers uncomfortable.

The other concern would be the murders themselves. They are particularly grisly and are described in detail. The violence is not necessarily gratuitous. The murders are carried out in a specific manner in order to foster confusion.

These concerns aside, this is an extremely well written novel. I was completely caught off guard by the multiple twists that occurred in the closing pages as the solution was revealed. Yokomizo was nicknamed "Japan's John Dickson Carr" and based on this book, I would say that nickname was well-deserved.

Special Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for allowing me to preview thisb book.

[TheNovelNomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something quietly audacious about how this novel commits—fully, unapologetically—to the traditions of classic detective fiction while still finding room to play within them. It leans into the hallmarks of golden-age mystery—eccentric families, buried secrets, grotesque imagery—and then sharpens them into something more layered, more psychologically pointed.

What stands out most is the construction. This isn’t just a puzzle-box mystery; it’s a carefully staged unraveling. Clues are layered with intention, misdirection feels deliberate rather than gimmicky, and the narrative perspective adds an interesting degree of distance that changes how you engage with the investigation. The decision to keep the detective slightly off-center for much of the story is particularly effective—it shifts the focus onto the atmosphere and the characters, allowing tension to build in a more insidious, slow-burn way.

And that atmosphere—oppressive, theatrical, almost claustrophobic—is where the novel really thrives. The estate doesn’t just function as a setting; it becomes an extension of the family itself: insular, decaying, and steeped in unease. Every interaction feels loaded, every character just slightly off-balance, creating a sense that something is always about to fracture.

Characterization is handled with a light but confident touch. Rather than over-explaining, the narrative allows personalities to emerge through repetition, tone, and implication. It’s subtle, but effective—you don’t just understand these characters, you feel the tension they carry.

If there’s any friction, it’s in how densely the story is packed. The sheer number of moving parts—motifs, secrets, relationships—can feel overwhelming at times, and not every thread lands with equal weight. But even that excess feels intentional, almost part of the genre homage: a mystery that dares you to keep up.

Ultimately, what makes this work is its confidence. It trusts the reader to sit with complexity, to question what they’re seeing, and to appreciate the slow assembly of its final reveal. It doesn’t rush, and it doesn’t simplify—and that restraint is exactly what gives it its staying power.

A richly atmospheric, intricately constructed mystery that understands the genre deeply—and then has the nerve to bend it just enough to keep it interesting.

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Publisher Says: FROM JAPAN’S GREATEST CRIME WRITER: Yokomizo’s iconic detective Kosuke Kindaichi returns in this stand-alone murder mystery featuring a luxurious family estate beset by madness, scandal, and a terrifying curse

"Plenty of golden age ingredients... with a truly ingenious solution." — The Guardian, Best New Crime Fiction

In this mind-bending new addition to Seishi Yokomizo’s bestselling Kosuke Kindaichi Mysteries—translated into English for the first time—scruffy sleuth Kindaichi is called to the home of the aristocratic Furugami family, where in the midst of the Musashino countryside and enclosed on all sides by a long earthen wall, a gruesome scandal is brewing.

At the centre of the estate is the family patriarch: the drunken, sword-wielding father Tetsunoshin. His mistress, the icy, alluring Lady Oryu, is also housed in the estate along with their illegitimate daughter Yachiyo —beautiful and unstable—and the drink-ravaged Furugami heir, Naoki Sengoku. With each family member holding onto their own dark secrets, tensions between them ride high.

But this family feud turns bloody when the mutilated, headless body of Yachiyo’s fiancé is discovered in the Furugami estate. To solve the case, Kindaichi will need to pick apart the threads of the family’s carefully-woven story. But can he find the killer before the family is torn apart by its own secrets?

Perfect for fans of Knives Out and Lucy Foley, this thrilling mystery from Japan’s greatest and best-loved crime writer is rife with family drama and shocking twists that will captivate readers old and new.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Third, in internal chronology, in the Kindaichi series; the publisher says, now, these are able to be read as stand-alones. I know y'all need to sell books but do stop lying to us.

Don't read this entry in the series first. I can't give you an eager recommendation to read the interestingly-constructed puzzle because I'm completely skeeved out by the not very hidden incestuous lust of the men in the story.

Pushkin Vertigo publishes this book on 2 June 2026. Preorder for $14.99 for an ebook.

[star · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

She Walks at Night is a murder mystery novel set in postwar Japan, chronicling the bizarre family happenings of the Furugami family as written in the point of view of mystery writer Torata Yashiro. Yashiro is brought to the Furagami estate by his friend and benefactor, Naoki Sengoku, whose father Tetsunoshin has become the de facto patriarch of the Furagami family through his affair with the second wife Lady Oryu. Lady Oryu's daughter, Yachiyo Furagami, is embroiled in a complicated affair with famous painter Koichi Hachiya, who bears a resemblance to Yachiyo's brother Morie Furugami, both men being hunchbacks.

I found this book to be an interesting read. I'm quite fond of whodunnits, though apart from the cases of Sherlock Holmes, much of what I've read and watched in the genre are more modern. This book is gripping, and the writing easily painted a scene in my head all throughout. It reminded me of old detective movies. There is also a sense of unease in the killer's killing method and his mentions of desensitization to violence due to his experience in the war, considering the crimes against humanity Japan committed during that time.

Though a part of the Kosuke Kindaichi series, the detective doesn't show up until much later in the story than one would think. He is first seen at the midway point of the book, though he doesn't start investigating until almost 70% in. From what little deducing we see from him, he does seem to be a very accomplished detective, but we see so little of him to gain true insight into his skills or personality.

Though I liked most of the book, it starts to fall flat in the last chapter. The big reveal is lacklustre, and it left me feeling more 'Oh. Okay.' than astounded or intrigued. Also, I thought the portrayal of the women characters in the book was ignorant at best and violent at worst. The same can be said of the depiction of physical disability in the book. Of course, these can be attributed to the era it was written in (anywhere from 1948-1950, depending on which language of Wikipedia you look at). Overall an okay book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin for the ARC.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow did I get sucked into this book hard and fast.
It felt somewhat clunky to start with, however improved greatly very quickly.
The pace was rather good with ebbing and flowing between average too fast p.aced. However it never stops throwing curve balls at you.
The pov is first person with a few times the main character who is writing the book, will talk to or directly at the reader including saying dear reader. Personally I found it rather interesting and as it does not happen a lot and only to further the plot or to add something important. It doesn't interrupt or take away from the story flow of the story or plot.
The world building is not large but it does not need to be as we don't go to many places. However where the story does go, is well developed, written descriptive and visually impactful. The descriptions of the historical building are that good, with basic knowledge of the style and time period one can visualise them easily.
Overall the translation was fantastic Everything felt as if it was not translated at all.
The plot was good and not early predictable with a good twist at the end.
No one in this book is loveable or hateable. You just understand who they are and why they are the way they are and why they do and act the way they do.
Is this story believable? I personally don't know some point yes others no however time frame and culture make a large impact.
I very much enjoyed the plot and the overall story' the writing style was good and I personally felt it helped to make the story as enjoyable as I found it.
I'm not normally a mystery thriller reader, more a horror girly but found this rather enjoyable and at times found myself laughing at some points, like the old man chasing a hunchback around a large pond with a samurai sword yelling and screaming at him, whist the old man's wife and daughter watch on in disbelief. the small details like that really make the book enjoyable.
thank you to the publisher and author for letting me read this book as an ARC. I really appreciate it and enjoyed this book.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our narrator, third-rate detective novelist Torata Yashiro, explains it quite eloquently when being interviewed by Tokyo police Inspector Sawada: “Well, you might think I’m letting my writerly imagination get the better of me — that I’m complicating things for no reason, the way writers usually do.”

Yes, that’s it exactly: That’s what’s wrong with this novel, the way it is needlessly complicated. The dysfunctional Furugami family, now controlled by the late Furugami patriarch’s estate manager, is a hotbed of resentments, most of them revolving around beautiful, spoiled, mercurial Yachiyo Furugami. She’s ostensibly the late Viscount Oribe Furugami’s daughter by his second wife; however, it’s an open secret that the manager Tetsunoshin Sengoku is her real father. Her hunchback older half-brother Morie, Tetsunoshin’s legitimate son Naoki; Koichi Hachiya, an extremely popular avant-garde painter who is also a hunchback; and even Yashiro all have a thing for Yachiyo Ffurugami to varying degrees. And did I mention that the author scripts the murder as over the top, too? Of course he did. And that several of the characters sleepwalk? Of course they do.

See what I mean about needlessly complicated? When your set-up is too much for a daytime soap opera or The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, it’s much too complicated and turns what could have been a twisty, suspenseful mystery into a two-star novel. She Walks at Night by hit-or-miss author Seishi Yokomizo isn’t a bad novel, but it could have been much better, probably one of his hits. And, as with the last Yokomizo novel I read, Murder at the Black Cat Café, scruffy detective Kosuke Kindaichi (sometimes written as Kindaichi Kōsuke) shows up late in the game. Would it have been better if Kindaichi had shown up before the half-way mark? Maybe, but with such needless complications, I don’t believe an earlier appearance would have been enough.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Steerforth & Pushkin, and Pushkin Vertigo in exchange for an honest review.

[Sanchary Ghosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me about three days to finish She Walks at Night. I’m fairly sure I’ve read Yokomizo before because Detective Kindaichi felt familiar.

The book is set in post-war Japan, probably the 1960s, since telegrams are still a primary mode of communication. Structurally, this was a bit of a strange reading experience. For more than half the book, things just… happen around the murder, and it’s only in the last 30% or so that Kindaichi shows up and solves everything. Even the narrator is not connected to the detective, just a friend of the family where all of this is unfolding.

The plot itself is quite chaotic. There’s a rich, somewhat aristocratic family with an erratic daughter, a troubled son, and a retainer who has effectively taken over after the original head and his heir die. There are strong hints of an affair between the retainer and the second wife, and possible questions of parentage. One of the central characters, who is friends with the narrator, receives threats and goes back to the family estate, taking the narrator along. Then the murders begin—gruesome, strange, and increasingly confusing. At one point, it looks like the daughter is responsible, but things keep getting weirder until Kindaichi steps in.

The writing style didn’t fully work for me. It’s simple and fast-paced, but also oddly dramatic. After reading more contemporary Japanese fiction, this felt quite dated in tone. The structure is also a bit uneven.

There’s also a noticeable double standard in how some characters are treated, especially the women, and the narrative doesn’t really question it.

The ending left me with a very strong “what just happened” feeling. It’s not particularly satisfying, mainly because the resolution depends on something the reader has no real way of figuring out. It feels like the answer comes out of nowhere unless you’re already familiar with this kind of story.

That said, I did find it quite readable in a strange way. It has the feel of a slightly trashy but engaging mystery, and I can see myself picking up more of his books.

[aria ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

── 3.5✦

(thank you steerforth & pushkin through netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review)

There’s some perverse entertainment derived from reading/watching a series of murders happen in one family. The visual of sprawling mansions and affluent estates being the backdrop to gruesome deaths of the rich in society. Movies like Knives Out and Ready or Not are popular for this reason and I admit, such stories tend to be my favourite as well.

The Furugami family, that retains the prestige they had from Japan’s Edo period, shall be the family in this case. Yachiyo Furugami, the daughter, has been on the receiving end of cryptic messages. Uncertain whether they are a warning or a threat, she confides in her half-brother Naoki, who in turns seeks the help of his mystery novelist friend Torata—who is our narrator.

When Torata arrives at the beautiful Estate, he is taken by surprise by the residents living there: a sword-wielding somnambulist, his wife—the former Patriarch's wife, the deceased Patriarch's half-brother, the Furugami heir—victim to the family’s cursed bloodline, beautiful Yachiyo and Koichi Hachiya—a painter who months prior was shot at by a complete stranger. A unique set of people but all at odds with each other.

There is tension caused by petty feuds, jealousy, hatred, incestous love (yikes), and it all comes to head when a body is found decapitated with a centuries-old samurai sword. When the police are unable to solve this frankly weird case, Kosuke Kindaichi is called in to investigate.

Now, I don’t know if I’ve become accustomed to this author’s writing and was able to pick up the clues easier, if I’ve read too many mysteries and because of this was able to connect the dots faster or if the cast was just terrible at lying—because I solved this faster than I should have been able to. Still, this series remains my favourite Japanese mystery series and I can’t wait for the next one.

[h a i l e y · Rating 3 out of 5]

₊˚⊹♡ Thank you to NetGalley & Pushkin Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was dramatic and disturbing. I really enjoyed the weird family dynamic the author created; it helps accentuate how messy and layered this whole mystery is. She Walks at Night is the third installment in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series, and is the eighth in the series to be translated into English (According to Goodreads).

⟡ ݁₊ RECOMMENDATION: I would recommend this to anyone who loves Japanese crime literature, translated fiction, or mystery novels in general!

This novel follows Torato Yashiro, a below-average crime novelist and his friend Naoki Sengoku, the Furugami family heir. Naoki asks Torato to accompany him home to his aristocratic family's estate, where a murder will soon take place.. The investigation that follows will slowly unravel secrets from the Furugami family. This story unfolds through the writing of author Tarato, who may or may not be a reliable narrator.... If sleepwalking, sword-wielding drunk dads, hunchbacks, and headless corpses showing up sound interesting to you, you won't want to skip this one!

What really worked for me was the twists. I liked that I couldn't predict anything; I was surprised right up to the end. The last twist/ending shook me to my core.. As I said, I didn't predict it! I was able to sit and read this in only two sittings! I will say that the ending and the reasoning were ultimately quite sad, though. I wish our introduction to the famous Detective Kosuke Kindaichi wasn't so late in the story. I would have liked to see more of him and his thought process THROUGHOUT the story instead of just in the conclusion.

⟡ ݁₊ Some topics in this book may be upsetting to readers. I would encourage everyone to make sure they check for potential triggers before reading.

Release Date : June 2, 2026

[Zane Šturme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advance copy received from Netgalley

Big thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange of my honest review. Let me just say this right now- holy moly! This was my first Yokomizo’s crime novel and I gobbled it. When it comes to detective or crime genre, I am no stranger, but this one has definitely left its mark. And for a good reason.

The description by itself is not enough to determine whether the author will be capable of delivering thrilling and still poignant work. One needs to create a great setting for the inevitable drama and chaos to unfold bit by bit. And here is where I noticed how entertaining this novel was- not because of the synopsis(as engaging it might be, isn’t very unique and variations can be found in other author’s works, too) but how calculatingly Yokomizo introduces each character with their flaws as well as which timeline accompanies their demise. There’s a lot of "connecting the dots" while looking back but the true genius only comes in when the reader thinks and is utterly convinced, that they know who the murderer is. Think again!
It was a very thrilling read from the first pages. I was also surprised by the intricate and oftentimes witty dialogues that took the spotlight of the whole crime investigation.

As much as I enjoyed this book, some things miss the mark, such as not enough details that could lead towards the right villain(the plausible suspicions for a motive were way too vague and unnoticeable) and the inexplainable sudden death(don’t worry, I am not spoiling anything here) of one of the characters. The ending, as shocking as it turned out to be, still felt abrupt. I just wish, and that might only be my own preference, that the last few pages were explained a bit more thoroughly.

Other than that, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mystery, crime and detective novels, someone who likes unraveling puzzle pieces in their mind while following the plot details or a mood reader like me who might want to reach for a bit of dark or gothic "Kill Bill" inspired fiction that involves Japanese long sword.

[Ema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Seishi Yokomizo ages ago, and honestly I forgot how much his stories could pull me in until I picked up She Walks at Night. This one easily became a five star read for me. The whole crime of passion angle feels intense, unsettling and vivid. What really caught me off guard was how Torata Yashiro and Naoki Sengoku almost stole the spotlight from the legendary sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi!

The story is told through Torata Yashiro, a struggling novelist who gets invited by his friend Naoki Sengoku to stay at the Furugami estate. From the moment he arrives, something feels off. The atmosphere is thick with unease. At the estate, he meets several memorable characters including Morie Furugami, the young master, his half sister Yachiyo, and Koichi Hachiya, a famous artist. The fact that both Morie and Hachiya are hunchbacked adds to the strange and slightly disturbing vibe of the story.

Then the murders begin. One after another. At the center of it all is a sword locked away in a double secured safe, along with episodes of sleepwalking that blur the line between intention and unconscious action. Nothing really makes sense at first, and that’s what makes it so gripping. I was so caught up in the tension that part of me didn’t even want to know who the culprit was. It genuinely got under my skin.

The way the crime is carried out is complicated and honestly a bit crazy, but that’s what makes it so fascinating. Kindaichi does not just solve the mystery, he brings clarity to the chaos.

First published in Japan in 1973 and now set for release in English on June 2, this novel delivers a rich and haunting atmosphere. The sense of unease, the emotional intensity of the crime, and the complexity of the characters all come together beautifully. Thanks to @PushkinPress and @NetGalley for the review copy.

[liv ʚɞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

’After our long and brutal struggle, which of us emerged the victor?’

She Walks At Night is a Japanese murder-mystery following a series of unexplained deaths on the estate of the Furugami family, where eccentric detective Kosuke Kindaichi is called to find the killer.

After finishing Uketsu’s Strange Buildings earlier this month, I was very much looking for another Japanese-mystery to fill the hole left behind. She Walks At Night looked perfect, mostly because I am a massive Hercule Poirot fan and the idea of finding another beloved, strange, genius detective to root for was a very exciting prospect. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t hit the mark.

While it did capture my attention for the most part, and certainly had an intriguing premise, I felt that the characters were incredibly underwhelming. For such a small cast I was hoping to connect to at least some of those involved, but I found most either unlikeable (Naoki - although you are meant to dislike him, in the stories defence) or plain (Yashiro - the main character). What was even worse was that the titular detective Kindaichi was not introduced to the plot until the 70%-ish mark! This lead me to have zero interest in him as a person, or see the supposed genius of his character. This was such a bizarre move from the author.

Furthermore, the story, despite only being 250 pages, felt completely dragged out, even though I did enjoy the prose. I was also a little disappointed with the ending, partially because I guessed the ‘twist’ and who the killer was, and because it included a commonly-used mystery trope that I’m just quite bored with.

Overall, She Walks At Night gets 3/5 stars. I have read far worse murder-mystery’s, but I have also read far better.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3

[Bookworm Denz · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ARC REVIEW 📖]

She Walks At Night
Author : Seishi Yokomizo
Translator : Jesse Kirkwood

The story begins w/ Torata Yashiro, listening to the ramblings of drink-ravaged face Naoki Sengoku, as he tells of him of the bizarre incident that happened at Cabaret Hana on Ginza backstreet the year before about Koichi Hachiya, a hunchback artist who got himself shot by a young & beautiful mysterious woman whose identity even now remained a mystery. Naoki was convinced though that the woman was Yachiyo, (daughter of the deceased Viscount Oribe Furugami) wanted to marry Koichi Hachiya, & that everything is related to the hereditary curse of the Furugami family.

From Tetsunoshin's alcohol abuse, to Lady Oryu's sinister smile, to Yachiyo's sleepwalking, ending in an unknown hunchback's dead headless body (which could be Hachiya's or Morie's); all seemingly connected to the eerie Muramasa sword.

This was such a captivating classic mystery read from start to finish! I love the flow of the story as well as the characters' personalities, the suspense of not knowing what comes next, & the connection of the characters to the narrator. Imo it was challenging to determine who was trustworthy or not, since each of them were so good at hiding their true nature & motive, that it was impossible to pinpoint whodunnit (I hadn't figured out the killer nor the clues!). Of course I was expecting Kindaichi's appearance (smitten by this cool private detective from Murder at the Black Cat Cafe), & it did not disappoint!

Thank you Netgalley & Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read! 🥹🫶

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I had already enjoyed the first Kosuke Kindaichi mystery, so I was excited to pick this one up, and I think this one was even more exciting, engaging, and complex than the first one! I was guessing all the way up until the end about who the true culprit was, and the reveal was both satisfying and thrilling.

But let's get into the gist of the mystery itself, which opens up with a bit of a gothic thriller: a Japanese noble family with affairs, incestuous rumors, and humpbacks. Into this dark family walks Torata Yashiro, a struggling writer who is basically the dogsbody of the son of the caretaker of the family. As soon as he arrives, beheaded bodies start piling up, with sleepwalking, locked room mysteries, and mistaken identities to muddy the waters. It's a great translation that gives you the eerie creepy feeling around the house with the main daughter of the house half mad and sleepwalking, the lady of the house alternatively seductive and cold, the caretaker of the house prone to violence, and the murders that just keep happening.

It takes awhile for Kindaichi to show up, but it never feels slow because so much keeps happening in the novel all the while. Once he shows up though, the novel hurtles to its bloody conclusion and reveal. I did suspect Yashiro from the start, just because everything started happening when he showed up, but the reveal was still very, very good. I am taking off a star because his rape of Yachiyo making her obsessed with him and wanting to be with him is really gross to me, but it's also that era of writing, so that's just unfortunate.

Definitely pick this up, and I can't wait for more of the Kindaichi mysteries to be translated!