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Detective Kosuke Kindaichi #3
She Walks at Night
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26FROM 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.
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 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.
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 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.
Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1973
18 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Seishi Yokomizo
239 books851 followersSeishi 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 1, 2022
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
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
January 11, 2026
we’re so back
April 10, 2025
ให้คะแนนเพราะตอนเฉลยความจริงล้วนๆ นี่สินะความรู้สึกของคนที่โดนหลอก 55555555555
April 8, 2019
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 หรือมีตัวลครที่เป็นโรคนอนละเมอ เดินไปเดินมาตอนกลางคืน คือมันมีหลายๆสิ่งที่ไม่น่าจะมารวมกันได้ขนาดนี้ แต่มันก็มาอยู่ในเรื่องนี้เรื่องเดียว คิดว่าคนอ่านควรจะเอะใจตั้งแต่ได้อ่านแล้ว
ส่วนที่ชอบอีกหนึ่งอย่างคือ
บทก่อนที่จะถึงบทสรุป ในหน้าสุดท้ายของบทนั้นที่ตัวละครตัวนั้นกำลังไตร่ตรองและบอกเราว่าเค้ารู้ตัวคนร้ายแล้วว่าเป็นใคร
ซึ่งในหน้านี้ก็ทำเอาเราอึ้งแล้ว แต่บทถัดไป มันกลับพลิกไปอีกแบบนึง ทำเอาเราต้องอุทานคำหยาบถึง 2 ครั้งเลย555
ถือว่าคนเขียนฉลาดมาก
ยกให้เป็นอีก 1 ตอนที่เราชอบมากๆ
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 หรือมีตัวลครที่เป็นโรคนอนละเมอ เดินไปเดินมาตอนกลางคืน คือมันมีหลายๆสิ่งที่ไม่น่าจะมารวมกันได้ขนาดนี้ แต่มันก็มาอยู่ในเรื่องนี้เรื่องเดียว คิดว่าคนอ่านควรจะเอะใจตั้งแต่ได้อ่านแล้ว
ส่วนที่ชอบอีกหนึ่งอย่างคือ
บทก่อนที่จะถึงบทสรุป ในหน้าสุดท้ายของบทนั้นที่ตัวละครตัวนั้นกำลังไตร่ตรองและบอกเราว่าเค้ารู้ตัวคนร้ายแล้วว่าเป็นใคร
ซึ่งในหน้านี้ก็ทำเอาเราอึ้งแล้ว แต่บทถัดไป มันกลับพลิกไปอีกแบบนึง ทำเอาเราต้องอุทานคำหยาบถึง 2 ครั้งเลย555
ถือว่าคนเขียนฉลาดมาก
ยกให้เป็นอีก 1 ตอนที่เราชอบมากๆ
November 9, 2025
สนุกดี รู้สึกเล่มนี้มีความเป็นละครน้อยกว่าเล่มอื่นๆ ทำให้ถูกใจผมมากกว่า มีการใส่อารมณ์ในแง่ลบไปกับตัวละครค่อนข้างเยอะ(แต่ก็ไม่ได้แปลกใจอะไร) ชอบวิธีการเขียนให้ตัวละครในเรื่องดูประหลาด ดูน่าสงสัยไปหมด รู้สึกไว้ใจใครไม่ได้ทั้งเรื่อง
เล่มเล็กอ่านง่ายดี ไม่มีช่วงเบื่อเลย เพราะถูกหนังสือชวนให้สงสัย ให้คิด หรือไม่ก็มีอารมณ์ร่วมกับตัวละครตลอด
ไม่ได้รู้สึกดีกับตอนจบ แต่ยอมรับว่าหักมุมแบบเกินคาดเลย ไม่คิดว่าจะเล่นมุกนี้
เล่มเล็กอ่านง่ายดี ไม่มีช่วงเบื่อเลย เพราะถูกหนังสือชวนให้สงสัย ให้คิด หรือไม่ก็มีอารมณ์ร่วมกับตัวละครตลอด
ไม่ได้รู้สึกดีกับตอนจบ แต่ยอมรับว่าหักมุมแบบเกินคาดเลย ไม่คิดว่าจะเล่นมุกนี้
September 21, 2018
ดีมาก หักมุมสุดๆๆ
December 1, 2025
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
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
December 16, 2022
เล่มนี้หักมุมมาก พีคมาก เหมือนกำลังโดนหนังสือในเล่มหลอก อารม์ประมาณว่า อย่าออกมาเดินตอนกลางคืน ก็หมายถึง ฉันเตือนคุณแล้วนะเลยอ่ะครับ 55555
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
── 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.
(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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
₊˚⊹♡ 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
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
March 26, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
4.5 rounded up.
This was a whirlwind of a mystery that kept me gripped from start to finish. I couldn't put the book down once I got to the heart of the story. Even if you've never read the other six books, this one works perfectly as a standalone.
While the story has a slow start, the writing style is engaging and immersive. If you pay attention, you can piece together bits of the mystery yourself, which makes solving it even more satisfying. I also felt that the main characters were well written and well characterized. Some characters were a bit one-dimensional, but they weren't present enough to affect the story negatively. The writing does an excellent job of building suspense to the point that I sometimes felt myself holding my breath, waiting for the shoe to drop.
The ending throws you for a loop, then explains everything in classic mystery fashion, leaving you satisfied and answering most, if not all, of your questions. Even the minor complaints I had while reading (occasional overdramatic foreshadowing and moments that felt a bit too convenient) make sense and serve the plot once I considered them retroactively. This is a true fair-play mystery: you are given all the clues that Detective Kindaichi has, and you just have to think to solve it. It's just that some clues are obscure and hard to parse, but that’s part of what makes a mystery fun.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I plan to read the other books in the series. I think that anyone looking for a classic, immersive mystery with a touch of crime and horror would enjoy this book.
4.5 rounded up.
This was a whirlwind of a mystery that kept me gripped from start to finish. I couldn't put the book down once I got to the heart of the story. Even if you've never read the other six books, this one works perfectly as a standalone.
While the story has a slow start, the writing style is engaging and immersive. If you pay attention, you can piece together bits of the mystery yourself, which makes solving it even more satisfying. I also felt that the main characters were well written and well characterized. Some characters were a bit one-dimensional, but they weren't present enough to affect the story negatively. The writing does an excellent job of building suspense to the point that I sometimes felt myself holding my breath, waiting for the shoe to drop.
The ending throws you for a loop, then explains everything in classic mystery fashion, leaving you satisfied and answering most, if not all, of your questions. Even the minor complaints I had while reading (occasional overdramatic foreshadowing and moments that felt a bit too convenient) make sense and serve the plot once I considered them retroactively. This is a true fair-play mystery: you are given all the clues that Detective Kindaichi has, and you just have to think to solve it. It's just that some clues are obscure and hard to parse, but that’s part of what makes a mystery fun.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I plan to read the other books in the series. I think that anyone looking for a classic, immersive mystery with a touch of crime and horror would enjoy this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She Walks at Night by Seishi Yokomizo offers a distinctive and atmospheric entry into classic Japanese detective fiction. The novel presents a compelling mystery that draws the reader in with its unusual premise and steadily unfolding investigation.
While the overall structure of the story is somewhat straightforward in places, the narrative maintains a strong sense of intrigue as the clues gradually come together. I found myself forming suspicions about the identity of the killer fairly early on, though the journey toward the resolution remained engaging. The cast of characters is extensive—which at times made it a bit challenging to keep track of everyone—but the layered revelations surrounding the crime contribute to the novel’s distinctive tone.
One aspect I particularly wished for was more time spent from the perspective of the famed detective Kosuke Kindaichi. His presence in the story is compelling, and additional insight into his investigative process would have further enriched the narrative.
The English translation reads smoothly and captures the atmosphere of the original work well, making the story accessible to modern readers while preserving its classic feel. Overall, *She Walks at Night* is an intriguing and unique mystery that showcases Yokomizo’s talent for crafting memorable crime fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo (Steerforth & Pushkin) for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
A dysfunctional family, two hunchbacks who crave the same girl - a girl who sleepwalks among other eccentricities, a cursed sword and a murder with a headless corpse. As this bizarre case and cast of characters becomes more complicated, detective Kosuke Kindaichi will have to use his wits to solve it.
I've read and enjoyed several of the Kindaichi mysteries before, usually a complex locked rooms or other puzzles being at the heart. However, in this book I found most of the characters to be unlikable if not full on detestable, and the initial laying out of the plot to be rough and hard to get into. Eventually the crimes and the story become more interesting; however, when what really happened is finally explained in painful exposition, it really felt pretty hackneyed and derivative of another mystery novel famous for using a similar major plot device much better. And Kindaichi disappointingly was more of a deus ex machina figure, merely showing up towards the end to resolve things rather than being a central figure in the story. The complexity of the mystery itself was pretty good, but the rest of the book was disappointing.
A dysfunctional family, two hunchbacks who crave the same girl - a girl who sleepwalks among other eccentricities, a cursed sword and a murder with a headless corpse. As this bizarre case and cast of characters becomes more complicated, detective Kosuke Kindaichi will have to use his wits to solve it.
I've read and enjoyed several of the Kindaichi mysteries before, usually a complex locked rooms or other puzzles being at the heart. However, in this book I found most of the characters to be unlikable if not full on detestable, and the initial laying out of the plot to be rough and hard to get into. Eventually the crimes and the story become more interesting; however, when what really happened is finally explained in painful exposition, it really felt pretty hackneyed and derivative of another mystery novel famous for using a similar major plot device much better. And Kindaichi disappointingly was more of a deus ex machina figure, merely showing up towards the end to resolve things rather than being a central figure in the story. The complexity of the mystery itself was pretty good, but the rest of the book was disappointing.
February 19, 2023
ผมคิดว่าตอนที่อาจารย์แกเขียนคดีนี้คงสนุกมือมากแน่ แค่จินตนาการถึงความรู้สึกผู้อ่านหลังจากได้อ่านคดีนี้จบ คงสุขใจแกไม่น้อยเลย ถึงแม้ว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้จะถูกเขียนมาอย่างเนิ่นนานแล้ว แต่มันก็ยังคงทำหน้าที่ของมันได้อย่างยอดเยี่ยม โดยเฉพาะการใช้ประโยชน์จากมุมมองบุคคลที่หนึ่ง ที่ช่วยล่อหลอกผู้อ่านได้เป็นอย่างดี ทำให้คิดว่าเราต้องรู้แน่ๆกลายเป็นไม่รู้เสียได้
เรียกได้ว่าคนร้ายในคดีนี้วางแผนออกมาได้อย่างแยบยลและเลือดเย็นจริงๆ ถ้าคินดะอิจิไม่โผล่เข้ามาล่ะก็คงยากที่จะจับตัวคนร้ายได้ การคลี่คลายปมและคดีในตอนจบก็ทำออกมาโดยให้ความรู้สึกหลากอารมณ์ดี ส่วนหนึ่งคงเพราะตัวละครในเรื่องจริงๆแล้วก็แทบไม่มีใครที่เรียกได้ว่าเป็นคนดีจริงๆเลย ทุกคนต่างล้วนมีเหตุผลในการฆ่าทั้งนั้น เพียงมีแต่คนร้ายเท่านั้นที่ไม่สามารถปล่อยให้คนเหล่านั้นหลุดมือไปได้
ตลอดเรื่องก็มีหลายแว่บที่ผมแอบคิดว่าคนคนนั้นจะใช่คนร้ายหรือเปล่านะ แต่อาจาร์ยแกก็มีวิธีการในการเล่าที่ดีในแบบของแก ถึงแม้คุณจะคาดเดาคนร้ายได้ แต่ก็คงยากที่คุณจะคาดเดาแรงจูงใจของคนร้าย แถมมันก็เมคเซ้นส์มากเสียด้วยสิ
เรียกได้ว่าคนร้ายในคดีนี้วางแผนออกมาได้อย่างแยบยลและเลือดเย็นจริงๆ ถ้าคินดะอิจิไม่โผล่เข้ามาล่ะก็คงยากที่จะจับตัวคนร้ายได้ การคลี่คลายปมและคดีในตอนจบก็ทำออกมาโดยให้ความรู้สึกหลากอารมณ์ดี ส่วนหนึ่งคงเพราะตัวละครในเรื่องจริงๆแล้วก็แทบไม่มีใครที่เรียกได้ว่าเป็นคนดีจริงๆเลย ทุกคนต่างล้วนมีเหตุผลในการฆ่าทั้งนั้น เพียงมีแต่คนร้ายเท่านั้นที่ไม่สามารถปล่อยให้คนเหล่านั้นหลุดมือไปได้
ตลอดเรื่องก็มีหลายแว่บที่ผมแอบคิดว่าคนคนนั้นจะใช่คนร้ายหรือเปล่านะ แต่อาจาร์ยแกก็มีวิธีการในการเล่าที่ดีในแบบของแก ถึงแม้คุณจะคาดเดาคนร้ายได้ แต่ก็คงยากที่คุณจะคาดเดาแรงจูงใจของคนร้าย แถมมันก็เมคเซ้นส์มากเสียด้วยสิ
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This had everything one could ask for, and more. Creepy estate, sleepwalking, a cackling hunchback (I'm serious), a late-to-the-story detective, an author of detective thrillers, a centuries-old feud, beheadings, mayhem, unreliability in the telling of the tale, a drawing room full of suspects for the final reveal, and so much more.
Part of the "so much more" was 1) the droning on of the author's pen to capture far more detail than was necessary to the plot and/or red herrings, and 2) the agonizingly incessant explanation of the how and why of the crime that (one can presume) was ladled heavily onto the nearly codswallop reveal.
One could argue in favor of what might be considered an inspired ending, but I felt fairly betrayed by the author. The reveal of the murderer's identify felt like a cheap parlor trick. I'll round up from 2.5 stars to 3 because, if nothing else, I pushed through it to the very silly end.
Part of the "so much more" was 1) the droning on of the author's pen to capture far more detail than was necessary to the plot and/or red herrings, and 2) the agonizingly incessant explanation of the how and why of the crime that (one can presume) was ladled heavily onto the nearly codswallop reveal.
One could argue in favor of what might be considered an inspired ending, but I felt fairly betrayed by the author. The reveal of the murderer's identify felt like a cheap parlor trick. I'll round up from 2.5 stars to 3 because, if nothing else, I pushed through it to the very silly end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Steerforth & Pushkin, Pushkin Vertigo, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.
The Furugami family is filled with odd personalities. A drunken patriarch and his cold mistress, a beautiful yet unpredictable daughter, and two sons who may or may not be related to said beautiful daughter. A grizzly murder of the daughter's love interest sets a off a series of events that leads the father to call upon the brilliant private investigator Kosuke Kindaichi.
I devoured this novel! It's a classic Japanese detective murder mystery that'll keep you on your toes and then wrap everything up in a neat bow. The prose is very straight-to-the-point while leaving an air of mystery and tension. The characters are memorable and intriguing, but they're not very likable. If you're a fan of classic murder mysteries, this will definitely hit the spot! The original novel was published in 1948, and it was fascinating to read about how these characters navigated post-war Japan.
The Furugami family is filled with odd personalities. A drunken patriarch and his cold mistress, a beautiful yet unpredictable daughter, and two sons who may or may not be related to said beautiful daughter. A grizzly murder of the daughter's love interest sets a off a series of events that leads the father to call upon the brilliant private investigator Kosuke Kindaichi.
I devoured this novel! It's a classic Japanese detective murder mystery that'll keep you on your toes and then wrap everything up in a neat bow. The prose is very straight-to-the-point while leaving an air of mystery and tension. The characters are memorable and intriguing, but they're not very likable. If you're a fan of classic murder mysteries, this will definitely hit the spot! The original novel was published in 1948, and it was fascinating to read about how these characters navigated post-war Japan.
March 26, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an atmospheric and quietly unsettling mystery. Seishi Yokomizo crafts a story that feels both classic and eerie, with a slow-building tension that kept me intrigued the entire time. The setting and tone were especially strong—there’s a lingering sense of unease that follows you through each chapter.
The mystery itself is thoughtfully constructed, with layered clues and a steady unraveling that rewards patience. While the pacing occasionally felt a bit slow and I found myself wanting slightly more emotional depth from the characters, the overall experience was still incredibly engaging.
A beautifully moody, traditional-style mystery with a haunting edge—perfect for readers who enjoy a more subtle, atmospheric suspense.
This was such an atmospheric and quietly unsettling mystery. Seishi Yokomizo crafts a story that feels both classic and eerie, with a slow-building tension that kept me intrigued the entire time. The setting and tone were especially strong—there’s a lingering sense of unease that follows you through each chapter.
The mystery itself is thoughtfully constructed, with layered clues and a steady unraveling that rewards patience. While the pacing occasionally felt a bit slow and I found myself wanting slightly more emotional depth from the characters, the overall experience was still incredibly engaging.
A beautifully moody, traditional-style mystery with a haunting edge—perfect for readers who enjoy a more subtle, atmospheric suspense.
October 18, 2022
妳不得夜行。
自連續寄來的不詳預告信啟始，自稱三流偵探小說家的屋代寅太一步步走進古神家複雜又混亂的血脈與仇恨漩渦中心。
古神一族與仙石家，在幾代以來發展成為奇詭的共生關係，父輩與子代之間互相交纏著迷戀、慾望、仇恨，難以分割的感情亂局之外，寅太做為旁觀者，看著被追求者和預告信糾纏的豪門千金古神八千代、軟弱卻不甘於此的古神守衛、和古神家女主人有染的仙石當家、作風奇特顛狂的畫家蜂屋小市，以及他那多年相交但傲慢惡毒的朋友仙石直記等眾多人物，在愛恨與慾念交互作用下逐漸陷入瘋狂、血腥的混亂危境。
大宅中的斷頭屍體、古宅外瀑布下的無頭女屍，慘遭斬首後遺留的屍身，真的是眾人以為的受害者或是另有其人？
而這一切，是否都能往回溯及某個惡念或不可饒恕的罪行，如果是的話，又是誰、為了什麼做出這一切？
傳說中的名偵探金田一耕助，又在這之中扮演了什麼角色？
－以下提及謎底－
再次拿出經典名作的我，也再次覺得我這個月的本格額度好像是夠了XD
持平來說，我覺得這是一個即使在這麼多年之後，依然能夠從字裡行間感受到那份血腥妖光的作品（感覺上就是每隔一段時間就能夠在影視作品上被以當代方式重述的作品）。
雖然有著乍看繁複難解的謎題，但我得說，這其實在結構上是一個相當巧妙的敘述性詭計，謎題之所以看似難解，是因為讀者在感情上一開始就被敘述者牽著走。
直到偵探登場才開始小心翼翼透出其中不合理之處（但，線索的確一直都在那裡，作者沒有作弊）。讀完最後幾章，特別是在看見動機的安排時，即使那在現代看起來早已不是太過新鮮的謎……但，那些愛與恨的根源，不正是自古以來在人心一再反覆被講述的激烈感情嗎？
（當然某方面來說，發展到斬首實在也是太過激烈了一點XD）
讀完稍微感覺到了跨越時代的經典魅力，雖然因為很經典所以我也還是想起了我其實沒有特別本格（喂！），但還是很好看的很好看。
自連續寄來的不詳預告信啟始，自稱三流偵探小說家的屋代寅太一步步走進古神家複雜又混亂的血脈與仇恨漩渦中心。
古神一族與仙石家，在幾代以來發展成為奇詭的共生關係，父輩與子代之間互相交纏著迷戀、慾望、仇恨，難以分割的感情亂局之外，寅太做為旁觀者，看著被追求者和預告信糾纏的豪門千金古神八千代、軟弱卻不甘於此的古神守衛、和古神家女主人有染的仙石當家、作風奇特顛狂的畫家蜂屋小市，以及他那多年相交但傲慢惡毒的朋友仙石直記等眾多人物，在愛恨與慾念交互作用下逐漸陷入瘋狂、血腥的混亂危境。
大宅中的斷頭屍體、古宅外瀑布下的無頭女屍，慘遭斬首後遺留的屍身，真的是眾人以為的受害者或是另有其人？
而這一切，是否都能往回溯及某個惡念或不可饒恕的罪行，如果是的話，又是誰、為了什麼做出這一切？
傳說中的名偵探金田一耕助，又在這之中扮演了什麼角色？
－以下提及謎底－
再次拿出經典名作的我，也再次覺得我這個月的本格額度好像是夠了XD
持平來說，我覺得這是一個即使在這麼多年之後，依然能夠從字裡行間感受到那份血腥妖光的作品（感覺上就是每隔一段時間就能夠在影視作品上被以當代方式重述的作品）。
雖然有著乍看繁複難解的謎題，但我得說，這其實在結構上是一個相當巧妙的敘述性詭計，謎題之所以看似難解，是因為讀者在感情上一開始就被敘述者牽著走。
直到偵探登場才開始小心翼翼透出其中不合理之處（但，線索的確一直都在那裡，作者沒有作弊）。讀完最後幾章，特別是在看見動機的安排時，即使那在現代看起來早已不是太過新鮮的謎……但，那些愛與恨的根源，不正是自古以來在人心一再反覆被講述的激烈感情嗎？
（當然某方面來說，發展到斬首實在也是太過激烈了一點XD）
讀完稍微感覺到了跨越時代的經典魅力，雖然因為很經典所以我也還是想起了我其實沒有特別本格（喂！），但還是很好看的很好看。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
My favorite Inspector Kindaichi story so far. This one is about an aristocratic family embroiled in scandal.
The pacing of this mystery was excellent and the twists were surprising. I liked the structure of the novel with the main story being told by a mystery novel writer. Nothing is ever as it seems in a good detective story and that was the case here, as well.
As is unfortunately a little too common with these novels, there was some misogyny in the characterization that left me with a bad tase in my mouth. There is also some ableism and ableist language as two characters have physical disabilities that make them “horrendous” to the other characters.
Inspector Kindaichi is one of my favorite literary detectives and this novel was another very good Yokomizo mystery.
The pacing of this mystery was excellent and the twists were surprising. I liked the structure of the novel with the main story being told by a mystery novel writer. Nothing is ever as it seems in a good detective story and that was the case here, as well.
As is unfortunately a little too common with these novels, there was some misogyny in the characterization that left me with a bad tase in my mouth. There is also some ableism and ableist language as two characters have physical disabilities that make them “horrendous” to the other characters.
Inspector Kindaichi is one of my favorite literary detectives and this novel was another very good Yokomizo mystery.
March 21, 2026
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Back to winning ways!
I love Kindaichi novels, even though our best detective is often an sidenote in these novels. That does not mean I don't adore him with my whole heart nor is this a criticism. Kindaichi novels thrive on dark, complex and to be honest, deeply twisted mysteries that are completely unfathomable for everyone - apart from Detective Kosuke Kindaichi.
This book truly absorbed me. I did NOT expect the twist...even though I was prepared for the twist. Everything was so clever and I can't wait to read more of them. As I'm on level 1 of Japanese Duolingo, I'm going to need this translating faster. Please and thank you.
Back to winning ways!
I love Kindaichi novels, even though our best detective is often an sidenote in these novels. That does not mean I don't adore him with my whole heart nor is this a criticism. Kindaichi novels thrive on dark, complex and to be honest, deeply twisted mysteries that are completely unfathomable for everyone - apart from Detective Kosuke Kindaichi.
This book truly absorbed me. I did NOT expect the twist...even though I was prepared for the twist. Everything was so clever and I can't wait to read more of them. As I'm on level 1 of Japanese Duolingo, I'm going to need this translating faster. Please and thank you.
June 12, 2022
After a strong start and solid middle, the ending was a letdown for me. It felt overly simplistic and the last 25 pages were almost a chore to read. I considered between giving 3 or 4 stars - it's really just the last 20-30 pages out of over 300 that disappointed me, but the impact was still enough to make me lean towards 3.
The setting and set up, as I've come to expect from Yokomizo, were superb. (In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that I have high expectations for his novels, I might have given 4 stars.) I'd still recommend this book to someone who liked his other works, but it doesn't come close to i.e. 獄門島.
The setting and set up, as I've come to expect from Yokomizo, were superb. (In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that I have high expectations for his novels, I might have given 4 stars.) I'd still recommend this book to someone who liked his other works, but it doesn't come close to i.e. 獄門島.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Take one disfunctional (very) rich family then add in some genetic conditions, sonambulists and some very long standing grudges and watch the body count rise and rise. Who's the one with the penchant for beheading and why? Then again, as most the family are rather obnoxious, how much do we really care about their demises? As other reviewers have noted, our detective is very much a bit character wheeled out at the end to pull everything together rather than being integral to the plot. A read, but not a re-read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 2, 2021
เป็นตอนที่ไม่ได้คาดหวังอะไรมากแต่กลับชอบครับ โดยเฉพาะช่วงสุดท้ายผมอ่านไปก็ตกใจไป เดาตัวคนร้ายผิดเจ็บใจมาก เล่มนี้โดนนักเขียนต้มซะเปื่อยเลย คดีฆาตกรรมในเล่มนี้มีรูปแบบพิศดารบวกกับบรรยากาศชวนขนหัวลุก รวมถึงพฤติกรรมที่ไม่น่าไว้วางใจของผู้เกี่ยวข้องทำให้การเดาคนร้ายสำหรับผมยากเย็นเข้าไปอีก จริงๆ ตอนนี้มีหลายปมที่ช่วงสุดท้ายเมื่อถูกเฉลยออกมาทำให้ผมค่อนข้างประหลาดกับความคิดสุดล้ำของนักเขียนนะครับ เป็นอีกหนึ่งคดีในซีรีส์นี้ที่ชื่นชอบครับ มีบ่นนิดนึงช่วงจบที่ตัดแบบขาดฉับทำให้อารมณ์การอ่านมันเหมือนยังไม่ถูกเติมเต็มนะคับ เห็นเป็นนี้หลายเล่มแล้วด้วยเสียใจ
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks NetGalley and Pushkin press for an arc copy
There is a reason why Seishi Yokomizo is one of my favourite authors and it’s because all his mysteries are just my favourite type.
This book was over dramatic, the right amount of creepy and mysterious and I devoured it in less than a day.
Headless corpses, locked safes and a whole lot of sleep walking. What more could I ask for.
Very well translated with clear fluid prose. I loved this book a lot and reminded me why I love murder mysteries so much!
There is a reason why Seishi Yokomizo is one of my favourite authors and it’s because all his mysteries are just my favourite type.
This book was over dramatic, the right amount of creepy and mysterious and I devoured it in less than a day.
Headless corpses, locked safes and a whole lot of sleep walking. What more could I ask for.
Very well translated with clear fluid prose. I loved this book a lot and reminded me why I love murder mysteries so much!
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