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Holmes of Kyoto Light Novel #4
Holmes of Kyoto: Volume 4
Kyoto bustles with the arrival of the New Year and Aoi Mashiro continues to work at the antique store Kura in the Teramachi-Sanjo shopping district, alongside the owner’s grandson, Kiyotaka Yagashira. On Valentine’s Day, the two of them are invited to a storytelling session at the Yoshida-Sanso Inn, hosted by the popular mystery author Kurisu Aigasa. There they find out that someone tried to murder her three months ago, and her sister asks Kiyotaka to find the culprit.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2016
8 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Mai Mochizuki
89 books291 followersMai Mochizuki was born and raised in Hokkaido and now lives in Kyoto, and originally wrote Alice in Kyouraku Forest as a series of novels. She's written numerous other titles, including 4th Kyoto Book Award winner Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes which was turned into a manga and anime series.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 1, 2022
The romantic cluelessness of the MC h is starting to get to me, but the age gap is still there, so there is not much that can be done about it yet.
Still great characters, slow gentle pacing and Kyoto and antiquities are just as much living, breathing characters as the people at this point.
4, such a sweet story, stars.
Still great characters, slow gentle pacing and Kyoto and antiquities are just as much living, breathing characters as the people at this point.
4, such a sweet story, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2025
So far, this was the weakest book of the series... yes, I'm somehow not adjusted to the amount of cuteness and sirup all around :D
2,9 kyoto kitties
2,9 kyoto kitties
July 7, 2021
4.35
Wow, this volume was a step-up in both the mystery and development of characters.
We finally get to meet more of Kiyotaka's family, like his grandma and his little brother figure, Rikyu. Oh, and more of his family's back story.
I really enjoyed how Aoi and Kiyotaka's relationship is developing, they are both so clueless and cute. It is so fun to see everyone around them realising their feelings for each other while they remain clueless about them. I love the butterfly-filled stomach moments in this volume, they are really something else.
We got to see more beautiful places in Kyoto. I ought to make a list of all the amazing places Aoi visits for when I visit Japan (which will hopefully happen).
Again, the translation was really impressive.
Can't wait for the next volume!
Wow, this volume was a step-up in both the mystery and development of characters.
We finally get to meet more of Kiyotaka's family, like his grandma and his little brother figure, Rikyu. Oh, and more of his family's back story.
I really enjoyed how Aoi and Kiyotaka's relationship is developing, they are both so clueless and cute. It is so fun to see everyone around them realising their feelings for each other while they remain clueless about them. I love the butterfly-filled stomach moments in this volume, they are really something else.
We got to see more beautiful places in Kyoto. I ought to make a list of all the amazing places Aoi visits for when I visit Japan (which will hopefully happen).
Again, the translation was really impressive.
Can't wait for the next volume!
March 7, 2020
這集比前幾集有趣很多耶。我本來一直以為這部就是輕推理（ライトミステリ）+京都觀光的戀愛小說，畢竟說真的，本作的偵探——人稱福爾摩斯的清貴其實真的就只是一個直覺很準的人啊。但沒想到這集竟然會出現有點像一般推理小說會出現的場景，看到一個普通的鑑定師竟然真的開始詢問嫌疑者們，還是讓我這個喜歡推理小說的人忍不住興奮起來。
這集還是一樣有各種京都景點，讀完真的都想去京都玩了，除了神社跟寺廟之外，實際上書中提到的咖啡店跟食物，也是真實存在的，所以一邊讀一邊在網路上搜尋清貴跟葵去的地方照片，吃的食物大概是長什麼樣子，其實也有種參與他們的旅遊的感覺，讀起來也更加開心。
我個人最喜歡的是第二篇《バレンタインの夜会》，除了是因為這是本作中第一次清貴做了真的像偵探一樣的事情（一一詢問嫌疑犯們，再進行推理）之外，最後揭開真相發現大家內心醜惡的一面的地方非常有娛樂性，雖然仔細想想其實是很慘的故事，但其實登場的每個人的個性都很鮮明，看到大家最後都撕掉面具的地方非常有趣，雖然我還是有點想吐槽「這樣就想殺人？不會太誇張嗎？」最後作家聽了清貴的話打算把這件事情當成自己的養分的地方的台詞其實我還滿喜歡的（是說這個作家既然想的到這樣的報復方法，這樣的個性到底為什麼一開始會陷入這種狀況？）
然後最後一篇也出現新的角色利休，不過這個孩子是我最討厭的類型——可愛系小惡魔。所以看到他在欺負葵的時候，其實都好想打斷他的鼻樑，而且利休講話的方式也好讓人煩躁啊，這傢伙對剛認識的人也太沒禮貌了吧？？？？雖然最後勉勉強強也不是沒有可愛的地方，但是討厭的地方實在是太多了，一想到這個人之後會變成主要角色我就覺得有點難過（不能讓秋人的戲分多一點就好了嗎？）
是說本集清貴跟葵兩個人的關係該怎麼說，算是完全沒進展嗎？雖然清貴那邊好感度根本滿出來了，但葵卻硬是拉開了距離，不過這樣看清貴揮棒落空的感覺其實有點爽快。不過清貴明明是個腹黑，卻意外地很膽小這點其實有點可愛。
這集円生也有登場，是說這個人在動畫裡是遊佐配的，所以我本來一直抱持著這個人雖然個性扭曲歸扭曲，但應該算是優雅的人吧？的印象，結果這傢伙這集卻對葵講了性騷擾的話……話說前幾集我是沒注意到啦，但這集莫名地有很多男性對葵這個普通高中女生有點興趣的描寫，到底是？（根據利休的評語，葵是一個沒辦法說是醜，有一定程度長相的普通高中女生XD）
--
是說讀這本的時候我的閱讀速度其實有增加的感覺，雖然我很想說應該是我日文閱讀有進步，但應該真的是這個作者用字很簡單，老實說我個人覺得比友麻碧還要簡單，最難的地方大概是方言吧。
這集還是一樣有各種京都景點，讀完真的都想去京都玩了，除了神社跟寺廟之外，實際上書中提到的咖啡店跟食物，也是真實存在的，所以一邊讀一邊在網路上搜尋清貴跟葵去的地方照片，吃的食物大概是長什麼樣子，其實也有種參與他們的旅遊的感覺，讀起來也更加開心。
我個人最喜歡的是第二篇《バレンタインの夜会》，除了是因為這是本作中第一次清貴做了真的像偵探一樣的事情（一一詢問嫌疑犯們，再進行推理）之外，最後揭開真相發現大家內心醜惡的一面的地方非常有娛樂性，雖然仔細想想其實是很慘的故事，但其實登場的每個人的個性都很鮮明，看到大家最後都撕掉面具的地方非常有趣，雖然我還是有點想吐槽「這樣就想殺人？不會太誇張嗎？」最後作家聽了清貴的話打算把這件事情當成自己的養分的地方的台詞其實我還滿喜歡的（是說這個作家既然想的到這樣的報復方法，這樣的個性到底為什麼一開始會陷入這種狀況？）
然後最後一篇也出現新的角色利休，不過這個孩子是我最討厭的類型——可愛系小惡魔。所以看到他在欺負葵的時候，其實都好想打斷他的鼻樑，而且利休講話的方式也好讓人煩躁啊，這傢伙對剛認識的人也太沒禮貌了吧？？？？雖然最後勉勉強強也不是沒有可愛的地方，但是討厭的地方實在是太多了，一想到這個人之後會變成主要角色我就覺得有點難過（不能讓秋人的戲分多一點就好了嗎？）
是說本集清貴跟葵兩個人的關係該怎麼說，算是完全沒進展嗎？雖然清貴那邊好感度根本滿出來了，但葵卻硬是拉開了距離，不過這樣看清貴揮棒落空的感覺其實有點爽快。不過清貴明明是個腹黑，卻意外地很膽小這點其實有點可愛。
這集円生也有登場，是說這個人在動畫裡是遊佐配的，所以我本來一直抱持著這個人雖然個性扭曲歸扭曲，但應該算是優雅的人吧？的印象，結果這傢伙這集卻對葵講了性騷擾的話……話說前幾集我是沒注意到啦，但這集莫名地有很多男性對葵這個普通高中女生有點興趣的描寫，到底是？（根據利休的評語，葵是一個沒辦法說是醜，有一定程度長相的普通高中女生XD）
--
是說讀這本的時候我的閱讀速度其實有增加的感覺，雖然我很想說應該是我日文閱讀有進步，但應該真的是這個作者用字很簡單，老實說我個人覺得比友麻碧還要簡單，最難的地方大概是方言吧。
February 17, 2023
Las tramas de este volumen me encantaron, desde la aparición de la abuela de Holmes y su conflicto con su "muñeca maldita"; la de la escritora de misterio Aigisa; y la de la herencia de la familia de Rikyu (personaje muy importante que aparece por primera vez). En este último, en particular me sentí orgullosa cuándo la pusieron a prueba a Aoi con una tasación de "Raku bowls", fue un gran momento.
Amo los pequeños detalles que se van haciendo notar, cómo que desde la perspectiva de Aoi (y tras tanto tiempo conociéndose), Holmes parece cada vez más dramático en ciertas ocasiones, a pesar de estar caracterizado por su elegancia y modales, es algo que la gente cercana a él percibe.
En definitiva, las dinámicas entre los diferentes personajes es de lo que más dusfruto. Y llegado el final, en este momento casi grito de la emoción:
“Oh right, Aoi... The moon is very beautiful tonight,” he said, looking up at the night sky.
I silently looked up at the sky as well.
Holmes glanced at me without turning and said, “I’m truly looking forward to seeing who you’ll become.”
“O-Okay, I’ll try my best.”
“Ah, you don’t have to try that hard.” He laughed cheerfully.”
(LITERALMENTE ESTÁ DICIENDO TSUKI GA KIREI, AOI, ES UNA CONFESIÓN EN TODA REGLA)
“Kiyotaka, Aoi, make sure you don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t make assumptions. Express your feelings clearly and out loud.” She reached out to squeeze our hands. Her hand was very soft and warm.
“O-Okay,” I said. Feelings won’t get across unless you express them clearly. The heavy regret in her words made my chest ache.”
Amo los pequeños detalles que se van haciendo notar, cómo que desde la perspectiva de Aoi (y tras tanto tiempo conociéndose), Holmes parece cada vez más dramático en ciertas ocasiones, a pesar de estar caracterizado por su elegancia y modales, es algo que la gente cercana a él percibe.
En definitiva, las dinámicas entre los diferentes personajes es de lo que más dusfruto. Y llegado el final, en este momento casi grito de la emoción:
“Oh right, Aoi... The moon is very beautiful tonight,” he said, looking up at the night sky.
I silently looked up at the sky as well.
Holmes glanced at me without turning and said, “I’m truly looking forward to seeing who you’ll become.”
“O-Okay, I’ll try my best.”
“Ah, you don’t have to try that hard.” He laughed cheerfully.”
(LITERALMENTE ESTÁ DICIENDO TSUKI GA KIREI, AOI, ES UNA CONFESIÓN EN TODA REGLA)
“Kiyotaka, Aoi, make sure you don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t make assumptions. Express your feelings clearly and out loud.” She reached out to squeeze our hands. Her hand was very soft and warm.
“O-Okay,” I said. Feelings won’t get across unless you express them clearly. The heavy regret in her words made my chest ache.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2024
I continue to be impressed by this series in terms of the characters, the mysteries, the richness of Kyoto, and the actual history I learn from it. This applies especially to Holmes. Like many of the characters in the book, I agree with Rikyu when he says Holmes' "appraisals explain the creator’s thoughts and the owner’s feelings...in a way that goes straight to your heart." Due to Holmes' stories about them, even I'm starting to appreciate antiques more than I ever thought I would.
Although I'm not much of a visual person in terms of being inspired by visual art forms (I get much more out of music and especially books), Holmes has helped me to better understand how visual art can have a profound impact on those who have an affinity with it.
Moving on to the mysteries, just as in the other books, each mystery is unique, creative, immersive, and suspenseful, perhaps even more so than any other mystery books I've read.
Lastly, regarding the book's characters, it's heart-warming and inspiring watching Aoi grow both personally and in her appraisal skills due to her time with Holmes, and vice versa. As time goes on, I do believe more and more she will be able to help him overcome challenges he would otherwise be unable to overcome.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Although I'm not much of a visual person in terms of being inspired by visual art forms (I get much more out of music and especially books), Holmes has helped me to better understand how visual art can have a profound impact on those who have an affinity with it.
Moving on to the mysteries, just as in the other books, each mystery is unique, creative, immersive, and suspenseful, perhaps even more so than any other mystery books I've read.
Lastly, regarding the book's characters, it's heart-warming and inspiring watching Aoi grow both personally and in her appraisal skills due to her time with Holmes, and vice versa. As time goes on, I do believe more and more she will be able to help him overcome challenges he would otherwise be unable to overcome.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 14, 2025
Đọc thể loại light novel dành cho tuổi mới lớn như quyết này cũng dễ chịu và thú vị. Nội dung xoay quanh tình cảm nhẹ nhàng chớm nở của đôi bạn trẻ, nhưng ngoài ra còn có những điều khác thu hút hơn: bối cảnh và không gian văn hoá của Nhật qua những địa điểm, thắng cảnh, lễ hội; kiến thức sơ lược của một số món đồ và nghệ nhân xưa; và những “vụ án” hay đúng hơn là những câu đố thử thách cần được giải mã. Nhân vật nam chính có sự quan sát và óc suy luận như thám tử Holmes, nhân vật nữ chính thông minh, khiêm tốn mà cũng cá tính thú vị của một cô gái trẻ nề nếp học cách tự tin ngoài xã hội.
Dĩ nhiên, mọi thứ đều ở mức nhẹ nhàng, được đong đo phù hợp cho lứa tuổi thanh niên chứ không chuyên sâu vào điều gì, nên độc giả nào cần những trang sách trẻ trung, trong sáng, vừa phải thì đây là 1 quyển có thể đem lại sự thư giãn khá đáng yêu.
Dĩ nhiên, mọi thứ đều ở mức nhẹ nhàng, được đong đo phù hợp cho lứa tuổi thanh niên chứ không chuyên sâu vào điều gì, nên độc giả nào cần những trang sách trẻ trung, trong sáng, vừa phải thì đây là 1 quyển có thể đem lại sự thư giãn khá đáng yêu.
January 23, 2025
Another enjoyable book in this series!
I enjoy these sweet books featuring mysteries, learning about Kyoto and the evolving relationship between Aoi and Kiyotaka. Aoi celebrates her one year anniversary of employment at Kura. We also learn more about Kiyotaka’s family and,of course, there are mysteries to solve! I will definitely continue reading all the books in this series.
I enjoy these sweet books featuring mysteries, learning about Kyoto and the evolving relationship between Aoi and Kiyotaka. Aoi celebrates her one year anniversary of employment at Kura. We also learn more about Kiyotaka’s family and,of course, there are mysteries to solve! I will definitely continue reading all the books in this series.
May 21, 2024
This is my favorite volume; the mystery has stepped up from cozy to Agatha Christie-inspired. I have a fondness for supernatural bits in mystery, so I like the story of the dolls. This is a really good book among this series. Love it! Especially the main arc about the best selling author.
March 26, 2025
This book felt much sweeter in the romance and moved much quicker. It was interesting to see how Aoi and Holmes dance around each other, and how blatant Holmes was being this time around. It was very cute.
September 20, 2021
4.5 stars review to come.
March 18, 2023
讀第四集時，開始對清貴動不動自稱腹黑的橋段有些厭煩，偶爾提起還好，我認為透過言行舉止、待人處事的場景累積起人物形象仍是較為妥善踏實的寫法，望月麻衣多次使用腹黑來強調人物設定，在我看來頗為取巧。將人的面向限縮在特定字眼裡，反而顯得狹隘，而且過度吹噓他的「腹黑」，再對照清貴的實際作為，只會令我產生「咦？他這樣算腹黑嗎？」的感想。
以真城葵視角推動的劇情，暗戀情節或跟潛在情敵交流的場景看得好委屈，葵被前男友、摯友聯手背叛過，加上本身自卑，所以別人說她很普通，她就很自然地接受了。但在上帝視角的讀者我眼裡，葵明明沒有必要這麼自信心低落，可以多多秉持自信而活，為什麼別人一挑釁或暗示就自覺難堪的落荒而逃呢？能夠決定清貴伴侶的並非其他閒雜人等，而是清貴本人啊！
這時候我就更希望清貴能再勇敢一點跟葵表達心意，但願心上人的回應能夠令葵擺脫自卑陰影，可是又不願看到葵對自我的評價全盤押注在心上人或其他人的審核，而是由她自身出發，真正地滿意、喜歡自己的狀態。這一集可以看見清貴非常重視葵，變得更加小心翼翼地在乎她的感受，惟恐自己在不經意間作出逾矩之事惹她厭惡卻不自知。
不知道作者是否為了展現京都人迂迴的說話藝術，清貴都不會直接開口把話講清楚，而是將細緻體貼的關懷融入日常互動，來傳遞他無法對葵說出口的情意。他會立刻用「下鴨的艾琳」來打比方，除了真心認為葵確實是位聰慧美好的女子以外，更重要的是，艾琳是福爾摩斯所愛之人，代換到被人稱為「福爾摩斯」的他身上，暗示著葵正是他心中的艾琳，才會不加思索就脫口而出這種類比吧。
由於清貴待人普遍體貼，雖然親近的家人朋友都看得出葵的份量在清貴心裡不一般，但葵本人都看不出來。葵仍不時的會自我告誡別期待太多，避免再度深陷情網卻發現對方情感跟她不同，屆時受傷的還是自己，而且也會破壞好不容易建立起的情誼。感想寫到這裡，忽然覺得我其實是在看兩個對情感膽怯的人慢慢走向彼此的戀愛故事，前進三步又退兩步的發展步調。
雖然我寫的好像劇情很哀愁一樣，但第四集兩人依舊維繫著寫作觀光／解謎，讀作約會的交流模式，清貴有什麼特殊行程都會想約葵一起出門，相處的氣氛也很溫暖、舒適，從旁人的角度來觀察，葵在清貴心裡的地位簡直穩固到不行。第四集初登場的利休是那種會令我有點煩躁，又不會真正厭惡到極點的小孩類型。不過一想到只要他少爺開心，就會捉弄葵來取樂的情節，心裡仍會覺得有點厭煩，接著想到利休對葵態度這麼不客氣，應該是因為他看出葵對清貴的意義非同凡響，初期才刻意挑撥離間，心裡又稍微平衡一點了XD
圓生毫不意外的再度登場展開鑑定師的決鬥，我對他們的龍爭虎鬥不感興趣，只是沒想到在眾多古董美術品裡，他認為最有價值的是李朝白瓷，這是否意味著圓生其實想像白瓷一樣，高潔、卓越的活著呢？話說，這一集圓生對葵性騷擾和妄自猜測葵的感情隱私，所以我對圓生的印象轉差了。
第一次一邊搜尋京都地景一邊讀這部小說，有個地方讓我很困惑。八坂塔高度明顯高於附近建築物許多，會走在路上完全沒看見，直到轉彎後才忽然被嚇到嗎？但畢竟我沒有親自走過一次，只是看了其他網友的遊記和照片來判斷，也許按照他們的路線「從八坂神社的南樓門出來後，順著路一直走，就會通道這條『八坂通』，而八坂塔就在眼前。走到這裡才突然看見，感覺很像變魔術對吧？」（頁三七）看見的景色確實如此也不一定，希望日後我有機會可以親眼確認。
以真城葵視角推動的劇情，暗戀情節或跟潛在情敵交流的場景看得好委屈，葵被前男友、摯友聯手背叛過，加上本身自卑，所以別人說她很普通，她就很自然地接受了。但在上帝視角的讀者我眼裡，葵明明沒有必要這麼自信心低落，可以多多秉持自信而活，為什麼別人一挑釁或暗示就自覺難堪的落荒而逃呢？能夠決定清貴伴侶的並非其他閒雜人等，而是清貴本人啊！
這時候我就更希望清貴能再勇敢一點跟葵表達心意，但願心上人的回應能夠令葵擺脫自卑陰影，可是又不願看到葵對自我的評價全盤押注在心上人或其他人的審核，而是由她自身出發，真正地滿意、喜歡自己的狀態。這一集可以看見清貴非常重視葵，變得更加小心翼翼地在乎她的感受，惟恐自己在不經意間作出逾矩之事惹她厭惡卻不自知。
不知道作者是否為了展現京都人迂迴的說話藝術，清貴都不會直接開口把話講清楚，而是將細緻體貼的關懷融入日常互動，來傳遞他無法對葵說出口的情意。他會立刻用「下鴨的艾琳」來打比方，除了真心認為葵確實是位聰慧美好的女子以外，更重要的是，艾琳是福爾摩斯所愛之人，代換到被人稱為「福爾摩斯」的他身上，暗示著葵正是他心中的艾琳，才會不加思索就脫口而出這種類比吧。
由於清貴待人普遍體貼，雖然親近的家人朋友都看得出葵的份量在清貴心裡不一般，但葵本人都看不出來。葵仍不時的會自我告誡別期待太多，避免再度深陷情網卻發現對方情感跟她不同，屆時受傷的還是自己，而且也會破壞好不容易建立起的情誼。感想寫到這裡，忽然覺得我其實是在看兩個對情感膽怯的人慢慢走向彼此的戀愛故事，前進三步又退兩步的發展步調。
雖然我寫的好像劇情很哀愁一樣，但第四集兩人依舊維繫著寫作觀光／解謎，讀作約會的交流模式，清貴有什麼特殊行程都會想約葵一起出門，相處的氣氛也很溫暖、舒適，從旁人的角度來觀察，葵在清貴心裡的地位簡直穩固到不行。第四集初登場的利休是那種會令我有點煩躁，又不會真正厭惡到極點的小孩類型。不過一想到只要他少爺開心，就會捉弄葵來取樂的情節，心裡仍會覺得有點厭煩，接著想到利休對葵態度這麼不客氣，應該是因為他看出葵對清貴的意義非同凡響，初期才刻意挑撥離間，心裡又稍微平衡一點了XD
圓生毫不意外的再度登場展開鑑定師的決鬥，我對他們的龍爭虎鬥不感興趣，只是沒想到在眾多古董美術品裡，他認為最有價值的是李朝白瓷，這是否意味著圓生其實想像白瓷一樣，高潔、卓越的活著呢？話說，這一集圓生對葵性騷擾和妄自猜測葵的感情隱私，所以我對圓生的印象轉差了。
第一次一邊搜尋京都地景一邊讀這部小說，有個地方讓我很困惑。八坂塔高度明顯高於附近建築物許多，會走在路上完全沒看見，直到轉彎後才忽然被嚇到嗎？但畢竟我沒有親自走過一次，只是看了其他網友的遊記和照片來判斷，也許按照他們的路線「從八坂神社的南樓門出來後，順著路一直走，就會通道這條『八坂通』，而八坂塔就在眼前。走到這裡才突然看見，感覺很像變魔術對吧？」（頁三七）看見的景色確實如此也不一定，希望日後我有機會可以親眼確認。
September 10, 2022
Holmes of Kyoto volume 4 is much like the previous books: three specific events along the regular slice-of-life of Aoi and Holmes. Part one is about some loose ends in the Owners family life. Part 2 is about a light novel artist who fears for her life. Part 3 is about the potential inheritance of Holmes "little brother" (technically a stepuncle). As always, the slice-of-life, the character interactions (and romance), bits of Kyoto, and some art history are the good parts of the book for me. The mysteries are interesting even if they are based mostly on symbolism then something a reader could solve and the one with the author felt really odd and somewhat out of place for the series. Now if only the author did not throw in Ensho at the end... I really dislike the trope and they made it worse by how Ensho treated Aoi. I am not a fan of it in American police detective series. I want it even less in a slice-of-life romance with Kyoto and art history thrown in the mix. I contemplated making it 3 stars as a result, but since the role is very small and not nearly as grating as in the previous volume, I kept it at 4. In the end, it was an enjoyable quick read.
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