Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Welcome to our discussion of The Honjin Murders, by Seishi Yokomizo, which is part of our Fall/Winter Collection Group Reads. Your discussion leader is Lisa.
___________________________________________
About spoilers

Please use the spoiler formatting; it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
___________________________________________

Summary

One of Japan's greatest classic murder mysteries, introducing their best loved detective, translated into English for the first time.

In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village.

Hi everyone, and happy holidays! Started this one a couple of days ago, so far, so good!

Just finished. This had kind of a different feel, featuring the author as a storyteller/narrator with a conversational tone. I liked it, but (view spoiler)[ I’m hard pressed to believe that Kosuke (or anyone) could have connected all the dots necessary to solve this crime. (hide spoiler)]

Anyone else reading or finished?

I didn't read this one. Maybe later. Can't seem to get it all done.

I may be very late to this party. I just picked up the Honjin Murders, having no idea this was being read by this group. I’ve started it and so far am drawn in by the author’s straightforward, detailed descriptions and introduction to his story. Too soon to tell how I will feel/think about it when finished.

Susan, I agree - I appreciated the difference in tone and delivery of the story. Keep us posted on your thoughts!

I have not read any Japanese fiction so I’m in new territory. Already I feel that tug when a book has grabbed me immediately.

If you end up liking it, Susan, I can recommend a couple of Japanese mysteries/crime novels that knocked my socks off.

Thank you. I am looking for mysteries set in other countries also. Preferably 20th century but if it’s historical mystery that’s ok too. Translation of older authors gets a bit limited.

I just picked this one up as well. I didn't get a chance to read it with the group but it looked so interesting, I couldn't resist. I'm about 20% in and loving it!

So it looks like we have initiated a “late” group, ha ha. I’m now about 35% into the story and still enjoying it. Keeping track of the characters with Japanese names has me checking the key in the front of the book from time to time.

Same here on the name key!

Kelly and Susan, how are you liking it? Also, if you're interested in other Japanese thrillers, my favorites are Out and Grotesque, by Natsuo Kirino, and Malice and The Devotion of Suspect X, by Keigo Higashino. I've not gotten very deep into this subgenre yet, but I've really enjoyed every one of these. Suspect X was probably my favorite - really great.

I'm really enjoying it. I'm about 80% through so expect to be done sometime tomorrow. There is only one thing that slightly bothers me and that's when the author doesn't name the cities he's referring to. For example, he would say this character is going to "F_____" city. It's a small thing but does take me out of the story every once and a while.

Looking forward to the reveal. I haven't figured it out!

Would love some additional recommendations in this genre and will add the ones you've mentioned above for sure. Keep them coming!

Lisa wrote: "Kelly and Susan, how are you liking it? Also, if you're interested in other Japanese thrillers, my favorites are Out and Grotesque, by Natsuo Kirino, and Malice and The Devotion of Suspect X, by Ke..."

I wanted to ask the group about that as well. I see it sometimes in older novels, and I can specifically remember seeing it in a couple of Poe's works. It's like they're trying not to divulge a particular city name? I agree, it's a bit distracting.

It took me a while to finish this 189 page first mystery in a series that grew to 77 mysteries before the authors death in 1981. Although written in 1940’s it wasn’t translated to English until much later. I enjoyed the book though it sometimes seemed to get bogged down with character details that were not essential to the story. The conclusion was well disguised until the very end but then took quite a lot of words on the page to completely end. I have reserved the 2nd book in the series and found the 5th book, which is missing from my local library, on a used book seller site. It looks like the series is interesting enough for me to read all five that are available.
Thank you Lisa for further authors to consider reading.

I'm done! I found the beginning of the story a bit slow and like @Susan_MG, it took me a while to finish because of it. Once the detective was introduced however, I really enjoyed it.

I also agree with @Susan about the lengthy description of the solution at the end of the book. A bit drawn out. I'm not sure how many of the books have been translated but I'm definitely interested in reading another one as I really enjoyed the character of Kosuke Kindaichi.

A great pick @Lisa!

Susan_MG wrote: "It took me a while to finish this 189 page first mystery in a series that grew to 77 mysteries before the authors death in 1981. Although written in 1940’s it wasn’t translated to English until muc..."

Totally agree!

I think I overdid the verbiage in my comments. I did like the creativeness of the mystery.

I agree about the long retread at the end of the book. But still, a fun one, and I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it! Did you happen to read the one that we covered right before The Honjin Murders, called The Decagon House Murders? I think I liked that one even better than Honjin.

Lisa wrote: "I agree about the long retread at the end of the book. But still, a fun one, and I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it! Did you happen to read the one that we covered right before The Honjin Murders, cal..."

I did not read The Decagon House Murders but it's now on my TBR!

I’m a newcomer to this group so did not read the Decagon House Murder. I ordered it from used books online. Did you say the book was published before The Honjin Murders?
I am reading in the order books in a series were listed but I have found errors in series before.

That bio for the author mentioned that he wrote 77 before his death. I had ass7med that was all for this series but now I’m wondering, and will check, if they meant lifetime count of books. I plan on reading others Zeus’s mentioned if I can find them in library.

Decagon is a different author, published in 1987, and Honjin was 1946.

Oops, I’m getting confused. Sorry.

No sorry needed!

My copy has finally arrived. I have avoided reading the discussion until now.

Hope you enjoy it @Karen!

Welcome, Karen!

Well, it is a short mystery and I loved the citations to other detective stories that he had in his home library.
I was glad he did not give away the solution to The Mystery of the Yellow Room, because I am only halfway through that one - it is a slog.
I loved the map of the property but just could not envision how the murder was technically done. In cases such as this I just read on and hope it will all make sense. I could not tell if this was true here.
I too was thrown out of the story when he abbreviated some town names and not others.
As for the reason for the murders, well, different times different values. It would not sail today.
Overall I probably would not read more from this author.

I can recommend:
Matsuyama Kaze #1
Death at the Crossroads
by
Dale Furutani
Death at the Crossroads

Thanks for the recommendation @Karen. And agree with your comments above.