Scan barcode
jeansnow's review against another edition
4.0
Another great locked room mystery. I really love the meta aspect of it all, using multiple examples from classic detective fiction to solve (and explain) the murders. Abiko also brings in more humor than the other Japanese mystery authors I've read of late, and so it makes for a fun and lighter read. Well worth reading, especially if you enjoy heavy contextualization of the history of murder mystery fiction.
ideasoforder's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An interesting locked room mystery from a Japanese master and a very good introduction to the genre for anyone who isn't familiar. A bit too heavy on the bumbling detective for my taste, but relatively charming anyway and a good puzzle in the end.
neilsb's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
frosta_wings_it's review against another edition
4.0
4.83 Stars
Full review: https://frostawingsit.ca/2021/05/24/the-8-mansion-murders-by-takemaru-abiko-1989/
BRAVOOOOOO!!! This book was fantastic! It was fast-paced, hilarious, cleverly plotted, and the twist was terrific! It really kept me guessing until the end, and when the solution was presented, I was mad for not having guessed everything! Most characters were well-drawn, but I would have preferred the book to be more character-driven; it felt like the puzzle was the author's focus. I am, however, not mad at it because at least Abiko delivered. The plot was flawlessly clever, and I enjoyed the bending of the fourth wall (using the term loosely here) with many references to real-life works of fiction.
Full review: https://frostawingsit.ca/2021/05/24/the-8-mansion-murders-by-takemaru-abiko-1989/
BRAVOOOOOO!!! This book was fantastic! It was fast-paced, hilarious, cleverly plotted, and the twist was terrific! It really kept me guessing until the end, and when the solution was presented, I was mad for not having guessed everything! Most characters were well-drawn, but I would have preferred the book to be more character-driven; it felt like the puzzle was the author's focus. I am, however, not mad at it because at least Abiko delivered. The plot was flawlessly clever, and I enjoyed the bending of the fourth wall (using the term loosely here) with many references to real-life works of fiction.
More...