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sjw126's review against another edition
Want to finish but in other books at the moment.
isaacazmee's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
There is a subset of mystery that includes ridiculously complicated murders. Agatha Christie often went there, and most locked-room murders do. This takes it to another level, perhaps as a tribute or just an enjoyable challenge.
It even ends with a bit of "look, I *told* you, I gave you the clues on a plate!"
Indeed he did, but we all have a plausibility filter that gets in the way, and Yokomizo exploits it.
The detective is interesting, but I fear future books will tend toward the "ya-a-s, I built a up a tolerance for that poison, AND I placed in your tea a substance that renders the antidote ineffective, knowing that you always carry a variety of antidotes inside your necktie."
Worth reading anyway, and a bonus is realizing that a murder mystery seems to work in many cultures.
And of course now I have to find A. A. Milne's The Red House Mystery.
It even ends with a bit of "look, I *told* you, I gave you the clues on a plate!"
Indeed he did, but we all have a plausibility filter that gets in the way, and Yokomizo exploits it.
The detective is interesting, but I fear future books will tend toward the "ya-a-s, I built a up a tolerance for that poison, AND I placed in your tea a substance that renders the antidote ineffective, knowing that you always carry a variety of antidotes inside your necktie."
Worth reading anyway, and a bonus is realizing that a murder mystery seems to work in many cultures.
And of course now I have to find A. A. Milne's The Red House Mystery.
pipode1234's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
3.25
arwen17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sarahrosel's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
mcbomzh's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
scarletshore's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first time diving into Seishi Yokomizo's work, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. From the moment I cracked open the first chapter, I had a feeling this book would be an enthralling read. Yokomizo's talent for setting a chilling atmosphere is evident from the start. His descriptions of the murder scene had me feeling creepy, chilled, scared, and anxious all at once.
The plot is filled with unexpected twists that kept me guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I had figured it out, the story would take a new direction, trapping me in a web of misdirection. Eventually, I gave up trying to solve the mystery myself and let the story guide me. This book played me like a fiddle, and I loved every minute of it.
The ending was truly fascinating. Yokomizo's ability to craft such a complex and ingenious solution to the mystery left me in awe. The detective's revelations shifted the mood of the book, bringing everything into the light. By the time I finished, I was eager to read more of Yokomizo's works. This book set a high bar, and I have high expectations for his other novels. If you're a fan of mystery and thriller books that keep you on the edge of your seat, "The Honjin Murders" is a must-read.’
The plot is filled with unexpected twists that kept me guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I had figured it out, the story would take a new direction, trapping me in a web of misdirection. Eventually, I gave up trying to solve the mystery myself and let the story guide me. This book played me like a fiddle, and I loved every minute of it.
The ending was truly fascinating. Yokomizo's ability to craft such a complex and ingenious solution to the mystery left me in awe. The detective's revelations shifted the mood of the book, bringing everything into the light. By the time I finished, I was eager to read more of Yokomizo's works. This book set a high bar, and I have high expectations for his other novels. If you're a fan of mystery and thriller books that keep you on the edge of your seat, "The Honjin Murders" is a must-read.’
sparrowtimes's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
A tight little locked room murder mystery with a meta-level awareness of the conventions of the genre and the form of the medium itself.
birdiesreads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ picked this one up at the recommendation of a bookstore clerk, familiar mystery novel plot with an ending I didn’t guess. Decently good read that took me just about a day to finish