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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Similar to And Then There Were None, but different enough to not feel like a retelling. I really enjoyed the alternating Island/Mainland chapters. this book sucked me in and then surprised me in a very good way!
*Word Summer Reading Challenge 2025: "a mystery"
*Word Summer Reading Challenge 2025: "a mystery"
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tsunojima Island is infamous for being the site of a series of unsolved murders, leaving it uninhabited ever since – and that's exactly what sparks the interest of a group of students passionate about classical crime novels. The owner of the island grants them permission to stay in the titular »Decagon House« for a few days.
On their first day, they find a series of small nameplates: "The First Victim," "The Second Victim," "The Third Victim," "The Fourth Victim," "The Last Victim," "The Detective," and "The Murderer." All deny bringing them – is it a bad joke? But the next morning, one of them is dead.
There is no contact with the mainland, so the survivors decide to use their expertise to uncover the killer. Unfortunately, the murderer is always one step ahead …
This book, first published in 1987, is considered a classic of Japanese crime fiction, and rightfully so. The genre, known as »Honkaku,« is inspired by the greats of Western crime literature. »The Decagon House Murders« borrows the basic plot structure from Agatha Christie's »And Then There Were None,« but it is by no means a simple retelling. The writing is brilliant, the atmosphere is rich, and the story is ingeniously crafted. The tension builds up gradually and is driven by subtle suspense, not bloody escalation. The puzzle pieces come together one by one, until the plot reaches a surprising, yet logical, conclusion.
The protagonists recognize that their situation mimics the structure of a classic crime novel, which gives the story a captivating meta-layer. Although each of them embodies a certain archetype, they are portrayed in a genuine and believable way.
On their first day, they find a series of small nameplates: "The First Victim," "The Second Victim," "The Third Victim," "The Fourth Victim," "The Last Victim," "The Detective," and "The Murderer." All deny bringing them – is it a bad joke? But the next morning, one of them is dead.
There is no contact with the mainland, so the survivors decide to use their expertise to uncover the killer. Unfortunately, the murderer is always one step ahead …
This book, first published in 1987, is considered a classic of Japanese crime fiction, and rightfully so. The genre, known as »Honkaku,« is inspired by the greats of Western crime literature. »The Decagon House Murders« borrows the basic plot structure from Agatha Christie's »And Then There Were None,« but it is by no means a simple retelling. The writing is brilliant, the atmosphere is rich, and the story is ingeniously crafted. The tension builds up gradually and is driven by subtle suspense, not bloody escalation. The puzzle pieces come together one by one, until the plot reaches a surprising, yet logical, conclusion.
The protagonists recognize that their situation mimics the structure of a classic crime novel, which gives the story a captivating meta-layer. Although each of them embodies a certain archetype, they are portrayed in a genuine and believable way.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No