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A review by timinbc
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
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.