ariaslibrary 's review for:

Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo

4.0

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 (thank you pushkin press and netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review)

I cannot help recalling that fusty old saying: that truth is stranger than fiction.

‘Murder at the Black Cat Café’ is the seventh title in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series in order of translation. It is a collection of two stories that both had me point to my screen, grinning like a banshee while resentfully muttering, “You tricked me!”

In the first story, the titular Murder at the Black Cat Café, behind the Black Cat Café, a police officer on patrol discovers someone digging up the soil, only to find the decomposing body of a woman and a dead black cat by her side. Her identity cannot be confirmed but once the former owners (who suddenly sold their café) are investigated, the police start untangling a messy story of love, jealousy and betrayal.

The second story, Why Did The Well Wheel Creak?, is a murder case told in the form of newspaper articles and letters between the main characters, the Honiden family.

I thoroughly enjoyed these two stories, the first especially. (Mainly because our beloved Kosuke is present) I especially love how they made a fool out of me. My update at the 30% was: This must have been mind-blowing in 1947 but I've read way too many mysteries to not have already figured this out😅 only for my expectations to be completely shattered at the 50% mark: I would like to apologise to Seishi Yokomizo. Turns out, I did not guess that correctly💀 Oh the hubris I displayed.

I can’t wait for the next one!