The Little Sparrow Murders

A bloody feast of multiple murders in a terrorized mountain community -- Sarah Weinman * New York Times *
Works very well. I did not anticipate the solution * The Critic *
A fascinating depiction of 1950s-era Japanese rural life and the petty disputes that can forever fracture a community * CrimeReads *
This atmospheric classic murder mystery, for example, is a brain-teaser in the fair play tradition and a must-read for all genre aficionados * Criminal Element *
With atmospheric writing, richly drawn characters, and ample philosophical musings, this is a standout book in a stellar vintage crime series * Book Riot *
Praise for Seishi Yokomizo's classic mysteries: * . *
The diabolically twisted plotting is top-notch * New York Times *
Readers will delight in the blind turns, red herrings and dubious alibis... Ingenious and compelling * Economist *
With a reputation in Japan to rival Agatha Christie's, the master of ingenious plotting is finally on the case for anglophone readers * Guardian *
This is Golden Age crime at its best, complete with red herrings, blind alleys and twists and turns galore... A testament to the power of the simple murder mystery and its enduring appeal * Spectator *
Plenty of golden age ingredients... with a truly ingenious solution * Guardian, Best New Crime Novels *
Seishi Yokomizo took a pinch of John Dickson Carr and a dash of Agatha Christie in creating Kosuke Kindaichi, solver of impossible crimes... Kosuke's arrival [on Gokumon Island] coincides with a string of bizarre and gruesome murders. As deaths mount, the quirky, endearing detective strings together the clues to solve this fiendish puzzle -- Sarah Weinman * The New York Times *
A classic murder mystery... Comparisons with Holmes are justified, both in the character of Kindaichi and Yokomizo's approach to storytelling mixing clues, red herrings and fascinating social insight before drawing back the curtain to reveal the truth * Japan Times *
At once familiar and tantalisingly strange... It's an absolute pleasure to see his work translated at last in these beautifully produced English editions * Sunday Times *
Has a touch of Agatha Christie but with so much added spice. There are plenty of twists, red herrings, and suspects in this monkey puzzle of a story. Japan has a wonderful history of crime writing, and Yokomizo is one of their finest authors * NB Magazine *
The historical context of Japan's postwar era enhances the novel's gruesome atmosphere. A master of Japanese mystery, Yokomizo is known for his intricate plots and psychological intrigue * Japan Times *
Another legendary Yokomizo book... A campy and delightful detective novel * Books and Bao *
A gory tale of family greed, honour, revenge and loyalty with plenty of red herrings. Full of action and with a detective like no other * Live and Deadly *
A delightfully entertaining locked room murder mystery... There are plenty of twists, red herrings, and suspects in this monkey puzzle of a story... An ideal book to curl up with on a winter's night * NB Magazine *
Atmospheric, exciting and knotty whodunits. The covers alone are enough to get any fan of the genre salivating * Japan Times *
An exceptional whodunit... The brilliant and intricate plot will keep readers turning the pages. Golden age fans will hope for more translations of this gifted author * Publishers Weekly, starred review *