The Noh Mask Murder

A classic murder mystery, set against the fascinating backdrop of a post-war Japan struggling to come to terms with a changing world. With a jaw-dropping final twist that completely pulled the rug out from under me, this book firmly cements Takagi's reputation as the Japanese Agatha Christie. -- Fiona Leitch
A wickedly plotted mystery with a metafictional twist that feels far fresher than those of more contemporary versions with the same idea... The author has many more surprises in store, even as he plays ruthlessly fair with the reader -- Sarah Weinman * The New York Times *
Ingenious" doesn't do justice to this fantastic and labyrinthine novel. Akimitsu Takagi was a master craftsman of the locked-room mystery form, and The Noh Mask Murder might just be his greatest achievement. -- Tom Mead, author of 'Death and the Conjuror' and 'The Murder Wheel'
'Taut, well-constructed, with two narrative viewpoints interestingly different, this is an impressive read' * The Critic *
Japanese crime-writing legend and innovator of the form, Takagi, lends contemporary thought to traditional Golden Age tropes to superb effect... Reflects the distinct and elegant storytelling of Japan and riffs on the locked room mystery * Crime Time *
A playful, meta-narrative puzzle that will delight fans of the classic locked-room subgenre, but which also digs beneath the surface mystery to explore the "collective derangement" that can affect an entire family - or, for that matter, an entire nation * Irish Tiimes *
Brilliantly atmospheric, playful and ingenious. Both The Noh Mask Murder and The Tattoo Murder are rightly considered classics of the genre -- Alex Pavesi, author of Eight Detectives
The resolution is quite ingeniously turned... there's a good deal of enjoyable cleverness here * The Complete Review *
Like a Japanese version of Agatha Christie... There are ingenious twists... I can see why this is crowned as a classic masterpiece in Japan... The final chapter and ending in particular are so breath-taking and exquisite I read it a couple times * Mitsy Reads *
** - Praise for The Tattoo Murder -- **
Has all the hallmarks of a Japanese noir, with its devious locked-door scenario, the shadowy presence of illegal tattooists, their obsessive clients and a creepily intense professor, who's hoping to add another skin to his collection... A tale that fizzes with intrigue and ingenuity * Daily Mail *
This lurid mystery provides a fascinating portrait of wartorn Tokyo * The Times Crime Club, Pick of the Week *
Intricate, fantastic and utterly absorbing. More please . . . Calculated to outdo John Dickson Carr in both ghoulishness and ingenuity * Kirkus Reviews *
An ingenious whodunnit * Daily Mail *
Like voyeurs, we follow Takagi down the charred streets of bombed-out Tokyo to scenes of fastidiously executed decadence * New York Times *
An engaging journey into a Tokyo ravaged by war and its criminal underworld... Crackles with the energy that made Takagi one of Japan's most popular crime authors * Financial Times *
Agatha Christie was the queen of the locked room mystery - but now we have the opportunity to enjoy The Tattoo Murder... Originally published in 1948, Takagi's mystery transcends time... As the evenings draw in, this mystery will keep the cold at bay. * Independent *
A delightful, different book, not only because of its unusual setting and premise, but because Takagi is a powerful plotter and constructor of fascinating, complex characters * The A.V. Club *
The extensive and nuanced portrayal of Japanese subcultures makes The Tattoo Murder an absorbing and satisfying read * Business Post *
Overtly calls to mind the great classic writers of old... The twists keep coming, right up to the final page, but the plot never threatens to become so complex as to cave in on itself. We end up with a satisfying puzzle, an emotionally resonant tragedy, and some fascinating insights into various subjects, including the history of Noh drama, the psychological damage wrought upon Japan due to the War and the great social upheaval that followed * Ah Sweet Mystery! *
The twisted plot not only explores a mystery shrouded in a centuries-old curse, but also weaves in elements of traditional noh performances and references to Western detective stories that Takagi and his fictional counterpart clearly admire * Japan Times *