The Honjin Murders

Plenty of golden age ingredients... with a truly ingenious solution * Guardian, Best New Crime Fiction *
Readers will delight in the blind turns, red herrings and dubious alibis... Ingenious and compelling * Economist *
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 *
With a reputation in Japan to rival Agatha Christie's, the master of ingenious plotting is finally on the case for anglophone readers * Guardian *
An iconic slice of classic Japanese crime fiction -- Tom Hindle, author of Murder on Lake Garda
The Japanese Agatha Christie -- Sara Cox, on BBC2's Between the Covers
The perfect read for this time of year. Short and compelling, it will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie looking for a new case to break * Irish 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 *
The premise alone is dazzling [and] the solution to this mystery came as a complete surprise - exactly what I asked for * New York Times *
For lovers of classic mystery and mayhem, these newly translated offerings are a must * Tokyo Weekender *
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 *
A classic locked room mystery... Its intricate thrills just as exciting as they were 70 years ago * CrimeReads *
Essential reading for fans of detective and historical fiction... [the] solution to the whole mystery does actually make your jaw drop * Deccan Herald *
A wickedly fun time. Its short length, quirky cast of characters, engaging mystery, and theatrical setting and plot make for a fantastic murder mystery tale. * Books and Bao *
The master of Japanese crime * Tuttolibri *
The perfect gift for any fan of classic crime fiction or locked room mysteries * Mrs Peabody Investigates *
A perfect puzzle... Doesn't fail to deliver in its extremely fun and chilling premise. You'll be reading way past your bedtime! * Litreactor *
Think you got a Sherlock Holmes knack for crime puzzles? Then have a try at Yokomizo's clever mystery riddle * Metropolis Magazine, The Best Japanese Mystery Novels to Read in 2025 *
This Golden-Age Japanese mystery reminded me of Twin Peaks, with a mysterious three-fingered man, the perfect couple of newlyweds, and the perfect crime: a locked room that literally no one could have entered -- Anna Fitzgerald Healy, author of 'Etiquette for Lovers and Killers'
An absolute hoot -- Ross Montgomery, author of 'Murder at Worlds End'
A classic locked-door mystery with a chilling twist * Book Riot *