Honkaku mystery: A Japanese subgenre focusing on intricate "fair play" puzzle-solving designed to challenge readers with logical deduction, locked-room scenarios, and complex mechanical tricks. Inspired by Western Golden Age authors like Agatha Christie, these novels typically provide all necessary clues, diagrams, and maps prioritizing the puzzle over literary prose.
Four mystery authors, a critic, an editor and his pregnant wife, and an amateur sleuth have all been invited to a famed mystery writer's isolated home to celebrate his 60th birthday. But when their weekend begins with a shocking death, they find themselves locked inside the Labyrinth House with a murderer.
This was an entertaining 'locked-room' mystery. It was a little hard at first to keep all the characters straight, but I soon got them figured out. And I really liked Utayama Hideyuki, the editor, and Shimada Kiyoshi, a fan of mystery novels and amateur sleuth. They worked together on solving the puzzles within the Labyrinth House. I guessed one of the twists early on, but there was another twist at the very end I was not expecting. Which added a layer of fun. As did the map of the Labyrinth House included at the beginning of the book and all the allusions to the Greek myth about Minos and the minotaur. I did think the dialogue felt a little stilted at times, but that might have been because of the translation, or just a difference between Japanese and American fiction. Overall, though, I really liked this one. It's definitely made me a fan of Honkaku mysteries.
Happy Reading!
I like that there's a map, which makes sense with this type of mystery😁
ReplyDeleteThe map of the house and it's labyrinth was one of my favorite things about this book. :D
DeleteThis sounds like a departure from from normal whodunnits! I must read some Japanese fiction this year.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun mystery. One of my favorite Japanese novels is The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. It's a charming story.
DeleteI loved this one. The Mill House Murders by the same author is fun too and I have another of his books to read soon. I think the dialogue often feels a bit stilted in honkaku mysteries - they seem to focus much more on the puzzle than on the characters.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle in this one was fun. And I'm looking forward to reading some of his other mysteries this summer. Thanks for putting me onto this author's books! :D
DeleteThis sounds like such a good mystery! I'll have to add it to my wishlist. Great review, Lark! :D
ReplyDeleteHi, Ashley! How are you?
DeleteI've read a decent amount of Japanese cozy fiction and have found the dialogue to be stilted as well. I don't know if it's translation or just a more formal culture. I love the sound of this one and am adding it to my TBR. Great review!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I couldn't decide if the stilted feel of the dialogue was just the translation or not, but it felt kind of cultural. Still liked the book. :D
DeleteSounds like a fun, but challenging read. I love the premise though, and the allusions to Greek myth would definitely pull me in and make me smile.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the fourth in a series--I assume it's a standalone novel...
It is a standalone novel, though one of the characters--the amateur sleuth--appears in some of his other mysteries, I think. And I think the same architect designed all the houses in the different mysteries, too. But they're not a series you have to read in order.
DeleteI've read one other honkaku mystery & liked it. This sounds good--I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun one!
DeleteI was unfamiliar with this subgenre, but it sounds like something I'd really enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYou should try one of his books sometime. I think you would like them.
DeleteI've never heard of a Honkaku mystery -- sounds like lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteIt was a new word for me, too, but I like it. :D
DeleteI like fair play mysteries so I am going to look into this one. My hope is that the crime itself doesnt have too many intricate twists before the mystery is solved.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest twist comes at the very end. That's the one I was not expecting!
DeleteThis sounds like quite a challenge. Despite the hundreds of mysteries I’ve read over the years, I seldom solve one before the very end…if even then. Not sure about the lack of emphasis on prose style or lesser developed characters, though, that this type of mystery seems to offer usually.
ReplyDeleteYeah, don't expect scintillating dialogue in this one if you read it. It's more perfunctory. But I did like the two main characters. And the mystery was fun. I only guessed one of the twists because it reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. ;D
DeleteThank you for the review. Honkaku mysteries? I must live a sheltered life because I haven't heard of this before. I must investigate! I am glad that you enjoyed this but I don't think it is for me.
ReplyDeleteIt was a new term for me, too, but I do like reading this kind of mystery. If you run into other similar books, let me know!
DeleteI like anything with nods to Greek mythology. Adding to list and thanks for recommending.
ReplyDeleteI thought all the nods to Minos and the minotaur and the labyrinth were fun.
DeleteThe comparison to Agatha Christie has me intrigued! It sounds like a fun mystery! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is. I like reading mysteries set in other countries.
DeleteI've never read anything like that. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy it turned out to be such a fun mystery.
DeleteSounds like an intriguing story.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, especially if you like locked room mysteries.
DeleteOhh locked room, I like those
ReplyDeleteI like them, too! :D
DeleteLark, I've had this one on my TBR for awhile, so I'm glad you posted about it. I'm looking forward to it even more now :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's one you will like.
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