Murder in the Crooked House: 24 (Pushkin Vertigo)

Good

Beyond all the trappings of complex puzzles, despicable villains, cheer-worthy detectives.etc..a murder mystery is essentially a tragedy. Bigger the picture, greater the pain. That has been the case especially with the so-called locked room mysteries. All the hallowed members of that pantheon, from 'Murder in the Orient Express' to this particular novel— are harvests of pain and loss.In this book, amidst the trappings of a fiendishly clever plot full of gothic horrors and Carrolian designs, murder happens— again and again. But as our protagonist unravels the seemingly impossible problem into logical inevitability, we rush towards the reality.Life, even death is a journey from pain to pain— it seems.The quality of translation was extraordinary. But, I think, I have had my fill of Soji Shimada.Nevertheless, that shouldn’t stop you. Please, enjoy this book. You won't be able to forget it— believe me.Recommended.

Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada (translated by Louise Heal Kawai)Genre, Detection, "locked room" murder mysteryThere's a dead giveaway that allows the astute reader to guess whodunit. However, although the blurb states that the reader has all the clues, the plot is so absurdly convoluted that it's not worth bothering about 'howdunit'. Despite this, the book is enjoyable for its hyperbolically theatrical characters, setting, and storyline. Accept the bizarre, go along for the ride, and you will find the book entertaining; take it seriously, and you won't. Having said so, this is one author whom I will not revisit.

The Pushkin Vertigo is a good initiative, no doubt, but the production of the book is disappointing. The binding is loose and the pages are coming out. Not Done!!!

Excellent mystery! Murder- thrillers are always super fun to read! And this one is quite unique. Keeps us guessing and the added attraction is the various sketches to give us an idea of the house and the rooms where murder occurs...

This was my first venture into the realm of locked room murder mysteries; now I'm hooked! This book is a great way to introduce yourself to a whole new genre of murder mysteries.

Originally written in 1982 by Soji Shimada, the book was revised in 2016 and only available in English translation this year. An award winning mystery writer in Japan, Mr. Shimada has been dubbed the “God of Mystery.” Apparently for good reason. Murder in the Crooked House is a locked room mystery like nothing you have ever read before.An unnamed narrator (revealed at the end of the book) tells the story of the murders that occur at the architecturally odd Ice Floe Mansion, located at the northern tip of Japan. Modeled in part after the leaning tower of Pisa, the house leans at a slight angle. The interior is a maze of rooms, staircases, and one drawbridge. The house was designed and built by the successful business man Kozaburo Hamamoto as his retirement home. He lives there with his 23 year old daughter and his strange collection of Tengu masks and clockwork dolls. Written like a play, the story takes place over Christmas Holiday 1983. Mr. Hamamoto invites several friends and associates to spend the holiday with him. There is a big blizzard and then the guests start to die. In their locked bedrooms with no possible way of entry. The local police are stumped (and perhaps not that bright). No solution can be found until they are joined by Kiyoshi Miatrai and his good friend. Miatrai is a fortune teller and psychic by trade, but is credited with solving one of the more baffling mysteries in Japan.This was a very enjoyable and inventive book. While I thought that the “who” was fairly easy to figure out, the “why” and certainly the “how” are much more puzzling. The book contains a cast of characters, which is helpful in sorting out the Japanese names. It also contains some sketches of the house and murder scenes. The drawing of the house is particularly valuable to help you form a mental image of the house. This is a compelling and enjoyable read. The characters are a bit of caricatures, which may have been purposeful. The police are a hoot! To fully solve the mystery, the reader will need to carefully read and study the details. This is a complex story of murder, revenge, and honor with some very unique twists.

Fun little mystery without all the preamble that made the last translation of this author a bit too tedious. Hopefully more Japanese mysteries to come.

This was an interesting, thought provoking follow up to my favorite mystery novel of all time, Tokyo Zodiac Murders. The author creates a creepy, intense atmosphere and the solution to the mystery is top notch. I did feel it was a bit overly long, but still an excellent read.

Just perfect