Japanese Murder Mystery Book Recommendation: The Labyrinth House Murders
Hi Readers!
After months I finally read a book at a stretch for 5+ HOURS!! What a feeling to feel like myself! Whatever you are reading now, pause it, and pick up the latest by Yukito Ayatsuji novel!! I had been reading The Labyrinth House Murders for two weeks. But today, I completed the remaining 70% of it and, wow, am I impressed with the masterful writing! Read more below!
~~GOODREADS DESCRIPTION~~
THE TWISTY AND INGENIOUS FOURTH INSTALLEMENT IN THE BIZARRE HOUSE MYSTERIES.
The famed mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro lives a life of seclusion in the remote Labyrinth House. When Yotaro invites four young crime authors to his home for a birthday party, they are honoured to accept. But no sooner have they arrived than they are confronted with a shocking death, then lured into a bizarre, deadly competition…
As the twisted contest gathers pace, murder follows murder. The ingenious sleuth Shimada Kiyoshi investigates, but can he solve the mystery of the house before all those trapped in its labyrinth are dead? And can you guess the solution before he does?
~~THOUGHTS~~
Are you a mystery aficionado? Love reading whodunits? Enjoy figuring out who’s the murderer? If you do, I believe you would have read too many crime, mystery & thriller novels. And, more often than not, you are able to identify the killer. Most times, it’s pretty predictable. I get it, because we’re the same. So, when I came across a book which shocked me and proved me wrong multiple times, I immediately loved it, and now I cannot stop recommending it!
Four authors, a critic, a publisher & his wife, and our ‘great detective’ Shimada Kiyoshi are all invited to Miyagaki Yotaro’s labyrinth house for his 60th birthday party. What starts as a harmless April Fools’ joke turns into grim mass murders. They are all locked in the underground labyrinth house. Will they be alive until they figure out how to get out is the real question. The labyrinth concept and the entire architecture of the house was brilliantly executed.
I loved how the rooms were inspired from Greek mythology, and how that connected to the murders in a subtle way without it hitting you in the face. I loved how what I thought was predictable was meant to be thought as predictable. I loved how the actual mystery had so many layers to it that I was dumbfounded. I loved that I got tricked three times into believing something, which turned out to be something/someone else!
I have read all three of Yukito Ayatsuji’s novels and my love for them has increased with every addition. These are the kind of mysteries that are not a simple whodunit. They are unpredictable. They always have way too many characters. They’re always cantered around a complicatedly built house, all of which are the works of the architect Nakamura Seiji. In this book, we have a book within a book. It’s one of the most cleverly written novel I’ve read, mystery genre or otherwise. And, whether you enjoy mysteries or not, read Japanese translations or not, you should definitely read this one. I have rated The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, translated by Ho-Ling Wong at 5/5 stars!
If you would like to see the review of the previous two books, check them out below!
Until next time,
About The Author
Aishwarya Shenolikar
Hello! I'm Aishwarya, an Introverted bookworm & writer. I have been reviewing books since 6 years on my blog - Mindscape in Words. My favourite genres are Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Magical Realism, Poetry, Fantasy & Memoirs. I like the kind of books which evoke emotions on several levels leaving me wrecked, but also incredibly content. I'm dreaming for the world to paint a landscape full of words, more like Mindscape in Words. Hope you enjoy the view.
