Review: The Honjin Murders

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely a product of it's time. attitudes towards women are blatant in that most female characters are either window dressing or just there to provide exposition. It is also very obvious in the attitudes towards virginity and purity being one and the same.

The Honjin Murders is the debut Detective Kosuke Kindaichi novel, Translated by Louise Heal Kawai. The story follows the brutal slaying of a couple on their wedding night. In a room locked from the inside. With mysterious music being played the entire time. There's family drama, bumbling local police, an outsider young upstart detective, and secrets best left buried.

Due to this story being a translation and my woeful lack of Japanese language skills, I don't know how faithful a translation this is. Based on what I read this was an entirely predictable story, and easy read. figuring out how the author felt about the attitudes of his time was much more murky.

all in all a decently enjoyable read.

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