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The Inugami Curse

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The Inugami Curse

By: Seishi Yokomizo, Yumiko Yamakazi
Narrated by: Akira Matsumoto
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In 1940s Japan, the wealthy head of the Inugami clan dies, and his family eagerly await the reading of the will. But no sooner are its strange details revealed than a series of bizarre, gruesome murders begins. Detective Kindaichi must unravel the clan’s terrible secrets of forbidden liaisons, monstrous cruelty and hidden identities to find the murderer, and lift the curse wreaking its bloody revenge on the Inugamis.

©2020 Seishi Yokomizo. Translation Yumiko Yamazaki. (P)2021 Bolinda Publishing Amateur Sleuths Cosy Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Murder Mystery Private Investigators Thriller Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives World Literature Suspense
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Critic reviews

'With a reputation in Japan to rival Agatha Christie's, the master of ingenious plotting is finally on the case for anglophone readers.' (The Guardian)
'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)
'Atmospheric, exciting and knotty whodunits ...' (The Japan Times)
'A testament to the power of the simple murder mystery and its enduring appeal.' (The Spectator)
All stars
Most relevant
I've previously read The Honjin Murders, so somewhat knew what to expect. I think I preferred this one although that may just be because I felt more on familiar footing. it's a lovely Agatha Christie style mystery and although you can see some beats coming there's enough cultural flavour here to create a series of compelling and cinematic murders to be untangled.

another great mystery from Yokomizo

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Reluctance was overcome when the character story reached over to me as a crime novel deeply within the Japanese tradition, if not a forerunner of it, the complications are to be wondered at.

Classic tale

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Another tense murder mystery from the Japanese master: Sheishi Yokomizo. Kindaichi, his amateur sleuth, has attained the iconic status of a Sherlock Holmes; and his echoes can be found in innumerable Japanese TV serials (and Korean serials): Death Note and Stranger come to mind. The exquisitely beautiful Tamayo, the disfigured Kiyo, the tortured and twisted Inugami family stay on in the mind long after the story is finished.
I should also commend Akira Matsumoto for vividly bringing to life this amazing story through his brilliant narration.

Another page turner from the incomparable Sheishi Yokomuzo

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This was the second of the Honjin series that I read, it’s not a spoiler to reveal that the plot revolves around the will left by a wealthy man and the complexities of this are a bit wearying in the first chapters, but stick with it as they are important to the plot.

I was genuinely surprised by the denouement, but the author plays fair and the clues are there if you re-read. As in the first in the series, the treatment of women within Japanese society at the time in which the book is set is a bit disturbing, but the women characters in this book are well rounded and have a voice. The scene in which the murderer is exposed is particularly good.

Dark dynastic deeds

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I really struggled with this. It reads like a shopping list, very blunt and with no flair. I found myself tuning out a lot and it was just boring to listen to.

I really wanted to like this.

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