This book is pretty much what you expect it to be. There is a nice puzzle to be solved and a classic whodunnit set in Japan. I also love Pushkin efforts to publish translated classics. However, I couldn't get past the outdated views on women and LGBTQ+ people. This was written post second world war, not the 15th century. I realIy am not sure I was meant to like any of the characters in this book, they were all odious, especially the murder victim and it was very tiring to hear over and over and over and over again how pretty, how heavenly, how perfect the main female character was.....

This started out slow, but before you can say chrysanthemum (you'll find out, lol) shit got weird and creepy. An isolated winter setting and a rich family seething with secrets. To top it off, an oddball private detective named Kindaichi, who first appeared in The Honjin Murders. Although these books are standalones, I'll definitely be reading that one too. Set in the 1940s, I loved the atmosphere and period details. I greatly enjoyed this.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review. I hadn’t heard of this author before but I thought the premise sounded interesting so I wanted to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did! It took me a few pages to get into the rhythm of the writing - it’s obviously a translation from its original language, but it doesn’t take long to adapt to that.

The story is set just after World War Two, although it’s relatively vague with the dates. This must be the fifth or sixth in the original series, as it refers back to some previous adventures, but I didn’t think this affected my enjoyment of this story at all, it’s fine to read it as a stand-alone story. The story starts with the death of an elderly businessman, who is much admired in his local area, as he has built his fortune up from humble beginnings and brought prosperity to the local area. When his will is read, it’s discovered that he has set up a complex hierarchy with regards to the inheritance that he leaves behind, and it sets up his descendants to start plotting against each other to try and succeed in inheriting the fortune.

I really enjoyed this story, the characters were interesting, and it wasn’t a straightforward murder mystery - there were lots of twists and turns and it came to an interesting conclusion. It wasn’t obvious from the outset how it was going to end, which kept my attention throughout the story. I would definitely seek out other stories by this author as this intrigued me.

I would say - don’t be it off by the long list of characters at the beginning. I found it a wee bit overwhelming, but then I just threw myself into it and it was relatively easy to work out. The descriptions are a bit flowery, but again, I find this relatively common in translated works and you get used to it as part of the rhythm of the writing.

A strong mystery, and I’d definitely recommend it!

I loved this book, originally written in Japanese and recently translated into English, it brings with it all the culture, style and opens up for us the world of Japanese storytelling.
The story was very involved and had many twist and turns, and just when one thinks the solution is at hand, out pops another difficulty. The only issue I had was getting the names sorted in my head due to the unfamiliarity of Japanese names, no doubt the same that is had by others with our english names.
The story is very different, flows along really well and is very enjoyable - one I couldn't easily put down, with a satisfying, if sad ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC. There is something stylistically that I really liked about this book, it was almost Sherlock Holmes like. The patriarch of a rich clan dies and somebody is knocking off the potential heirs, can the famous detective figure it out? .

The second classic mystery from Seishi Yokomizo. Pushkin Press continues to broaden horizons of English-speaking fans of mystery. They have a great series, which moves from strength to strength. An impressive achievement. Hopefully, we will have many new names to discover in the future.

The plot was complex enough with twists in every chapter. I had figured out some of them. But my problem with this book was writing. The style the story was told is not good.

The author would say this event is important for the coming murder. If you have told that there would be a murder the suspense is in waiting. But the author couldn't create it. But all those are ignored just because of the plot.

Hands down this book has the most complicated death will I had ever witnessed.

Imagine a classic British Golden Age mystery, but set in 1940s postwar Japan. This is a terrific mystery with a mansion filled with a wide range of suspects, hidden identities, family secrets, four gruesome murders and numerous twists. The detective is idiosyncratic and appealing. The author was a leading Japanese mystery writer in the 1970s sndc1980s
I’ve read one other mystery by Yokomizo and after reading this I’m looking forward to reading more.

Like The Honjin Murders, this book is a entertaining Agatha Christie style manor murder mystery but set in postwar Japan.
Really enjoyed reading this and I'm already looking forward to the next installment of the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Inugami Curse.

I read The Honjin Murders and enjoyed it, so I was excited when my request was approved for the next book in the series.

Japan's version of Columbo is back, the schlubby, unassuming, tic-filled Kosuke Kindaichi is called in to investigate the privileged Inugami family.

After the death of the patriarch and his shocking will is revealed, the Inugami is not so quietly battling it out amongst themselves for their father's fortune and estate.

Kindaichi's investigation becomes confusing and blood soaked as suspects are killed off, and devastating secrets are revealed. When he finally solves the murders, will there be anyone left to tell?

For a book set in the 1940s, it reads almost like a modern day soap opera, filled with backstabbing relatives, hate, jealously, unparalleled cruelty and deceit, and blood. Lots and lots of blood.

The characters are many and hard to keep up with, mostly due to their Japanese surnames, and the case twists and turns with its revelations and confessions.

I liked that the women weren't entirely portrayed as meek and submissive; in society, yes, they had to fake it to make it, but the Inugami women are not what I would ever categorize as passive.

I didn't like the fact that two out of the three male cousins were sexual predators; naturally, the decent guy wasn't.

The Ingumai family closet holds a ton of skeletons, not the least being homosexuality, a forbidden love affair, sexual violence and physical violence and assault, so be aware of such triggers.

Were there moments in which suspension of disbelief was a bit difficult to maintain? A bit, but for the sake of the story, I managed to hold on to it and keep reading.

This book isn't for everyone; the drama is heavy, the deaths and violence gruesome, and the mystery held up by coincidence and luck, the former I'm not a fan of.

Overall, I enjoyed it because gruesome and blood do not deter me, and I was looking for something different to read.

And, the cover is eye catching.

I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.