Follow a Holmes & Watson-esque duo of detectives as they solve (through the help of some "ghosts") five seemingly unrelated murders. The end does tie everything together nicely (and in quite a shocking manner) but it was a bit of a slog to get there. There was a significant amount of cultural and historical information was crying out for more elucidation than the meager introductory note provided

This is a fun mystery and nicely told. Thanks to the publishers for the ARC. Hope they release more like this one.

Though the shogunate has been defeated, and the Emperor restored, this period is not without conflict, in the form of old jealousies, mistrusts and clan pride manifesting in assassinations and the like. To clean things up and ensure there are no corrupt officials remaining in power, the Imperial Prosecuting Office is formed, with rasotsu (patrolmen) arresting thieves and murderers, while investigators work cases against those in power. Two of these chief investigators are featured: Kawaji Toshiyoshi (a real figure credited with creating Japan's police force) and Keishiro Kazuki.

Kazuki is unusual, dressing unconventionally and having resided in France. He's recently returned with a descendant of a French executioner, Esmerelda Guillotine, and a shiny new guillotine. He takes a hardline against corruption, and wonders if a government can ever be just.

Kawaji is more conventional, is respectful, and feels a little stolid, but does notice vital details, and though against corruption, is a not as set as Kazuki against officials doing somewhat questionable things.

Though the two work together on all the of the seven cases presented in this novel, they're also in somewhat friendly competition with the other, or so Kazuki states, to get to the truth of a matter. Kazuki often employing the talents of Esmerelda, whom he says has trained to be a miko, someone who can channel spirits. Kazuki has her reveal what the newly dead knows about their murder and the culpability of those closest to them. These revelations often reinforce the conclusions Kazuki and Kawaji have come to on a case.

Eventually, the author reveals something surprising, which recasts the events of all the cases we've followed the two investigators on, and ends somewhat shockingly.

I was eager to read this as I find these moments in Japan's history: the reestablishment of the shogunate (early 1600s) then the restoration of the emperor (two hundred years later), fascinating.

This story certainly shows that though outright conflict is past, there is still much ill feeling, jealousy, nepotism and corruption as the new government attempts to clean up the bureaucracy. The author conveys some of this in each case, and we see the tensions between those attempting to modernize Japan and those wanting to keep Japan as it was. The author mentions translations of foreign books, a foreign doctor practising in the city, new technology, and how all this is affecting people.

The novel unfolds slowly, and each case is resolved before moving on to the next. I was kept wondering at Esmerelda's important role in each case, as there is both fascination for foreigners and some disgust directed at her, and frustration for Kazuki's reluctance to send her back to France.

There are several assassinations and beheadings over the seven cases. These are not rendered in graphic detail, but there is a lot of death along the way to the ending, which was both surprising, and not surprising, considering the questions I had from case one.

This is not a fast-moving story, but it is rich in historical detail, and makes for a an intriguing look at this specific time in Japan's history.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Pushkin Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

My journey to reading Japanese classic mystery from the different era sensei is continuing with this amazing story.

The Meiji Guillotine Murder take set in the Meiji Era that followed the Restoration. I appreciate how author filled this book brimming with historical details, cultural politic and atmospheric scene of the era. The slower pace is perfect for the story and I wont missed any details.

The cases and investigation it self little bit simplistic with all twist and turn. But I enjoyed it bit by bits such as I watched my series. This book maybe not for everyone but I found my self quite enjoy it. This is my first experience read from Futaro Yamada Sensei and wont become my last.

Note :
The Restoration was an era of major political, economic and social change in Japan. This era brought the modernization and westernization Japan to forge their way from feudal country become modern world's great power.

Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Vertigo from Pushkin Press for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Expecting release date : 4 Juni 2024

I did not expect that ending. But I apriciate that it managed to tie what first apeared as a collection of smaller mysteries into a larger one and did so by building on things that were in the start of the story. It hit me much more emotionally then I thought it would. Like Kawaji I had some suspicion but I was in the same boat as him through the whole story.
I really apriciated the introduction giving the context of the timeperiod and the political climat since it did a lot for understanding the story and the last 10% made me raise this one from a 3 star to a 4 star.

This book was quite a difficult read, and was obviously a translation, from the stiltedness of the prose. This often made for a heavy and awkward read. The unfamiliar names for the individual characters and their different garments made it very difficult to keep up with who was who, and the descriptions and appearance of the different officials and their uniforms or ceremonial dress. However, with allowance made for the fact that this was originally a foreign language book, it was an interesting read, and repaid the effort expended in negotiating the aforementioned obstacles.

Set in the transformative era of Japan in 1869, the book folllws two detectives tasked with unraveling a string of baffling murders. Alongside a mysterious shrine maiden, they delve into each gruesome crime, uncovering a dark, interconnected web. This classic locked-room mystery, set against a rich historical backdrop, is both intriguing and atmospheric. Highly recommended for fans of historical mysteries!

The Meiji Guillotine Murders is a compelling historical mystery and the 7th book featuring detectives Kazuki and Kawaji by classic crime writer Fūtarō Yamada. Originally published in 1979, this English language translation from Pushkin on their Vertigo imprint is 384 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

The pacing begins quite slowly, deliberately, and with a moderately deep dive into the history of the late Tokugawa Shogunate period (1868-1912). The author has a dry factual recitation, and if it fails to thrill and enthrall from the first paragraph, it -is- important and necessary in the context of the story. Readers who are willing to expend some patience, will be well rewarded later for the effort. The different "cases" are somewhat linear and are resolved in order, before moving on to the next. The format is reminiscent of the Judge Dee novels so well translated by Robert van Gulik in the 1950s.

The publisher has a history of plucking out important and lesser known gems from crime and mystery, especially in translation, and this is no exception. The denouement and resolution are especially unexpected in this particular case.

It's unclear from the publishing info given for review, but it appears that this is the only book in the series currently available in English. The translation work by Dr. Bryan Karetnyk is seamless and unintrusive.

Four stars. Probably most appealing for more serious fans/collectors of less known classic crime fiction, but definitely an enjoyable book in its own right. More sensitive readers should be aware that there are beheadings and body part descriptions, integral to the story, but included in the text.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

It’s 1869 and Japan has entered the Meiji era. The Tokugawa shogunate has fallen and the Emperor Meiji has been restored to the throne. After centuries of isolation, Japan is finally opening up to foreign trade and undergoing social, industrial and military reform. In Tokyo, a group of corrupt rasotsu (policemen) have found ways to exploit this period of change and upheaval for their own gain. With the arrival of two Chief Inspectors from the Imperial Prosecuting Office, Kawaji and Kazuki, it seems that the rasotsu will be forced to mend their ways – although the two men have other things to occupy their time as well as dealing with corruption.

With a number of bizarre murders taking place around Tokyo, Kazuki and Kawaji (based on a real person who is considered the founder of Japan’s modern police system) engage in a friendly competition to see who can solve the crimes first. A separate chapter is devoted to each case, which at first seem to be unrelated, making the book feel almost like a collection of short stories. There are five cases for the two detectives to solve, with the help of Esmeralda, a young Frenchwoman from a family of executioners whom Kazuki has brought to Japan along with that most deadly of French weapons: the guillotine. Despite the title, the guillotine is not necessarily used to carry out all of the murders in the book, but it represents the changes that Japan is experiencing as the country becomes exposed to modern, western influence. It also provides a reason for Esmeralda’s presence in Tokyo, which is important as she has a significant role to play in the solving of the mysteries.

The Meiji Guillotine Murders was first published in 1979 and is one of several Japanese crime novels that have recently been made available in English by Pushkin Press. However, although I’ve loved some of the others, I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. Bryan Karetnyk’s translation is clear and readable (I’m already familiar with his work through some of his other translated novels), but I had problems with other aspects of the book. I struggled with the number of characters, particularly as so few of them have clearly defined personalities and with more and more of them being introduced with each new case the detectives investigate. My lack of engagement with the characters made it difficult for me to concentrate on following the plot, which is important as all of the separate cases are quite complex and you do need to be paying attention! I persevered and was rewarded with the final section of the book where, after some surprising twists and turns, everything is tied together perfectly.

I did like the historical setting of the book and felt I was learning a lot about Japan during the Meiji era. At times it seemed more like historical fiction than a murder mystery, which was fine with me, but I think someone picking the book up expecting a more traditional crime novel may be surprised by the amount of historical detail. It’s an interesting, unusual book, and although I’m not sure whether I would read any more by Yamada, I do hope more of them are translated into English for those readers who loved this one. I’m enjoying discovering Japanese crime authors through Pushkin and so far my favourites have been Seishi Yokomizo and Akimitsu Takagi.

I have recently been heavily into Japanese mysteries, both modern and older, I enjoy their intricate structure as well as the glimpse into a society (and often time) different from my own. So I was really looking forward to “The Meiji Guillotine Murders” by Futaro Yamada, which was written in the late 1970’s but set in 1869, a time of political change and upheaval in Japan. Unfortunately for me, there was a much heavier focus on history and background than what was needed which at times took away from the story.

The story itself is actually a collection of five short murder mysteries. We start (after a bit of a history lesson) with an introduction to the rasotsu, a police force during this turbulent period whose officers seem to be much more interested in lining their own pockets with bribes than solving/preventing any crime. Very quickly we meet Chief Inspector Kawaji Toshiyoshi and his colleague Chief Inspector Keishiro Kazuki of the Imperial Prosecuting Office, who have been charged with rooting out corruption in the government, including the rasotu. Kazuki and Kawaji engage in a friendly competition to see who can solve the most cases, setting the stage for the five short stories that follow. An additional wrinkle is the guillotine that Kazuki has just imported from France, which also came with Esmeralda, a beautiful blonde who is living in Kazuki’s house.

And so onto the mysteries. Each involves a gruesome killing/dismemberment, most of which have a political slant or motive. There are many different factions and clans vying for power, the rebellion and its aftermath are still very much alive during this time, and the forces of modernization are still battling with the traditionalists with the outcome not yet completely determined. All of this background is explained and examined by Kazuki and Kawaji as deeply as the physical clues. At the end of each investigation, the suspects are all gathered and Esmeralda, who has been trained as a miko, summons the spirit of the dead victim who then explains how he was killed.

Mystery with a touch of the supernatural? All is possible during this period of unrest, but we learn some hidden secrets in the final chapter that tie everything together and answer all of our questions.

An interesting story and premise, although much too confusing and political for the casual reader outside of Japan. The author does an admirable job blending fact and fiction, and this may be quite interesting for those familiar with this time period, but not very satisfying as a mystery.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Pushkin Press, Pushkin Vertigo via NetGalley. Thank you!

It's a great mystery and a fun historical fiction narrative, too. Great characters, a surprising conclusion, and a unique setting. For fans of Agatha Christie or Shogun.

Honestly, the first 20% is where a book needs to grab me before I start trying to decide whether or not I'm going to continue it. This failed to do that for me. I felt very bogged down by how much information was given and how many names. I kept waiting for the story to start. And then when I thought the story had started, it turns out that it is more like interlocking mysteries, all solved in a fairly convenient way. The final chapter does bring everything together and has a "pay off", however, I still feel like it took too long. It just generally didn't work for me and that's fine.

Thank you so much to netgalley and Pushkin for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the plot. I was also just a bit bored throughout. This one was a DNF for me.

I hope others love this one but it wasn’t for me.

Japan, 1869. A time of reform and rebellion. Detectives Kazuki and Kawaji are assigned to investigate a series of seemingly impossible murders. Together with the help of a mysterious shrine maiden, can they solve each gruesome death and piece together the dark connection between them? A classic locked room mystery in an incredibly interesting era. I highly recommend!

It took me almost 3 months to finish this book because I took so many breaks in between and read it slowly.

The 6, 7 cases of seemingly unrelated but actually very connected murders and death by guillotine punishments described in the book have so many names and information that tends to confuse at time but they keep you hooked, nonetheless.

All the time while I was reading those cases, I kept thinking why they always resort to the Miko to solve their cases but the revelations at the end makes it all worth it. I am glad the last 40-50 pages connected all the dots. It also gives you an idea about how much the corruption and power abuse and injustice was prevalent in those times.

I had absolutely no idea that the ending will tear me up but it did 😭😭😭 Kazuki, the man that you are! Such a treat. Also, the twist about Kawaji 😩 I actually thoroughly enjoyed their conversations, friendship and rivalry in solving those cases.

A classic Japanese mystery – a pair of sleuths investigate a series of bloody murders in 19th century Tokyo.

I really wanted to like this, but it just fell flat for me. Maybe it's a problem with the translation, but I just couldn't connect with the story or the characters.

"A classic Japanese mystery - a pair of sleuths investigate a series of bloody murders in 19th century Tokyo.

A captivating locked room murder mystery perfect for fans of Stuart Turton and Janice Hallett.

Japan, 1869. A time of reform and rebellion.

Detectives Kazuki and Kawaji are assigned to investigate a series of seemingly impossible murders. Together with the help of a mysterious shrine maiden, can they solve each gruesome death and piece together the dark connection between them?

Taking us deep into the heart of 19th century Tokyo, The Meiji Guillotine Murders is a fiendish murder mystery from one of Japan's greatest crime writers."

What did I JUST SAY about locked-room murders? Catnip!

Forse un po' macchinoso ma suggestivo - d'altronde a me piacciono sia i gialli storici, sia il Giappone, sia i gialli classici giapponesi.
La struttura è anomala, il che rende il romanzo confusionario, soprattutto all'inizio, ma l'accurata ricostruzione storica e lo scioglimento finale ne riscattano i difetti.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Pushkin Press, Vertigo for an advance copy of this novel set in Japan during a time of turmoil and lawlessness, mixing both real people and situations into a story of mystery and intrigue.

I used to love reading thrillers and mysteries, but there has been a certain staleness in both genres recently. The ideas don't seem new, the stories pretty much run into each other and frankly reading a book about a shadowy group taking over the government, while watching an attempted coup leader running for president, doesn't appeal to me anymore. Mysteries and police procedurals seem to take far more suspension of belief for me than any fantasy or science fiction books out there. Again just look at the news. However mysteries set in different countries, or even better historical mysteries set in other places, oh I still love those. How different societies deal with crime, investigate it, why crime is committed, shows a lot more about people than most other books can. Especially when written by authors from that country. Fūtarō Yamada was one of Japan's most well known authors, with numerous titles, series, and mangas written under this name and other pseudonyms. The Meiji Guillotine Murders, translated by Bryan Karetnyk, is a novel set in 19th century when Japan restored power to the Emperor, was dealing with building new institutions, and the streets were filled with plotters, assassins, and fear.

The book beings with a note explaining the time and the events leading up to the book. Details are given about the Emperor, the opening of Japan, and the sudden modernization of many things, things, which were not popular to many. Readers are introduced to a group of watchman who spend more time shaking down people, than actually fighting crime. After a drunken night, these men are arrested for fleeing from a robbery by two inspectors of the Imperial Prosecuting Office. The inspectors, Toshiyoshi Kawaji and Keishirō Kazuki, introduce the arrested watchman to a recent French import the Guillotine, executing the robbers, and scaring the watchmen straight. Kazuki has spent time in France, and has brought another French import, a woman back to Japan which is causing no end of problems. Soon there are a string of murders, which with Esmeralda the French woman aid, the soon solve, but the inspectors soon realize that something is linking these crimes together, something much bigger and dangerous.

More of a historical fiction novel, than a straight mystery, but a very good story with a lot of intrigue, and a lot going on. Yamada mixes both real and fictional characters, and events to tell a story about the time of the restoration, and how the seeds for the modern Japanese police were born. Toshiyoshi Kawaji was a real person, and a founder of the police, and many of the cases in the book really did happen in the way they are shown. The narrator of the tale adds in events that fill in details, and better explains why this person hates this person or why this policy is popular, or with killing over. The mysterys are interesting, and sometimes so to is the detection. The characters are well written, and Yamada uses the two inspectors as foils for the different ways that Japan was going, which gives a lot of motivation and explanations for the characters.

Recommended for readers who enjoy mysteries set in far off places, or like to read historical novels set in different countries. Manga readers might also enjoy this as quite a few long running series are set in these times, and Yamada is probably better known in America for his manga work. I fun story that taught me a lot, and keep me enthralled to the end.

I am always looking for good detektive and murder mystery stories to read. I' glad I stumbled upon this book, the locked- room murder might be a cliché, but one that proves again and again that it is captivating. I'm also very happy about the historical and political elements that were included in the book, because Japan does have a rich and interesting history, so why not.
But for people who do not enjoy these kind of things it might get a bit too much.