I really love crime stories from Japanese authors, they always seem to manage to bring the right amount of brutality, intellect and story to make a well balanced book.

I enjoyed reading this book very much and can only recommend it to all crime fans.

A classic locked room mystery with lots of characters, several POVs and an intriguing plot. Even the time period is interesting - the story is happening right after World War 2, and its mental health effect rarely appear in crime stories like this.

4.5* rounded up

I am a fan of translated Japanese crime mysteries and especially enjoy those with a more historical focus so this book was an ideal read for me. Set post WW2, we see amateur crime writer 'Akimitsu Takagi' (love this author self-insert) investigate the strange events in the Chizui mansion where a haunting presence casts a shadow over its residents and in rapid succession bodies start to pile up.

This murder mystery is truly a classic locked room premise clearly influenced by Agatha Christie and holds up alongside her classic Golden Age stories. It's a suitably gothic and atmospheric tale written in an epistolatory style - made up of letters and a journal, which, despite being written originally in 1950, feels timeless and the style doesn't feel out of place amongst modern works published by Janice Hallett for example. The circumstances of the war do provide some plot elements but isn't a major focus of the narrative in the same way that, for example, The Meiji Guillotine Murders does in relation to post-shogunate era Japan so you don't need to know too much about Japanese history or culture to get to grips with the story.

I really enjoyed the little history notes about Noh theatre and how the plays played an important part in the story without being alienating to readers that may not be familiar with them. In fact, overall I would say that this is an ideal introductory story for readers wanting to get into Japanese mysteries.

I read this in two sittings over the course of one day as I just didn't want to put it down. It's well paced and clever enough to keep you guessing whilst also making you think that you've got it all figured out to then deliver an almighty punch at the end to give you a closing that is ultimately satisfying and gratifying. The writing is pretty verbose in places but also fits well with the journal style and for me clicked with the understanding about the ultimate who, how and why.

If you want a cleverly plotted and well paced murder mystery this book could tick the boxes for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for a digital review copy of "The Noh Mask Murder" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

With a few interesting twists, this supernatural whodunit was very enjoyable and entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley, the editor and the author for the opportunity to access this copy.

Continuing a current fascination with Japanese mysteries, we now have “The Noh Mask Murder” by Akimitsu Takagi, a haunting atmospheric slice of post-war Japan first published in 1950.

We have three protagonists in this novel: Koichi Yamagi, a scientist hired by the Chizurui family who suspects that the family is cursed, his childhood friend Akimitsu Takagi, a murder mystery writer (yes, the author is a character in the story), and Detective Kindaichi. The whole novel is in the form of a journal written by Koichi but published by Takagi, which leads to some confusing use of pronouns at times.

Koichi asks for help from Takagi, he has seen a ghostly figure clad in a Hannya Mask (used in Noh theater) in the house and believes that something evil is present. One evening they both see the mask, and soon after find the head of the family dead at his desk in a locked room, with the Hannya Mask on the floor of the study.

And away we go. This is an atmospheric story, so we need to round out the cast of gothic characters of the cursed family: the previous family head, a professor who died a mysterious death several years previously, his wife who has been committed to an insane asylum, his daughter who actually is insane but free to roam the halls, his son with a medical problem and not long for this world, and the greedy relatives: the professor’s brother, current head of the family and the first victim, his sons Rintaro (evil), and Yojiro (a nihilist), his daughter Suwaho, and his bedridden mother Sonoe. Family secrets, lies and hatred, crooked villains, ancient curses, and more deaths abound before the murderer is finally exposed.

This one is definitely dark and somber, moody and grim. A reflection of post-war Japan, trying to find it’s way from ancient ways to modern times. Paying homage to S.S. Van Dine, Agatha Christie, and other golden age authors, this is a great addition to people already familiar with Japanese locked room mysteries, but maybe not the best place to start.

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

OK, first of all, a note to authors. Just because you have read The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd doesn’t mean that your readership has. It’s not as if it’s a qualifying text – you must read this before reading any other crime fiction – so stop casually spoiling it. Yes, it’s a classic, but people need to read it cold, not knowing the solution which can be spoiled with a single phrase as indeed happens here.
Now that advice/request is a bit late for Akimitsu Takagi as he wrote this in 1949 and has been dead for nearly thirty years. Pushkin Press released a translation of his first novel, The Tattoo Murder Case recently and this, a standalone, is his second novel – or possibly his third, as the follow-up to The Tattoo Murder Case was released in the same year.
Now I know that you know where I’m going with this – the honkaku school of crime fiction has never quite clicked for me – but I’ve persevered. Some of my blogging friends are far more sympathetic to the subgenre, and some are ecstatic about it. And I’ve never quite got it.
This might just be the one that convinces me – it’s rather good indeed. There is quite a game being played here, one on quite a few levels. The inhabitants of the house are nicely distinctive and while the idea of the noh mask isn’t developed quite as much as I might have hoped for – it sort of disappears after the first death – the feeling of impending doom never lets up. And just when you think you know where things are going…
This may be sold as a locked room mystery, but I wouldn’t let that be the selling point. To say the method is technical would be understating things massively – it makes a certain locked toilet door that I read a few years ago seem simple – but the overall story here is far more than that. It’s complex but has an emotional kick and a very satisfying and clear – bar technical details – solution.
Easily the best of the recent set of translations that I’ve read – congratulations to Jesse Kirkwood for the translation by the way, it’s very evocative – definitely well worth a look.

4.5 stars
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Thanks NetGalley, Pushkin Press publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

🧠 My thoughts
If you are a fan of Agatha Christie books and Sherlock Holmes, you will like this book. This is one of the smart, whodunnit crime mystery books that are not popular anymore nowadays. This book has a mix of cultural, medical, and scientific elements that makes this book very clever and intriguing. The meticulous deductive reasoning was pretty smart in my opinion. Maybe I could see the first twist coming but not the second one.

Some drawbacks were a hindrance for me to rate this book higher. The pace of this book was too slow. I'm not sure why but this book wasn't that long but it felt like a 500-page book. By weaving in cultural elements, this book became great for some specific kinds of readers but not all.

👍 What I like
- Meticulous hints and smart deductive reasoning
- Mixture of cultural, medical, and scientific elements
- A good crime mystery without huge drama

👎 What I don't like
- Too slow pace
- Selective to some readers

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and everyone that contributed to the existence of this book for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐

This is my first book from the honkaku genre and I found it surprisingly enjoyable, much more than expected! Upon starting it, I had a feeling that it will be too slow and descriptive, while actually being packed with immersive details and hooking me. I will definitely read more from this author and check out more writers of this genre, as this novel really sparked my appetite.

😍 The good:
Amazing attention to details, both in terms of clues and sociocultural conversations. Even after taking a lot of notes and feeling like I figured it out, the plot twist came and completely took me by surprise, being also well-executed! The story was well-built and nicely blending with discussions on Japanese theatre, making me curious to do some research related to that. The pace was quite slow, but I did not mind it, and the ending was powerful in my eyes.

😅 The not-so-good:
Not much to complain on, besides the fact that it takes a bit of time to get immersed in the book. I remarked some small, but problematic aspects that hinted to sexism/outdated gender roles, though (this was not really surprising, but still unpleasant).

Another excellent Japanese whodunit, plenty of twists and a lot of exercises for brain. A solid mystery that kept me guessing and reading.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

An old seaside mansion. Dark gothic atmosphere. An exotic setting. Sinister locked-room mystery. Depraved and broken characters. A public prosecutor in search of the truth. Unreliable narrators.
Japan, unsettled nation during the aftermath of WWII. Multiple elaborate murders. Elegant, refined prose. An outstanding translation.
Eerieness creeps through the pages like the seaside mist underlying the story.
Historical murder mystery, social commentary, character study, domestic thriller, gothic literature.
Maybe the perfect book for the perfect time exists. The Noh Mask Murder has it all.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All viewpoints are entirely my own.

"The Noh Mask Murder" by Akimitsu Takagi is a gripping and atmospheric mystery novel that combines elements of traditional Japanese culture with a suspenseful whodunit plot. Set in post-war Tokyo, the story follows Detective Kindaichi as he investigates a bizarre murder involving a rare and valuable Noh mask.

From the very first page, Takagi immerses readers in the richly detailed world of Japanese theater and art, painting a vivid portrait of a society grappling with the aftermath of war and the challenges of modernization. The Noh mask at the center of the mystery becomes a symbol of both cultural heritage and personal ambition, its significance echoing throughout the narrative.

As Detective Kindaichi delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of intrigue and deception that stretches back decades, involving a cast of characters with secrets to hide and motives to protect. Takagi keeps readers guessing until the very end, skillfully weaving together clues and red herrings to create a complex and satisfying puzzle.

But "The Noh Mask Murder" is more than just a classic whodunit—it's also a thought-provoking exploration of morality, justice, and the nature of truth. As Kindaichi confronts the dark underbelly of society, he must grapple with his own beliefs and principles, forcing both him and the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature.

Takagi's prose is elegant and evocative, capturing the essence of Tokyo in the 1950s with lyrical precision. His descriptions of the city's bustling streets, tranquil gardens, and shadowy alleyways transport readers to another time and place, immersing them in the sights, sounds, and smells of post-war Japan.

In conclusion, "The Noh Mask Murder" is a masterfully crafted mystery novel that will appeal to fans of both classic detective fiction and Japanese literature. With its intricate plot, richly drawn characters, and atmospheric setting, it is a book that will keep readers enthralled from start to finish.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4

This was an interesting enough murder mystery with an Agatha Christie vibe. I found the pacing to be a bit funky, but the characters were vibrant and alluring enough to keep me entertained. I very much enjoyed the nested narrators as well as each narrator's internal monologue made clear through letters and journal entries, and each twist in the story kept me reading on. I think this book would make a great introduction for readers looking to read more books in translation as well as a stellar entry for lovers of locked-room or golden-age mysteries.

I didn’t particularly like The Tattoo Murder so I found myself hesitant to read The Noh Mask Murder. But, as I was suffering from 20th-century Japanese mystery withdrawals, I decided to go for it anyway and suffice to say, I enjoyed my second Akimitsu Takagi book more than the first.

The way the murder mystery unfolds is unconventional. There are so many twists and red herrings that if you’re not carefully reading between the lines, you’ll miss the clues. This was the case for me so when I reached the end, I was in awe at how clever everything was. The mystery was enthralling and the tragic elements of the story pulled my heartstrings. Though, I must admit that the writing was quite dry.

Twists and red herrings aside, the most unexpected thing about this book for me was actually the author’s self-insert. It caught me off-guard and I had to reread the same passage twice just to be sure I was reading the actual story and not the author’s note. The usage of this literary device was interesting — a little cringe, but still interesting, especially considering how Koichi often describes Takagi in ways that aren’t flattering.

All in all, The Noh Mask Murder is a captivating and haunting locked-room murder mystery with elements of melodrama that add to an already tragic story where an entire family ends up dead within a brief period.

Thank you so much Pushkin Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi will be available at all good bookstores.

I really enjoyed my reading of this. The setting of post-war Japan was really interesting, and I was intrigued by the context for this story. I liked the way that the different Chizurui family members and their secrets were slowly revealed to the reader. The mystery itself was a bit average, but everything surrounding the mystery really kept me compelled to read the story. I thought that the tone and atmosphere of the story was so gothic and I loved it. Started reading for the mystery, stayed for the weird family/secrets and gothic tone.

“A detective novel with an entirely unprecedented format,” as one of the characters in The Noh Mask Murders says: this was my first experience of a Japanese murder mystery, and I can only agree. It kept me guessing to the end. This is very much a puzzle mystery, with several locked room or impossible crimes, clues well hidden, and an explanation by the detective at the end. There were also playful references to contemporary British and American mysteries. What made this book unique to me was the motive of the crime, and the particularly Japanese approach to dealing with it.
I would like to have had a little more characterization—it was hard to tell some of the characters apart, especially at first. Descriptions of setting were also lacking; I have only a vague mental image of the house where such dramatic events took place, and sometimes wasn’t even sure where characters were when they were having a conversation. For people who, like me, read stories like this partly to learn about a different country and culture, the setting seemed to be downplayed by the author.
Nevertheless, it was a fun, fast-paced mystery with some interesting historical elements relating to the aftermath of World War II. The translation by Jesse Kirkwood was good. Thanks to the publisher Pushkin Vertigo and to Netgalley, who provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An aspiring mystery writer and his childhood friend must join forces to solve the mystery of a string of deaths in a prominent Japanese family that may be the result of an inherited curse.

I've always enjoyed reading works in translation - they seem to bring you closer to the place in which they are set - but I definitely haven't read many genre works. As such, I was intrigued by the prospect of this locked room murder mystery, written in 1949 but never before translated to English.

We are immediately plunged into the dark and atmospheric story of the Chizurui family, where the appearance of an allegedly cursed family heirloom in the window portends death. The author uses an interesting framing device to insert himself in the story as a bumbling amateur detective - it was rather amusing to see him so derisively described by the so-called writer of the diary in the center of the story, Koichi. The whole story has a heavy gothic flavor, and the solution that unfolded step by step lingered unsettlingly even after I was done reading.

However, the mystery itself wasn't a particularly dazzling one, and elements of it felt derivative of other mystery novels from the era. Harder to ignore was the mounting melodrama of the plot, especially where romance enters into the story - I found myself scoffing at some of the more tense moments because of this, especially toward the end.

A very well written murder mystery novel set in a fragmented post war Japanese society, in which a horribly. dysfunctional family's secrets are slowly discovered. Lots of great twists and a very ingenious use of a theatrical Noh mask.

First published in 1949 and now elegantly translated into English for the first time, this award-winning atmospheric puzzler by a celebrated author from Japan’s golden age of detective fiction is both an intricate locked-room mystery and a metafictional take on how to write such a crime novel. In the summer of 1946 at a bathing resort, Akimitsu Takagi, a devotee of mystery fiction and an aspiring amateur sleuth, runs into Koichi Yanagi, an old school friend who has just returned to Japan after serving in Burma. Koichi now works for the respected Chizui family, whose members appear to be as cursed as Edgar Allen Poe’s Usher siblings. Ten years earlier, the patriarch, Professor Chizui, died of an apparent heart attack, although Koichi suspects foul play; his wife was institutionalized in an asylum; and recently their daughter also lost her sanity. One night, an eerie figure wearing a demonic hannya Noh mask is spotted in the upstairs window of the Chizui mansion; Taijiro, the professor’s brother, asks Akimitsu to investigate. By the time the sleuth arrives on the scene, Taijiro has been found dead in an armchair in his locked bedroom, with the mask on the floor beside him and the scent of jasmine lingering in the air. When Akimitsu learns that someone has ordered three coffins, he fears that the worst is yet to come. The author cleverly structures his plot like a Russian nesting doll, with one puzzle embedded within another puzzle inside another puzzle, until it is resolved in a surprising and satisfying conclusion. Agatha Christie and S.S. Van Dine fans will enjoy this twisty tale. (posted in Feb. 22, 2024 First Clue Reviews newsletter)

The book is brilliant and whimsical. it has atmospheric elements, description of murders felt eerie. The revelations at the surprised me. You can expect family tragedy, tragic deaths, buried secrets and truths and revenge. I liked the setting of Japan and eerie description of family heirloom, mysterious deaths, detailed account of deaths, and the mysterious and haunting presence in the family. The plot is slow build as the author takes us deep inside the family and makes readers aware of the mansion’s history

This is a locked room mystery. The mansion of Chizurui family has buried secrets and haunting presence. Unexpected things and tragic happenings have consumed the mansion while the family is tearing apart because of curse or something else. The mystery of noah mask is haunting and details are so insightful. It goes like around two hundred years ago, a young Noh actor fell in love with a woman and she revealed his secret to everyone so he took poison and ended his life since then whoever wears the noah mask on the night of full moon, their wish is granted but in exchange of their life.

The mansion not only has terrible secrets but conspiracy and myths has led to the demise of the family. While the killer might be one among them. Ten years ago, professor Chizui died of heart attack then the two other members of the family died too but the cause was same. There is something sinister behind their deaths or the tragedy has gripped the whole family. Akimitsu Takagi, a murder mystery writer is sent to investigate the mysterious murders. I loved how the author has explained the cause of deaths and hidden the clues in a poem. The ending did justice with everyone.

Many Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley

I am always on the lookout for more translated dark fiction so I requested this one for potential review. I found the actual story to be... fine, but not particularly memorable. The characters and plot were average at best. This story felt slow and safe. I'm curious why it is so beloved as it didn't seem particularly different or unique that the majority of the mysteries I read and review. It was fine, but I was hoping for something a little more special.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.