Death on Gokumon Island

I read this book on a whim because I saw it was available for Read Now on Netgalley and the premise really interested me, plus I really like the cover. I'm glad I did because it's introduced me to the books of Seishi Yokomizo and I'm excited to read more of his work.

Kosuke Kindaiche isn't the confident and assured detective stereotype that we often see. The way he got flustered was endearing. Still, I feel like he wasn't that fully fleshed out yet. The other characters as well have this problem, and at first it took me some time to distinguish who was who because all of them were described and acted in the same, clinical way. It did get better as we continued through the book.

The atmosphere was very well-done and I also learned some about Japanese culture. I think these aspects were the ones I enjoyed the most and it was actually intriguing reading about it. Concerning the plot, it was quite enjoyable trying to figure out who were the murderers and I got pretty stumped about it too. But to be honest, the reasoning behind it felt kind of off? It was definitely a chilling reason though and perhaps that was the effect the author was going for. The writing was good and it did have some funny moments. Technically, there were some typos here and there, but since this is an arc I'm assuming it'll get polished before the release.

Overall, an enjoyable mystery book. Definitely looking forward to reading more of the author's work.

This is a thriller in the best way, keeping you engaged and immersed in Japanese island life while unfurling murder and clues. The fact it’s set in Japan adds to its appeal as it elevated the book beyond the average mystery, and although death in it is gruesomely portrayed, it doesn’t stray into the gratuitous in the way that some modern thrillers do. The protagonist is believable and likeable, although I think the conversations between characters is somewhat flat at times but this could be due to my Western expectations.

I couldn't put this book down, it was dark, intense and claustrophobic and I loved it. Well written with a gripping narrative, twisty, unpredictable and an atmosphere that took this book to the next level. I havent read this author before but I definitely will now.

Anything that is compared to Agatha Christie and I am already in love!. I haven't read books by this author previously but I certainly will now. The book is well written, with some comedic moments which were appropriate. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the impact of the recent war.

This was like a British Golden Age mystery set in a very alien environment of a remote island village in post-war Japan. Maybe it was the translation. But the dialogue seemed very stilted. Nevertheless this was an enjoyable read with a satisfying solution

If fans of Agatha Christie haven't yet discovered Seishi Yokomizo, they have a treat waiting for them. A Japanese crime writer with a similar style and time period to Christie's, his novels are being gradually translated into English. 'Death of Gokumon Island' is set shortly after the end of World War II, when Japanese soldiers were returning from distant battlefields - or their families were being given the devastating news that they would not be.

Our hero detective, Kosuke Kindaichi, arrives at the titular island to inform the family of a deceased comrade of their loss. Kindaichi is also motivated by the man's mysterious last words, which seemed to suggest the lives of his three sisters were in danger. Soon the body count starts to mount up as people are murdered in bizarre and seemingly impossible ways. Kindaichi's efforts to investigate are hampered by the insular nature of the islanders, who don't take kindly to outsiders asking questions. Can he identify the murderer before his friend's fears are realised?

As with the other novels, it is easily readable and flows well, and is not a particularly long book. The translation must be good, particularly as one element of the mystery depended on a certain bit of wordplay that must have been very difficult to make work in English - yet reads as though it was always written that way. Kosuke is a good principal character, and the setting and era make an interesting backdrop. The crimes are not particularly plausible, but that's par for the course in a novel of this type. The mystery is satisfyingly complicated and the resolution acceptable.

Fans of detective fiction should definitely give these novels a try - they are good stories in their own right, and the setting adds extra interest.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The comparison to Agatha Christie is an apposite one - I just wish more people knew about Yokomizo's work!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Honjin Murders and was excited to read his most famous work in this new English translation.

"It really was a bizarre, and frankly impossible-seeming, string of murders"

A real insight into Japanese island culture and the beautiful absurdism of mysteries of the age. Dramatically staged, multiple red-herrings and an unguessable solution, I loved every twist of the mountain path that was Death on Gokumon Island!

A quick thanks also to the translator, who beautifully captured the word play of the original whilst still maintaining the integrity and culture of the work.

I genuinely cannot wait for the next installment to be translated!

And Then There Were None is one of my all-time favorite novels. This was an incredible and respectful homage to that book, and I loved every second of it. Well written, mysterious, addictive. I loved it.

The book is number four in a series of stories surrounding famed private detective, Kosuke Kindaichi and is set directly after World War II on an island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. Kosuke arrives on Gokumon Island to deliver a message to the family of his fallen comrade, Chimata. What happens next is chilling and presents an epic puzzle for Kosuke to attempt to piece together.

It’s a classic whodunnit and I had difficulty putting it down. Although it’s part of a series, I didn’t feel I lost anything having not read the other books yet. It works great as a stand-alone story.

The translation is seamless. It’s that perfect balance of having a natural and compelling flow in English, while retaining all the cultural references that ensure you don’t forget it’s set in Japan.

Rated: 4/5 I will definitely read more of this series!

Unabridged review on my Instagram page, @sarahfullybooked

The story is set immediately at the end of World War II as Japanese soldiers are being repatriated. Chimata and Kosuke survive the war in the Pacific and are travelling back to Japan. Unfortunately whilst on their repatriation ship Chimata dies, and on his deathbed he asks Kosuke to travel to Gokumon Island to inform his family of his death.

Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on Gokumon Island, which is unlike anywhere else in Japan that he’s visited. It’s a remote island whose population is made up predominantly of fishermen who are descended from prisoners. The island feels almost feudal with the two powerful clans who control the fishing industry. The inland sea waters surrounding the island are dangerous with pirates.

Loosely based on Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, the bodies start to pile up in this murder mystery. I enjoyed the twists and turns and really had no idea who was committing the murders. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pushkin Press, for this ARC copy of Seishi Yokomizo’s “Death on Gokumon Island” for a fair and honest and review. I will certainly look out for other translated Yokomizo books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Thinking this is the Japanese version of “And Then There Were None” is I think misleading for the reader. Yes both are set on islands and multiple people die—the similarities are superficial at best. There is no comparison.

Death on Gokumon Island is a classic and for good reason. I was completely lost and unsure who the killer is until the reveal. The translation read awkward at times but that could be how the original by Seishi Yokomizo was written. All in all, an enjoyable read especially for a rainy day!

A deeply enjoyable read, this book is a great for fans of Agatha Christie and other mystery novelists. The period seeing in post war Japan is atmospheric and picturesque. Highly recommended.

I am familiar with Seishi Yokomizo's works, but admittedly this is the first of his novels I had the pleasure of reading. I express my gratitude to the publisher and NetGallery for the opportunity to delve into the world of Kosuke Kindaichi.
While murder mystery is not the typical genre of novels I read, I frequently find myself picking up Japanese literature. It is clear that while similar to Western murder mystery novels such as those written by Agatha Christie, this work is uniquely Japanese. For those intrigued by Japanese culture and history, there are various references that the reader can fully appreciate; however, I would not go far as to say these references are alienating to a reader unfamiliar with them. The setting and atmosphere of this novel were immersive, and I found myself drawn to continue reading.
This novel is masterful in laying out its characters and conflicts in such a way that there are no loose ends by the end of the work. As with any translation, I must give credit to the translator - well done. Quite a satisfying read, and I will certainly be reading more of Seishi Yokomizo's works!

I am so grateful I got to read an English translation of this book. Although I haven't read the first book in the Kosuke Kindaichi series and is kind of inspired by Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" I definitely liked this book better and can't WAIT to read the first one despite the wrong order (which is frustrating me). The setting was impeccable , i was curious and drawn to the plot since page one and my favourite part was that Defective Kindaichi isn't our usual strong and brooding detective. He's endearing although not fully fleshed out, or maybe that's my problem since i started reading the books midway. Would definitely love to read the rest of the books in the series<33

Kosuke Kindaichi is back and this time a murder takes place on a remote island where the locals are anything but friendly. In this closed community as the number of victims mount can Kosuke reveal the murderer and stop them before more deaths occur.

I really enjoyed this novel and more so after reading the Honjin Murders. Kosuke is an interesting detective and the cast of characters on the island where all so well written (and all so suspicious) that I couldn't put the book down until I knew who did it. A gripping and claustrophobic story where the murderer is hiding on plain sight and where the Island's inhabitants unwittingly hinder more than help solve the crime.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

In preparation for reading this novel I read Yokomizo's first Kosuke Kindaichi book, which was excellent. While not absolutely necessary, it did give a better understanding of the private detective's background. Written many years after the original and taking place after WWII as opposed to before the war, Kindaichi was in a different place emotionally. On top of that, he has the unenviable task of visiting the insular island of Gokumon in order to report that his friend and top heir to the main family's fortune has succumbed before reaching home. Additionally, his friend's final cryptic words implored Kindaichi to watch out for his sisters as they were now in danger. Upon reaching Gokumon Island Kindaichi discovers the unusual dynamic of the inhabitants and the unconventional attitudes of his friend's family and neighbors. And as mystifying murders begin to take place it's up to him to help the police and locals find the killer.
Though written over 50 years ago, the flow of the prose felt like it could have been written today. While it's steeped in older Japanese culture and customs, the story is told in such a fashion that it's relatively easy to comprehend most of what's laid out, and the plot will keep you guessing until the shocking solution is finally presented.

My plan to read fiction from world over got another boost with the e-ARC of Death on Gokumon Island—a classic mystery by the extremely prolific Japanese mystery master Seishi Yokomizo, translated into English for the first time by Louise Heal Kawai and published by Pushkin Vertigo—graciously made available by the publishers through NetGalley.

Kosuke Kindaichi used to be a famous private detective at a young age before Second World War came and swallowed up about a decade of his best years as he got drafted into the army. It’s September 1946, a little while after the war ended and the repatriation of surviving soldiers from various locations is in progress. Kindaichi arrives on the Gokumon Island on the Seto Inland Sea on a personal mission—something he hasn’t been able to make sense of yet. Chimata Kito, a young comrade of his and the scion of the island’s main fishing family, has died on the repatriation ship and in his last moments has entrusted Kindaichi with saving the lives of his three sisters who are sure to be murdered soon. Puzzled as to how Chimata—far away from home in terms of both time and space—could predict the murders and how to stop them, Kindaichi gets accommodation in the Senkoji Temple on the basis of the letter of introduction Chimata had given him long before his death. Wary of outsiders, the people of the island including its lone policeman, Sergeant Shimizu, suspect Kindaichi of some ulterior motive. Soon after his arrival, a dead body turns up, followed by a few more and, like any small community such as the one on the little island, everyone closes ranks and the investigation into the murders becomes a tough task, especially for Kindaichi who himself becomes a suspect. Try as he might, Kindaichi fails to stop the spate of murders that seem to be horrifically preordained, the only consolation being his ultimate success in solving the mysteries by peeling off layer after layer of the community’s bizarre secrets.

Built on the classic frame of a closed-room—in this case a closed-island—mystery, Death on Gokumon Island is gripping as much for its plot as its setting. The author gives a detailed introduction about how the island got its name that means Hell’s Gate and builds a terrifying atmosphere with the landscape as well as the social situation. Kindaichi hides behind his unremarkable appearance a sharp mind, but is overwhelmed by his devilish opponent in this instance. There is not much space for development of most characters in this plot-driven tale except for one or two major persons. The intricate plotting compels the reader to focus on the narrative and try to solve the mystery along with the detective, and there are multiple red herrings, twists and mis-directions that keep one guessing. The denouement at the end is clever and makes sense in a twisted way though the motive for the crimes is not powerful enough in my opinion. While the translation is as seamless as it could be, some of the dialogues feel a bit odd, which I would chalk up to the cultural nuances of the original that defy translation into a western language.

Death on Gokumon Island is the first of the Seventy-seven mysteries featuring Kosuke Kindaichi I’ve read and I would like to read more of them. My hearty appreciation goes to Pushkin Vertigo for their efforts to bring such hidden gems to a wider audience.

4 stars

this is my first time reading Insp. Kindaichi's series and enjoyed the reading. maybe not to the utmost but mystery/thriller can never go wrong when it comes to the revelation.

first thing that i noticed in the story was the pace was quite slow. at some point i became lazy to continue but i still continue reading whenever i get the strength to do so. i heard a lot of good stuff about Kindaichi but as i only read one book, i can't depicted much about him but he's really calm, collected and humble throughtout the story. he looks smart too as he's some sort of haiku fans and can memorized and recognized the haiku's. he also was described as flawed as he was blind in seeing clues to solve which made him looks rlly humanize.

looking to the murder cases, that was very unpredicted. i was expecting other thing but result showed differently. the case might be more easier for those who were committed to understand properly the japanese vocab usage in this book. i was lazy to do so i used my simple imagination to grasp on the how the murder happened. nevertheless, the murder was perfectly plan. a simple bloke like me wouldn't be able to nab the murders for sure.

no doubt this book would be enjoyed by mystery/thrillers lovers.

I've read Seishi Yokomizo before so have enjoyed returning to this classic author, it's great that Pushkin Press publish long forgotten classic crime fiction from around the globe. We meet Kosuke Kindaiche who first appears in The Honjin Murders, as a character he follows in the line of Sherlock Holmes and Ellery Queen, he is unusual and the characters around him pick up on this. He is on Gokumon Island to fulfil a promise to a dead friend however things do not go well for Kosuke. These are great for fans of classic detective fiction my only quibble is that I think the dialogue is slightly off which could be down to the translation.

Seishi Yokomizo is a legend in Japan where he's best known for his Kosuki Kindaichi series,which ran to an amazing 77 books.These are slowly beginning to appear in translated form in Britain now and I'm hooked already.

Death on Gokumon Island begins on a troop ship repatriating Japanese soldiers from New Guinea at the end of the second world war. Kidaichi is on this ship with a friend who is dying. The dying man is from a prominent family on Gokumon Island and before he slips away tells Kidaichi that his Step Sisters are in danger..
Arriving on the Island Kidaichi gives his friend's relatives the sad news of his death and is shocked when the first of the Step Sisters is,as predicted,found murdered very shortly afterwards.

I've seen several times Yokomizo described as " Japan's Agatha Christie", which while his books feature a similar "locked room" style of mystery isn't really true. Yes Kinaichi is rather like a cross between Poirot and old time TV Cop Columbo but his books go beyond the actual crimes and his locations are fully fleshed out,we get their history,local myths and legends and locations like an old pirate castle ,a shrine to an ancient god and a Shaman's Lodge in this book,in The Village of Eight Graves there are hidden passages, and lost Samurai treasure amongst other unexpected delights.
Also of interest is the setting,contemporary when the books were written, which tells of changing Japanese society after the war and a nation recovering and adapting to life after defeat.

I initially picked up my first Yokomizo book as "something a bit different" and loved it. These books are quite rightly already gathering a large readership,they're quirky,clever and often have a touch of the surreal.

This book carries on from The Honjin Murders ,which are mentioned a handful of times but there are no spoilers.

I have been in love with Detective Kosuke Kindaichi's series ever since I read The Inugami Curse/Clan, the 2nd installment, and that book was just so damn good and I want more. If you know me, you will know I LOVEEEE CRIME MYSTERY/THRILLER GENRE. IT'S MY LIFE. Also, I'm a huge fan of the manga series Young Kindaichi which was inspired by the book series by Seishi Yokomizo here. Before I get into the review, firstly, many thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Final verdict: 4.5 stars

I will start with the premise of this book, what this book was marketed to the general audience. Since this book will be released in English in June 2022, I would like to try to clear out the marketing premise the publisher went for. This was said to be loosely based on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and as a fan of Agatha Christie and the book being my favorite book ever, I will say honestly, nope, this was misleading. First of all, the setting on the island/ the way the murder was committed allegedly was quite similar to Christie's novel. But, the island in Agatha Christie's novel was isolated and uninhabited while Gokumon Island was populated by islanders and flourishing with their fishing industry. I could say the murder's methods are not exactly similar but they bear a similar method which you will understand once you read the book and also if you have read And Then There Were None. Death on Gokumon Island can stand on its own feet without being compared with Christie's masterpiece, this coming from a huge fan of Christie. The plot for these two books differed so much that even if you said loosely based, I won't put the two together. That being cleared out, let's get into the book!

1. PLOT
Giving you a brief synopsis, after the Second World War, Detective Kosuke Kindaichi back from army repatriation went to a remote Gokumon Island to send tragic news of the death of his young comrade to his family. What concerned Kindaichi the most was the dying message of the friend with hidden malice in it that strikes him with fear and so he went to the island bearing the message in the hope to prevent a heinous crime from happening. But things aren't as easy as it seems with the residents of the island being wary of outsiders like Kindaichi.

The plot was slow pacing, as typical of Yokomizo because the author always started with the history of the places to create the atmosphere/ setting of the book. I found this style to be engaging because I like learning about the island's detailed history so you will know what to expect of these islanders. From explanations of the shape of the island, the history of the inhabitants, the family that leads the islanders, their fishing industry and who is the powerful figure, the secrets, the nitty and gritty of the island. For some people who are not familiar with his writing style, this may throw you off but believe me, this introduction set the book in the direction of what the author meant. Giving you these details will make you understand more of this place and their cultures and what it means in the crime that happened.

2. NARRATIVE STYLE
As usual, 3rd POV is used here or the omniscient narrator is more specific. We as a reader are usually addressed by the narrator as part of the story. Mostly, we got in-depth thought from Kindaichi but also other supporting characters were given their thoughts and views which makes it interesting to see from a different point of view. Besides that, I always found the way that the narrator will reveal to you bad news or what makes things regrettable to be something that gets me tensed because this will make me want to continue reading. Since I know things will go bad, I want to know what exactly happened.

3. CHARACTERS
There are a LOT OF CHARACTERS IN HERE, MIND YOU. but fret not, we have our beloved Kindaichi with us to maneuver us to know these characters, particularly the Kaemon's family which are the family we got to know the most in here. Kindaichi was endearing as always, his stammers, his excitedness whenever he got into one of his moods, the constant habit of scratching his head, ahhhhh this man is still cute despite being middle age, probably around 35 years old. I LOVE HOW EXCITED HE IS WHENEVER HE SOLVES A CASE. There are some emotional moments here as he met a person from the past, this showed how he remembered people he met in his life and I appreciate this side of him so much (*cries). The family we met in this book are some of the interesting characters yet they were not completely fleshed out which kind of disappointed me a bit because I would love to know them more especially Sanae, however for the book, I kind of understand why.

4. MYSTERY
Here is where the author's strength shined the most. Why I love Yokomizo's mysteries is because he used Japanese culture in his mysteries. There are lots of Japanese references such as traditional classic stage plays, haiku poetry, and significant myth or legend that act as puzzles in the crimes committed. I love how these are well executed and what made them stand out the most. The crimes committed in this book are very disturbing and how Yokomizo incorporates the cultural references are so clever. The plot twist is quite unexpected for me and I do think they are brilliant but I was left wanting more or perhaps a grand reveal. However, the sick and twisted nature of the crimes is already making me squirm uncomfortably so what more can I get from it.

If you want to read this book, I will suggest starting with the first book Honjin Murders because you will appreciate the references made here. There are some callbacks to the first case here and those who read it will love what was being presented here. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself liking what happened in here even if it's brief but I LOVE IT!
There is a lot of Japanese vocabulary here which might be quite confusing to some but there are definitions of these available here. I'm unsure if the final edited book will have a glossary for these terms and I would love it if they have since the one I read was an uncorrected proof.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (WILL GET PHYSICAL COPY FOR SURE)

I enjoyed this book and can see why it's a classic and one of the more celebrated by Yokomizo. Eerie set-up, gruesome murders and a satisfying resolution.

I have read a few books by Yokomizo, all of which I have enjoyed immensely. This one was no exception, but as with the others, and maybe more so with this one, I had a very real problems with The Japanese names. .Once I sorted them all out in my mind the book flowed really well to the very surprising ending.
I enjoy the culture and history period in this book, set after the end of the WW, there is a different perspective of the times.
Set on a old settled Island from pirate times, it weaves a story of family, greed, power and murder A very good story where the motive is well hidden and the ending different.

I picked this up as an ARC on NetGalley because of the awesome cover and I have always been interested in translated works. This one did not disappoint. Death on Gokumon Island was a murder mystery that had me guessing up until the very end and even the very ending was still a shock. I am glad I picked this because it introduced me to Seishi Yokomizo, a beautiful writer and storyteller.

The story itself is very interesting and quite unique because of how it was told from the point of view as a 'watcher' and not a main character. The main character, Kosuke Kindaiche, was portrayed as a nervous and flustered detective who is tasked with solving murders on an isolated island. However, the supporting characters themselves felt very one dimensional and I felt myself getting confused with who was being portrayed. This could be due to the true meaning being lost in translation, so I don’t fault how the story was provided for me.

The writing style of this novel was beautiful and I thought the translator did a really great job with portraying all of the minute details of each scene. The writing flows well and the scenes that were created were so detailed, I felt as if I were watching it as a film.

Overall, I thought this was a great read and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Dark and Ominous, Death on Gokumon Island is an atmospheric novel inspired by Agatha Christie. It's a classic novel and the most widely regarded of Seishi Yokomizo's Japanese mysteries.

In the story, Detective Kosuke Kindaichi travels to the remote island (in which the name can be translated to "Hell's Gate) to following the dying wish of his close friend. Not only is he coming to the island after WWII to explain the passing of his friend, he is also tasked with warning the three stepsisters that they are in danger. Thus the clock starts and it's a mad race to solve the underlying mystery before all of the stepsister succumb.

Be prepared, however, for horror is intertwined with this story. The resulting deaths are intricate and unique and chilling. Apparently the detective is known for solving murders after many of the characters involved have....passed.

It's a great detective story and the author plays fair with the audience. If you are a fan of classics and detective novels, like a bit of horror with your murder mysteries or would just enjoy trying a novel from another culture, then Death on Gokumon Island is for you!
.#Pushkin #NetGalley

I've been absolutely itching to read Seishi Yokomizo's work since Pushkin began publishing the English translation, and luck was definitely on my side! This was an absolute riot, through and through.

Death on Gokumon Island follows the blueprint of a classic murder mystery with a compelling protagonist, Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, at the forefront. However, in this installment of the series, we see Kosuke Kindaichi in post-war Japan, several years after the Honshin Murders case, and on his way to the famed Gokumon island. The island, rumoured to be inhabited by generations of pirates and convicts, is also home to his fallen comrade-in-arms and heir to a wealthy fishing family, Chimata Kito. He specifically instructs Kosuke to visit the island in the wake of his death, and save his three sisters from impending murder. This sets offa chain reaction of bizarre and gruesome instances, from the moment Kosuke sets foot on the island right up till the end.

The story is very much rooted in Japanese culture and history, which may come off as a little alienating to readers unfamiliar with the lore, however, the translation and style of narration conveys the nuances in an extremely deft and clear manner. What particularly drew me to the story was not of the case in itself, which admittedly felt a tad half-hearted and all-too-convenient with resolution presented, but rather how utterly delicious and refreshing the writing felt, compelling me to keep reading further. Certain types of narrative styles will have you rereading several lines just to grasp simple facts of the plot, however, Death on Gokumon was incredibly well-translated with the words effortlessly seeping in as you read along.

A fantastic effort, enjoyable read and fun escape from the confines of stereotypical detective fiction. Highly recommended for Agatha Christie fans or anyone in need of a unique murder mystery. Thank you Pushkin Press and Netgalley for this ARC,

4.75/5

Like a delicately unfolding flower, Yokomizo-san’s writing slowly reveals more of the plot pulling the reader deeper into the story. One isn’t sure whether minor details are trivial or not as one sees the world through the investigator’s eyes. Poetically described landscapes and family drama are the cherry on top in this intriguing murder mystery.

I have recently discovered (and fallen in love) with the Japanese mystery genre. Having recently read 'The Decagon House Murders" I was excited to try another and this novel did not disappoint. I appreciate a book where I am along for the ride, not able to predict (or feel like I need to predict) what is going to happen next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to enjoy this book.

I am new to the Japanese thriller mystery genre and this is my first ever Kosuke Kindaichi read. It's a delight to have access to an English translation of this classic series!
I did not know what to expect at all and just picked this book on a lark.

What a delightful choice of read! The entire book is filled with an ominous, chilling atmosphere. The ambient writing is strong throughout and does not dip. I enjoyed the descriptive imagery of the island, its climate & geography and its people. The writer has painstakingly crafted relationships between the people, which despite being complicated, are well explained. The characteristics, thought processes, peculiarities and characters of all the inhabitants are craftily laid out.

I thoroughly enjoyed the haiku, their role in the story and the helpful background woven into the prose. Having not much prior knowledge of Japanese literature, these pieces were very enlightening to me.

--------- SPOILERS AHEAD ----------------------------------
The author gives us a fair chance of solving this locked room mystery along with the detective; there is no random twist to make the killer's identity come as a shock.

Perhaps the only weak link in the book is that when the mystery is solved it is done so by severe exposition after all the action has already happened. Even the reasons behind the murders themselves seem quite weak and forced, as if thought of at the last minute.

Full props to the translator on their good command of the classical style. The language does not come across as stilted. Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for this advance copy!

I adored this classic murder mystery and would recommend it to anyone that loves the classic Agatha christie atmosphere and drama but wants something darker. Seishi Yokomizo writes very clever mysteries that will have you trying to piece together the mystery as you go along only for the big reveal having you feeling like a fool.
Kosuke Kindachi is japans best detective despite his understated appearance. This is supposed to be the best in the series following him as he travels around Japan as a self proclaimed drifter to solve murders and it definitely lived up to the hype. This has been my favourite published in the series in English so far as it’s set after the war and that definitely adds to the atmosphere hanging over the story.

Thank you to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for the early copy of this book. Having read The Honjin Murder, I was excited to read the sequel. I liked it better than the first book, perhaps I was already familiar with the style and some characters. Would recommend this book to the fans of classic murder mysteries and Japanese culture. I also really liked the covers of this series.

I squealed when I saw this was Read Now on NetGalley because I blew through the first three translations of Seishi Yokomizo's classic mysteries late last year and was eagerly anticipating the publication of the next.

I am a big fan of Golden Age mysteries and I really like Yokomizo's take on them. I think Detective Kindaichi is an interesting main character and we get to see more of his backstory in this one and I love the historical Japan setting. I always leave these books feeling like I learned something about Japanese history and culture while I helped solve a crime.

This is the second in the series, though the fourth to be translated and is loosely inspired by Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None. That being said, you don't need to read these in order (though this one does reference Book #1, The Honjin Murders, several times it does not spoil the plot) and when the summary says loosely inspired it really means loosely. Really the only similarities between this and ATTWN is the creepy island vibe.

I think the set up of this one was really interesting. It takes place post World War II so we get to see how the war has impacted the people and I think that plus the creepy island setting really gives this book a great atmosphere. I also thought a lot of the characters were really well developed. Each of them felt unique and had their own motivations; however, I think the final solution to the crime was ...lacking. Especially after such great build up, I really expected more than the forced solution we got.

In an age where a lot of the shelves in the mystery/thriller section lean in to the thriller category, I have been loving some new takes on pure mystery plots and highly recommend to anyone else who is sort of burnt out on thrillers.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for this ARC! This review is written voluntarily by me.

I was just so excited when I found this book in the ‘Read Now’ section because I think I never read a translated Japanese mystery novel before. Plus, the writer is one of the greatest Japanese crime authors, making me much more excited to read this book.

In general, I do not really have an easy read with this book because of the writing style and the mystery itself. For me, the writing style is not really to my preference but I can bear with it because of the mystery.

I found out that this book is the second book in the series, thus when the event of the first book is referenced in the story, I just quite lost for a bit, but it does not affect the story’s plot. This story is loosely inspired by And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, but really small similarities between both of them.

Set in post-WW2 Japan, it shows a little bit about how Japanese people lived after the war and how they deal with it. Set on the island, this locked-room mystery is one of the craziest cases that I have read (but this may be because I do not read enough mystery novels yet). The mystery itself is bizarre and quite disturbing at the same time, added with a lot of suspicious characters. I don't really like the victims’ characters, but they do not deserve their deaths. When the motives and mystery are solved, I just do not know how to feel because I am just speechless at the motives, like, how do you have the heart to do this? I'm still thinking that the people on the island have different common sense and thinking from normal people. I really like the detective Kosuke Kindaichi because of how human is (based on his characters). He is passionate about his work and very smart he also has weaknesses like his stutters.

Thank you to the translator for your hard work in translating this story. Lastly, I'm hoping to read more stories from the author especially the first installment in the future.

A fiendish, classic locked room murder mystery! A nail-bitingly tense crime mystery that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Great characters, great storyline. I kept turning the pages instead of turning off the light!

The Enigmatic Kindaichi…
A Detective Kindaichi mystery and a classic Japanese mystery in traditional vein from this renowned author. Set on the remote island of Gokumon where Kindaichi has been sent to deliver distressing news. No sooner has he arrived than a bizarre and gruesome series of murders begins. The enigmatic Kindaichi must unravel the secrets of this island before the danger befalls him too. With a satisfying Christiesque plot and a deftly drawn cast this is a wonderful example of a Golden Age mystery in all it’s glory. Aficionados of this era will surely not be disappointed.

It is always so much fun to read classic whodunits from far-off countries in another era. This is a creepy and fiendishly difficult case for Kosuke Kindaichi, the famous Japanese detective, shortly after World War II. Even if they were on the wrong side of history, the concerns of normal people were the same as everybody else’s. Mainly, whether their loved ones would return from war. In this case, one of the soldiers didn’t and he asked Kosuke to prevent the death of his three sisters. The murders are shocking and graphic. They also seem impossible to pull off and not one person could have done it. As usual with the author, and these types of Japanese mysteries, the reader is given all the clues. Also as usual, I couldn’t work it out. But that’s why I’m no Detective Kindaichi and part of the fun is revisiting the plot in my mind after he revealed how it was done. I always find the character name’s confusing in my Western mind, but the author does a good job describing and differentiating everyone. There is no deep psychological insight here, and some of their reactions were strange, but I still enjoyed the action. The novel is entertaining and clever.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Pushkin Vertigo!

Another entertaining entry in the Kosuke Kindaichi series. Maybe not quite on par with The Honjin Murders and The Village of Eight Graves, but still a good setting and mysterious murder series. As always the cover work is brilliant.

Death on Gokumon Island is the fourth of the Kosuke Kindaichi novels to be translated into English. This story takes place just after World War II when Kindaichi-san is sent to Gokumon Island by his dear friend Chimata. On his death bed, Chimata requests Kindaichi to go to his home and save his sisters from being murdered. Death on Gokumon Island contains family rivalries, theatricality, lunatics, and even pirates.

While this is the fourth novel to be translated it is the second chronologically but that does not matter if you have read the other three as they are standalone novels that do not require the others (except the first one) in order to read them. These translations are very good. Sometimes translations can be difficult to read but this has a very modern language feel to it.

I highly recommend this series of novels and look forward to the next one to be translated.

This is a classic tale of a quirky detective who goes to an island of weirdos with intergenerational family drama to prevent the death of his war buddy's 3 annoying sisters. The writing and translation were good; the story was creepy and engaging although I felt the final explanation felt contrived.

We meet Private Detective Kosuke Kindaichi on his way to the titular Gokumon Island following the death of his friend on a troop transport ship at the end of WW2. As heir to the most powerful family of the island, Kosuke’s friend explains that his imminent death will put the lives of his three step-sisters in danger and begs Kosuke to go to the island to try and save them.

What follows is Kosuke’s investigation as to why the sisters may be in danger and subsequent enquiries as the sisters are killed in increasingly strange ways. Being an island, this has a classic locked-room mystery feel and the various characters, including the local policeman, mayor, barber, priest, doctor, and members of various rival families, are fascinating. I am not very familiar with Japanese culture, but the translation was great and the narrative gave a real sense of the time and place in a very accessible way. The plot was very intricate and kept me guessing all the way to the satisfying end reveal.

I will certainly be seeking out more translations of this author’s work, and would recommend it to any fans of classic detective fiction.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Kosuke Kindaichi was drafted by the army and forced to join the war. Kosuke's division suffered a crushing defeat in their final battle and took to their heels. The survivors met up with other divisions and regrouped. That was when Kosuke met Chimata Kito. But Chimata died on board that brought soldiers back to Japan.

Kosuke was requested to come to Gokumon Island by Chimata. In his final dying words, he asked Kosuke to prevent the killing of his sisters. He just knew beforehand that these killings were likely to occur.

Three separate murderers were each committed single-handedly. There were separate cases, which took place one after the other. Was it about family fortune or just a feral lot that was full of bad manners and customs?

My personal rating 4.5 ⭐

Thanks to @netgalley and @pushkin_press for providing an arc. This copy will be published on this July 5th.

📚

#donereading #deathongokumonisland #seishiyokomizo #kosukekindaichi #emabaca #igreads #goodreads #bookstagram #malaysiamembaca

I was excited to know this is written by the same author of ‘The Village of Eight Graves’. I managed to read a few chapters before it expired and I enjoyed his writing enough to request for this.

Kosuke Kindaichi arrived in Gokumon Island to inform a family of their loss for a deceased comrade. He was initially reluctant to do so but man’s last words aroused his curiosity. Kosuke made a promise to prevent the man’s sisters from getting murdered. Things got more puzzling when he met the inhabitants of the small island. Soon, the first sister is found dead and Kosuke realized he needs to figure out who the murderer is before another sister is murdered. In a small island full of secrets, can Kosuke race against time to solve this mystery?

This is a classic Japanese murder series which involves a detective trying to solve unique murders. Like solving a puzzle, the whole story is very calm and strategic amidst the rush against time to solve this mystery.

I love puzzles so I really enjoyed how the plot come together! The story is not thrilling or particularly heart stopping but it is all about solving the puzzle. The story builds up slowly as each of the suspect is introduced. All the suspects had reasons to kill but who is the final piece of the puzzle? I also love the eerie atmosphere of the island and how unique the murders were! it really gives the plot more character and depth.

Overall, I really love reading these kind of puzzle mysteries and will be on the lookout for more!

Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the arc.

This is my third outing with Kosuke Kindaichi, known as the “greatest detective in Japan” by many in Japan after his solution of the Honjin murder. The setting now is in 1945, in the months after the end of the war in Japan. Japanese soldiers are in the slow process of being repatriated to their homes. Families don’t know if their husbands, fathers or sons have survived the war. Kindaichi is on his way to Gokumon Island to fulfill a promise to a dying comrade, to personally tell that family of his death. What concerns him is the cryptic comment his friend made about the well-being of his half sisters after his death.

Arrival at Gokumon Island brings an aura of heavy mist, an imposing landscape, unusual people who temporarily cow our detective. As he works out the relationships of the families, the townspeople, local traditions, it happens that his sleuthing skills will be needed. For murder also visits the island.

I recommend this book and all of the series that has been translated into English. Kosuke Kindaichi is an interesting character with human skills and foibles. He also enjoys people. The novels are full of Japanese period history as they were written at the time. They also reflect many social and cultural aspects of Japanese life that add so much to the stories. Enjoy!

A copy of this book was provided by Pushkin Vertigo through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book was very fun and engaging. It's a great quick read if you're looking for a little murder mystery. I didn't realize it was a sequel when I requested the galley, but it was still readable without having read The Honjin Murders (which I do intend to read eventually). I will absolutely be reading this series as the translations are released. The only thing I wasn't as huge a fan of was how repetitive the character descriptions were. It was like every time a character was mentioned you had to be reminded of their role on the island. Overall, a great book!

It's been so much fun, as a lifelong fan of whodunits and detective novels (and someone who doesn't know Japanese) to have these translations of Seishi Yokomizo's classics available! I've loved getting to see the classic puzzle mystery (and boy are they puzzles) in this midcentury Japanese setting, though sometimes the writing feels detached and quite stilted in a way that might be a translation issue, or might be reflective of the original text. (I would usually lean toward the former, but there are some specific aspects of the story that would have been especially tricky to translate and which seem quite natural in English, so kudos to the translator for that!)

As for the plot, I always feel that the mark of a great mystery is when the reader figures out some elements of the solution but not everything, and that everything they haven't worked out for themselves makes them feel like "Ah, of course, I should have gotten that!" Death on Gokumon Island gets some of this - I worked out a bit but certainly not all (more the who, much less of the how), though the answers ultimately given didn't all feel like things I reasonably could have worked out as a reader. Still, the less than plausible complexity is in keeping with the genre, and does hold together in the end. (It's definitely a fair play solution, with no sly narrative tricks up the author's sleeve.)

It's a surprisingly slow-feeling pace for a story that's both fairly short and has more than its share of bodies piling up, but by the end, the atmosphere, situations, and solutions were eerie, chilling, and definitely intriguing. Fans of Agatha Christie and other Golden Age mystery novels should certainly check out Yokomizo's work, and be grateful for the new English editions being put out by Pushkin Vertigo!

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know how much I needed this book in my life until I read it! Old-school locked room mystery set in post-war Japan that I checked out on a whim but was a delightful surprise. A hostile close-knit community, plenty of twists, wildly elaborate murder scenes (yes, I had to suspend my disbelief wrt: plausibility, but it was fun enough that I didn't mind), and plenty of interesting cultural seasoning with the backdrop of insular Japan in the aftermath of WW2. Full disclosure: I didn't bother to guess whodunnit, though the elements were there, because the book is a short read and flows smoothly enough that I didn't want to put it down. The only nitpick is that some of the cultural context / nuances didn't fully translate; as for the writing style it definitely feels a bit stilted and old-fashioned, but in a way that IMO really suits this kind of book.

I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat, but I was really charmed. 3.5 stars rounded up because I definitely haven't read anything like this before, and really appreciate the chance to enjoy some variety in my murder mysteries.

Kosuke Kindaichi, the rumpled Japanese private detective, has returned from the defeat of war, bringing news of a fallen comrade to his bereaved family. The comrade worried on his deathbed that his three sisters would soon be murdered and this worry causes Detective Kindaichi to start an investigation on his late friend’s behalf. Something is wrong on the island, but who is behind it all and why?

Death on Gokumon Island is an enjoyable murder mystery, with a wide cast of suspects and some intriguingly elaborate clues. The satisfying conclusion is well worth five stars from me.

Seishi Yokomizo is definitely an author I'd read again. "Death on Gokumon Island" (nearly) has it all: inexplicable murders, a good main character, red herrings, interesting characters and relationships, as well as a vivid post-WWII Japan.

Kosuke Kindaichi used to be a great detective - and then the war came and paused all that. In the army, he met Chimata, the son of a fishing mogul on the (fictional) Gokumon Island; and Chimata, while not a coward, had a single fear: of dying before getting back home.

But die he does, on the return trip, and he charges Kosuke Kindaichi to go to Gokumon Island and save his three sisters, who will be murdered. The letter of recommendation he's given is addressed to three people: the priest, the mayor and the doctor who live on the island.

Gokumon is an interesting world: slightly more traditional than the mainland, it's populated by an isolated people, perceived as odd and a bad lot because they're descended from prisoners and pirates. In fact, even the author suggests, poverty might have more to do with that, and prosperity is fairly recent on the island. Chimata's grandfather was the one who brought more affluence and who had a passion for culture and the arts, going so far as to take islanders by boat to see shows elsewhere. (His tastes, it's specified, aren't amazing; still, it's a leap forward.)

The sense of a changing world, of lives put on pause, of post-war chaos are wonderfully represented: abandoned military infrastructure, underwater mines, a temple bell that was recquisitioned for the war effort (and later returned, because it hadn't been melted yet), a scarcity of cotton, military boots that everyone seems to have, news on the radio about soldiers returning home, careers put on pause, people missing and presumed dead. (As someone born in 1921, Seishi Yokomizo undoubtedly had first-hand knowledge of what Japan looked like at the time, even if "Death on Gokumon Island" itself was only first published in 1971.)

Even so, the islanders are traditional, living in a nearly feudal relationship with the fishing chiefs, and offering great respect to the three worthies (by way of their professions): the priest, the mayor and the doctor. And as is the way of many traditional, small places, everyone knows everyone, and they gossip about the affairs of the important people, with underlying assumptions and conventions about how the world around them functions, to the point where events are perceived on a nearly theatrical level.

When Kosuke Kindaichi arrives, the murders start happening. The first woman is found hanged upside down from a plum tree, tied with the obi of her kimono - and things only get odder from there. The criminal is hard to identify; the one person who would have the most to gain from the deaths still hasn't returned home from the war, and the only newly arrived person on the island (and who might therefore be a hired killer) is Kindaichi himself... Until he digs deeper and everyone seems to have potential opportunities or motives: a pirate who has escaped to the island by swimming and who may be the cousin set to inherit the business if they die; the girls' father, who is a locked up madman, and who hates them; the branch family who might be making a bid for power, or at least getting revenge out of hatred.

The solution is a bit contrived (but much less so than I'd feared), but the atmosphere - ah, that's so well done! I loved it.

When I saw Death on Gokumon Island described as a Japanese version of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, I knew I had to read it. I can see why it is pitched as such (the remote, island setting and, of course, murder mystery) but it is also such a unique little read that has it's very own charm.

Translated from its original Japanese, I found the flow really easy to get into and while there were a lot of characters introduced at first, once they were all committed to memory, a really fun read. It keep the suspense thrumming and delivers on a clever plot -what more could you want?

Pushkin Vertigo continues to rerelease classic mysteries in translation and I'm so here for it.

Detective Kosuke Kindaichi arrives at Gokumon Island to tell the family of one of his squadmates that he died in the war. He is viewed as an outsider by the islanders, especially as the three heiress sisters start dying gruesome deaths.

This is a locked "island" mystery with a limited number of suspects. I didn't figure out the real perpetrator due to plentiful misdirections and red herrings.

I hope more of the Yokomizo books get republished. So well done! 4.2/5

The second book of the series, according to Goodreads, is the 'Death on Gokuman Island'. The ambience is well established by the author as he talks of a remote island, the isolation of which has led to its own twisted hierarchies and issues.
The narrative begins with the loss of Japan in the World War, and it was beyond fascinating to see it and the losses families faced narrated from the native perspective. The people in the story fall into two categories. Those who actively fought and carry the scars on them (either mental or physical) and those who had to watch from afar and assist locally in any way they saw fit.
I tried to read this book with the mindset that it was not written in a different language, and any descriptions I thought were repetitive were probably something that comes along with the territory of both the age and nationality of the writer. I state this because I think it is only because I was mindful of possible new presentation styles that I was able to appreciate the mystery.
Our lead character is a detective who had his career hampered by being drafted into the war. He is now on the way to a remote island in order to keep a deathbed promise to a comrade in arms. He has to figure out the different subtle and overt relationship issues that plague the head family of the island. In order to muddy the water, there is also an escaped pirate on the loose. There is a lot to take in with regards to the different nuances. Even with that, the gloom was pervasive, and it was not hard to feel the problems doubling with every subsequent death. The ending twist was unexpected, and the way it was handled was actually a point in its favour that bumped it up for me. I am talking only of the reveal and not what people do with that information!
The culture is unique, as is the time of the story. If nothing else, these two points are reasons for any interested party to pick this book up! The translator did a pretty great job in bringing this to a language I could appreciate the work in.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, but my review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and other works in the series.

First of all, I have to commend Louise Heal Kawai for doing an exemplary and thoughtful job in translating this brilliant book. I assume it must have been difficult to translate certain parts that depended on Japanese wordplay but still have their meaning intact in English.

Death on Gokumon Island is fraught with family drama and surprisingly, comedy as well. One thing I really loved is how Yokomizo leads the readers with just enough crumbs to craft theories along the way and then debunk them with ease on the next page. My reading experience was really fun! It creeped me out, made me laugh, made me curious, made me furious, and made me cry. Death on Gokumon Island is an incredible tale, and while it may have been better plotted (some parts needed more exposition and would have been more plausible if certain things were just mentioned in passing) it was still kind of fair play.

Kindaichi is an interesting detective as well. Here we see him as a quirky (but not too eccentric like Poirot can be), empathetic, and modest man who is driven not just by his curiosity but also by his sense of duty to the truth.

I'll have to write a more lengthy review for this book, especially on how it handled violence against women, and how the Japanese perception of patriarchy as well as ethnocentrism kind of played in the whole murder mystery.

3.5⭐️

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, you’ll probably enjoy this one!

It’s a classic old school murder mystery with all the herrings, the dramatic reveal and clues spread throughout the story!

I found it a bit slow to start with many characters introduced at once… I wish it was a bit less confusing in the beginning.

I would also advise to read the Honjin Murders before picking up this one as it is mentioned quite a few times in this book although they can be read easily as standalones!

Overall, I have not much to say about it except that it is a solid murder mystery!

Another Japanese whodunnit/murder mystery novel! This is book two of the Honjin Murders but it can be read as stand alone books.

It’s a bit of a slow start, lots of characters are introduced and there’s a wealth of information to take it. But it slowly builds up, leaving crumbs of clues for us to pick and chew over.

Incredible translation, especially with all the Japanese word plays. If you can power through the start, definitely worth the read.

“At the very end, gasping for breath, he had repeated the same words over and over. “I don’t want to die. I… I… don’t want to die. I have to get home. My three sisters will be murdered. But… but… I’m done for. Kindaichi-san, please… please go to Gokumon Island in my place.”

My thanks to Pushkin Vertigo for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Death on Gokumon Island’ by Seishi Yokomizo.

This is the fourth novel published by Pushkin Vertigo in this series featuring Detective Kosuke Kindaichi. It was originally published in Japan in 1947/48 and this first English edition was translated from the Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai.

While released in English as the fourth in the series, ‘Death on Gokumon Island’ was actually the second book, taking place nine years after the events of Book One, ‘The Honjin Murders’.

A few plot details: Detective Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on Gokumon Island bringing the tragic news that the son of one of the island's most important families has died on a troop transport ship bringing him back home after the Second World War. Yet he is there than more than a messenger. The dying man’s last words warned that with his death that the lives of his three half-sisters were now in danger. Kindaichi is determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious statement and to protect the three women if he can.

It’s not long until a series of gruesome murders begins. As the scruffy detective is an outsider, the insular islanders are suspicious of him, thus making his investigation even more difficult.

As Seishi Yokomizo is acknowledged as the King of Golden Age crime fiction in Japan, it’s no surprise that this proved an intricately plotted murder mystery. Kosuke Kindaichi’s scruffiness and hesitancy is deceptive as it conceals a razor sharp mind. He reminds me a little of Columbo.

Overall, ‘Death on Gokumon Island’ was a delight and certain to please lovers of classic detective fiction. Given that Seishi Yokomizo wrote seventy-three more cases for Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, I do hope that the publishers will consider continuing with their English translations.

A note on the cover art which continues the theme of the other books and features a sinister image against a pale circular motif. The design team have created a stylised set of covers that are bold and eye catching.

Death on Gokumon Island is an engaging mystery written by Seishi Yokomizo and translated by Louise Heal Kawai. The detective, Kosuke Kindaichi, arrives on the island, fulfilling a request from his comrade who was killed before returning home from the war. When the murders his friend predicted would happen actually start to occur, Kindaichi tries to find the killer, but his investigation is obstructed at every turn by the island locals. Haiku poems are woven into the fabric of the story and readers will enjoy the vivid descriptions of Japan.

I liked the face that I got to read a translated work. Thank you for publishing this in English and I am sure that fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this.

Death on Gokumon Island is the fourth in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series, originally published in 1971. It’s recently been translated from Japanese into English and republished.

There’s 76 books in the series featuring this detective; he’s kind of the Japanese version of Poirot.

Speaking of Agatha, this book is supposedly loosely inspired by And Then There Were None (actually my fave Christie novel), as it’s set on a remote island where the inhabitants begin to be killed off.
The main character; Kosuke Kindaichi has arrived to Gokumon with bad news; the son of the the island’s most important and wealthy family has died in WW2 where they were comrades together.
Kosuke isn’t just delivering news however, he’s following up on his friend’s last words, a warning that upon his death his three sister’s lives would now be at risk.

As prophesied, a series of gruesome murders take place which Kosuke is determined to get to the bottom of, in spite of the confusing clues, the danger to his own life, and the resentful locals.

I enjoyed this, it took me a while to get into but I liked the gentle pace and the setting of the book. I love Japan and Japanese culture, and the creepy little island felt so atmospheric. I also had absolutely not guessed the ending, which is always a joy for mystery/thriller readers!

I’ll definitely read more from Detective Kosuke; this book as well as others in the series are available on Borrowbox.

With thanks to @netgalley and @pushkin_press for the opportunity to read #DeathOnGokumonIsland.

#SeishiYokomizo #Bookstagram #BookReview #Books2022 #Book #TranslatedFiction #JapaneseFiction

I’m so happy to be reading another Seishi Yokomizo story! Loved the characters, the storyline and everything in between. The classic old school murder mysteries are always the best stories to me. The story kept me wanting more as I got deeper and deeper into Detective Kosuke Kindaichi’s world. I can’t wait to read more of Seishi Yokomizo’s work! Thank you for this amazing ARC.

“Death on Gokumon Island” is the second book in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series from Seishi Yokomizo, the fourth one that has been translated into English, another great homage to the British golden age mysteries with a Japanese twist.

This time the story is (very) loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”; our detective Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on a remote island in order to fulfill a last wish of one of his WWII comrades – to stop the murder of his three stepsisters. But Gokumon Island is a strange insular place, not very open and tolerant of outsiders. Although Kindaichi is initially welcome as a representative of his dead comrade, who was the heir of the powerful fishing boss of the island, there is still much suspicion of the outsider. And when the stepsisters start to be murdered in outlandish ways, Kindaichi soon finds himself as a suspect, even being thrown in jail for a night. Can Kindaichi find the killer before it is too late?

Another great mystery by Seishi Yokomizo, capturing the feel and tension of those early classic mysteries. His characters are wonderful, fully-fleshed and true to form. We also get a glimpse of life after the war for the defeated soldiers, making their way home amid the ruins of empire. A fantastic portrait of a different culture in a different time.

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

Really interesting! I’ve been trying to read more Japanese novels and this was another fantastic read.

I love a locked room mystery, and I found this read to be really fun to get drawn into.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

'Kindaichi-san, in our world there are some things so dreadful, so terrifying that you would scarcely believe they existed. They are things that common sense and accepted practice would dictate are impossible, but they do exist.'

The second in the series, though the 4th to be published in English, Yokomizo presents us with another tantalisingly fiendish murder mystery. Set in the post-war years - in which returning soldiers went missing and news about them were hard to come by - this sees our intrepid detective Kindiache Kosuke come to the eponymous island to deliver news about the death of a man whom he had got to know during the war. The island is divided between the main family and the branch family, and as Kosuke settles into life on the island death comes a-calling, as one of the daughters of the main family is found murdered. Then others start to die...

Fans of the series will love this, but the wider social aspects of the books are equally appealing: the post-war years and war guilt; an isolated community with strict codes of living; haiku and poetry.; familial hierarchies and feuds. The murders and the puzzle, as always, are at the heart of the book, a loosely-inspired version of Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None'. Atmospheric and initially quite slow-paced, this is an other example of why Yokomizo was such a renowned author in his native Japan. With an excellent translation by Louise Heal Kawai, I look forward to many more of the series being published.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

In this thrilling nod to Agatha Christie, Seishi Yokomizo once again secures a place among the most beloved mystery writers. A bookseller introduced me to Detective Kindaichi after I confessed to them that I was at a loss after having read every single Poirot. If only Yokomizo was more widely read! The translations are so needed and such a gift to the genre. This mystery manages to instill that very particular kind of ominous feeling in the reader, especially as the detective navigates the island as an outsider, and it remains throughout the entirety of the book. Brilliant, five stars. (And for what it’s worth, the cover is perfection!)

I think fans of And Then There Were None.by Agatha Christie would appreciate this book set in Japan after World War 2.

The main character Kosuke promises a dying man that he will go to his home island to prevent the murders of the man's sisters. The island is very insular, and the inhabitants are descendants of pirates that used the island as a base and prisoners who were exiled to the island. Soon, one of the three sisters is found murdered, and Kosuke tries to figure out the puzzle. Really, this book is all about figuring out the puzzle, and I found it quite engaging.

I would have been shocked if this book didn't live up to expectations because Japanese crime fiction is elite. This is a 10/10 reading experience, absolutely thrilling

🏯🏯🏯🏯 / 5

Thank you to @netgalley and Pushkin Vertigo for early access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review (this was published earlier this year).

This is the second book in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series. I was super excited to read this one, as I loved THE HONJIN MURDERS. I enjoyed this one, but it took me forever to finish it because the chapters are so long. Though it was difficult to keep up with at times because there are so many characters, the mystery and the beautiful writing and culture are what kept me invested. I always enjoy the endings to these mysteries as well because they clear everything up.

Yokomizo sensei does it again, and boy I enjoyed this book very very much!

"It's a horrifying thought. Not the feelings of a human being. Inhuman feelings rather."


The thing with Seishi Yokomizo's books is that, they will always leave us just staring at the wall for a few minutes. The crime heinous, smart and technical, but what makes Yokomizo works interesting is the subject matter of each parts that the book was written at its period of time, integrating with the culture and the honour of each families that is instilled as well.

Reading cult-classic-crime-thrillers always left you with that bitter sense of; these crimes can never be prevented .

Albeit Gokumon Island is the fourth translated to English for that particular order, the book is actually the second in the standalone series, after The Honjin Murders, and I STRONGLY suggest reading the series in the particular order

1) The Honjin Murders
2) Death on Gokumon Island
3) The Village of Eight Graves
4) The Inugami Curse

This is because, eventhough it is a standalone series, the growth of the detective , Kosuke Kindaichi is one that you can see if we follow the order of the Japanese release. In this case, Gokumon Island is set 9 years after The Honjin Murders, and after the period of war, in which Kosuke goes on a somewhat secret mission of sorts.

I loved the pacing in Gokumon Island, and the end of the book makes you icky in a sense that doesn't sit by right with you. Novels set in this era showed how heavy words can contain and how sometimes, the reason for each crime is right under your nose.

Seishi Yokomizo had set to be one of my favourite authors this year. I love the pacing for each story and I like that, even when the killers have been revealed, you can't seem to blame them as well. Its unfortunate as it is heinous. Given the time period, the mechanics for the murders are absolutely, genius I would say. Grotesque but genius.

All in all, would definitely recommend the series! I have to thank Netgalley for this copy!

This was a solid murder mystery. I thought the main character was a bit dry but I think maybe I would need to read the original Honjin Murders to really understand the character's personality and what makes him such an intriguing detective. In this book, I didn't find the narrator/detective very engaging but the characters surrounding the mystery were all pretty interesting and I thought the way in which the mystery was solved was also done well. Not sure if I'll continue with the series but I think if I ever need a solid mystery to go to I'll definitely give another one of Yokomizo's mysteries a try.

This reads like a very Japanese Japanese mystery. There’s deep family complications, matters of honor, and a very different approach to pacing than in western mysteries. If you like Japanese mysteries, you’re going to love this. I wouldn’t put it as an entry point. The mystery itself is both simple and complex, with the final solution spooling out elegantly at the end. The hints are present throughout the story, but easy to overlook.

All the Japanese detective fiction put out by Pushkin Press has been wonderful. A great setting, great plotting, though the dialogue is a little iffy (possibly a translation issue) and the resolution seems a little far fetched. Neither of those cons is enough to spoil the enjoyment of reading though.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different to a lot of others I’ve read and as such it held my attention from the start and I would recommend to anyone looking for a well written exciting book.

I've been slowly making my way through Seishi Yokomizo's mystery books and once again, I am enjoying myself. Part of the fun is trying to figure out who did the murder, how, and why. Naturally, it's also fun to not figure out everything and be shocked at the very end. A wonderful addition to my collection.

This has to be my favourite Yokomizo mystery out of the first four I have read <3
From the very first chapter, we are introduced to the enigmatic detective Kosuke Kindaichi as he makes his way to the infamous Gokumon Island. And this if you ask me sets the tone for a compelling mystery since I very much prefer Kindaichi narrating the tale.

Previously inhabited by pirates and exiled prisoners, Gokumon island carries a dark history that lingers in its present. Kindaichi's arrival on the island is not merely to deliver the tragic news of the death of a prominent family's son but also to heed the dying man's warning: the lives of his three stepsisters are now in danger. Thia ominous setting of Gokumon Island is integral to the story's atmosphere.

Yokomizo's depiction of post-World War II Japan provides a rich backdrop for the mystery. While the rest of the country is in a transitional phase, moving towards modernization, Gokumon Island remains ensnared in its ancient traditions and customs. The slow progress of Gokumon Island, still caught in the throes of the near past, contrasts sharply with the rapid changes happening elsewhere in Japan, emphasizing the island's unique position in the post-war era. This juxtaposition of eras adds depth and highlights the island's isolation and resistance to change.

One of the most striking aspects of this novel is the portrayal of the victims. In contrast to other mysteries, where the victims are humanized and their lives explored, Yokomizo with his flair makes them serve primarily as pawns to the unfolding plot. This detachment from the victims' personal stories heightens the unease and underscores the cold, unsettling and calculating nature of the murderer.

And the bl00dy reveal and how it plays out is ABSOLUTELY a treat!

In conclusion, "Death on Gokumon Island" is a well-written, atmospheric, and unsettling novel that solidifies Seishi Yokomizo's reputation as a master of Japanese mystery genre.