Detective Kosuke Kindaichi Series by Seishi Yokomizo, Louise Heal Kawai

One of Japan's greatest classic murder mysteries, introducing their best loved detective, translated into English for the first time.In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village... moreOne of Japan's greatest classic murder mysteries, introducing their best loved detective, translated into English for the first time.In the winter of 1937, the village of Okamura is abuzz with excitement over the forthcoming wedding of a son of the grand Ichiyanagi family. But amid the gossip over the approaching festivities, there is also a worrying rumour - it seems a sinister masked man has been asking questions around the village.Then, on the night of the wedding, the Ichiyanagi household are woken by a terrible scream, followed by the sound of eerie music. Death has come to Okamura, leaving no trace but a bloody samurai sword, thrust into the pristine snow outside the house. Soon, amateur detective Kosuke Kindaichi is on the scene to investigate what will become a legendary murder case, but can this scruffy sleuth solve a seemingly impossible crime? less

Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on the remote Gokumon Island bearing tragic news – 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. But Kindaichi has not come merely as a messenger – with his last words, the dying man warned that his three step-sisters’ lives would now be in danger. The scruffy detective is determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious prophesy, and to protect the three women if he can... moreKosuke Kindaichi arrives on the remote Gokumon Island bearing tragic news – 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. But Kindaichi has not come merely as a messenger – with his last words, the dying man warned that his three step-sisters’ lives would now be in danger. The scruffy detective is determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious prophesy, and to protect the three women if he can.As Kosuke Kindaichi attempts to unravel the island’s secrets, a series of gruesome murders begins. He investigates, but soon finds himself in mortal danger from both the unknown killer and the clannish locals, who resent this outsider meddling in their affairs.Loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, the fiendish Death on Gokumon Island is perhaps the most highly regarded of all the great Seishi Yokomizo’s classic Japanese mysteries. less

The third title in Japan’s most popular murder mystery series — after The Honjin Murders and The Inugami Curse — fiendish classics featuring investigator Kosuke Kindaichi.Nestled deep in the mist-shrouded mountains, The Village of Eight Graves takes its name from a bloody legend: in the Sixteenth Century eight samurais, who had taken refuge there along with a secret treasure, were murdered by the inhabitants, bringing a terrible curse down upon their village... moreThe third title in Japan’s most popular murder mystery series — after The Honjin Murders and The Inugami Curse — fiendish classics featuring investigator Kosuke Kindaichi.Nestled deep in the mist-shrouded mountains, The Village of Eight Graves takes its name from a bloody legend: in the Sixteenth Century eight samurais, who had taken refuge there along with a secret treasure, were murdered by the inhabitants, bringing a terrible curse down upon their village.Centuries later a mysterious young man named Tatsuya arrives in town, bringing a spate of deadly poisonings in his wake. The inimitably scruffy and brilliant Kosuke Kindaichi investigates. less

What's the reason behind this sequence of grotesque and bloody murders -- and who is the ghastly murderer? These are the riddles that ace private eye Kosuke Kindaichi has to solve.In mid-1940s Japan Sahei Inugami, wealthy head of the Inugami Group and 'Silk King of Japan', dies in his lakeside villa at the venerable age of 81. In his youth, Sahei was rescued from poverty and an early death by a Shinto priest... moreWhat's the reason behind this sequence of grotesque and bloody murders -- and who is the ghastly murderer? These are the riddles that ace private eye Kosuke Kindaichi has to solve.In mid-1940s Japan Sahei Inugami, wealthy head of the Inugami Group and 'Silk King of Japan', dies in his lakeside villa at the venerable age of 81. In his youth, Sahei was rescued from poverty and an early death by a Shinto priest. However, upon Sahei's death, his debt of gratitude to the priest unleashes a bitter curse, triggering a chain of gruesome and bizarre murders as the members of the Inugami family are pit against each other in a desperate contest for his fortune.This haunting tale of murder and suspense is the first of over 80 books, famous in Japan, featuring the popular detective, Kosuke Kindaichi. His disorderly character and eccentric habits conceal razaor sharp deduction skills that enable Kindaichi to solve the crimes.Discovering the Inugami Clan's terrible secrets of forbidden liaisons, monstrous cruelty, and disguised identities, Kindaichi unravels the complex web of human relationships and passions that lie behind the murders.Seishi Yokomizo's books have achieved incredible success with sales of more than 55 million copies, and his novels have been made into countless movies and TV dramas in Japan. The film version of The Inugami Clan was the phenomenal event of the year when it was released in Japan.The Inugami Clan is the first English translation of Yokomizo's works, and is the best-selling book in the Detective Kindaichi series.From the publisher: for more mystery from Japan, check out The Tokyo Zodiac Murders: Detective Mitarai's Casebook by Soji Shimada. less

An ingenious and highly atmospheric classic whodunit from Japan’s master of crime.Amid the rubble of post-war Tokyo, inside the grand Tsubaki house, a once-noble family is in mourning.The old viscount Tsubaki, a brooding, troubled composer, has been found dead.When the family gather for a divination to conjure the spirit of their departed patriarch, death visits the house once more, and the brilliant Kosuke Kindaichi is called in to investigate... moreAn ingenious and highly atmospheric classic whodunit from Japan’s master of crime.Amid the rubble of post-war Tokyo, inside the grand Tsubaki house, a once-noble family is in mourning.The old viscount Tsubaki, a brooding, troubled composer, has been found dead.When the family gather for a divination to conjure the spirit of their departed patriarch, death visits the house once more, and the brilliant Kosuke Kindaichi is called in to investigate.But before he can get to the truth Kindaichi must uncover the Tsubakis’ most disturbing secrets, while the gruesome murders continue… less