Classic Japanese whodunits set in a specific historical time is becoming a personal comfort genre! I've been eyeing the Honjin Murders for awhile now (I love the covers of this series) but this book turns out to be my first foray into Yokomizo's Detective Kosuke Kindaichi stories when I received an ARC for it.

Oh what a cozy yet compelling read, very reminiscent of the vibes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's and Agatha Christie's works, clear inspirations of the genre. I adored diving into not only the intriguing and all-consuming mystery, but also post WWII Japanese society. Murder mysteries such as this are surprisingly handy in exploring specific nuances in society during its time period setting, and seems to be a particular strong point for classic Japanese murder mysteries as authors use their art to express commentaries otherwise oppressed.

I am a fan of Kindaichi himself as he does not come off too cocky, just someone with a quick, curious mind who has a high tolerance for brutal drama and crime scenes. While you will have to stomach the occasional unnecessary remark on women like "she is not considered a beauty" or "she placed her heavy hips on the stool...", the overall characterisations of the female characters have surprising depth and are varied. I also forgive the author on account of calling one of the annoying male characters a toad.

I binged this as an audiobook and I loved that experience, the narrator Akira Matsumoto went all out! Each character has a distinct voice and feel, and he went above and beyond voice acting emotional scenes. The narrator has an Australian accent and while that is an absolute win for me, listeners not used to the accent might find the narration of this story quite surprising.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio and the author for this advance reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

Thank You, NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review The Devil's Flute Murder by Seishi Yokomizo.

The story reminded me of Agatha Christie's mysteries. It was atmospheric and engaging.

The only thing which kept me from enjoying the book as much as I would have loved to is the narration.

I was not too fond of the hysterical voice modulation of some characters. It made the listening experience very unpleasant.

Otherwise, it was a good mystery. I think this needs to be read rather than listened to.

Originally written in 1973 and now released by Bolinda Publishing with translation from the Japanese by Jim Rion and narrated by Akira Matsumoto. The story is set in post WW2 Japan and was reflective of the times post war which was contemporary for the author. The Detective Kindaichi Mysteries first came out as serials and later as books which were popular in Japan. The series is finding new readers among those whose families originated there and seems to be quite popular with those who have a greater understanding of the background. Which is my roundabout way of saying that while the deductions were exemplary, I found it slow and difficult for me to relate. But it is interesting and I do favor books set in places I can never afford to visit. And I geek history. Glad that I read it.
I requested and received a free temporary audio copy from Bolinda Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!
#AussieNarrator

This is the fifth one in the series that I’ve listened to. I think that’s all that’s been translated so far out of almost EIGHTY books. I absolutely love Japanese writers and especially mysteries. Detective Kindaichi is such a real character to me, much more so than my beloved Poirot.

In this locked room mystery he is trying to figure out who is brutally murdering members of a household after the war. It’s a very moody story that involves a seance and a record player that keeps playing a composition of the recently deceased patriarch.

The audiobook is very atmospheric with bits of music throughout since the patriarch was a composer. Akira Matsumoto is a very good narrator.

I see that another one will be published soon. Can’t wait to see what Detective Kindaichi gets up to next.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for the advance copy of the audio book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The music of the flute, a death. No wonder it is called The Devil's Flute. Some great mysterious deaths in this, including a locked room. Originally written in 1953 as part of the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series (number 5, this one), this classic book has been given new life with a great Bolinda Audio edition. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I listened to the audio of Seishi Yokomizo's translated historical Japanese murder mystery with its echoes of the golden age of crime fiction with its echoes of Agatha Christie. It is just over 11 hours long, and is ably and commandingly narrated by Akira Matsumoto, who brings to life the characters with his distinct range of voices. Set in 1947, in the atmospheric post-war period, living with the heavy destruction that had taken place, the rubble and stark landscape of Japan, Yokomizo's provides an intriguing, intricate, and complex dark whodunit, inhabited by a wide range of disparate characters. In Azabu Roppongi there is a family estate in which resides Viscount Tsubaki, married to wife, Akiko, and daughter, Mineko, along with an uncle, Tamamushi, his mistress, Kikue, and other members of the family

Musician Tsukaki, after being interviewed by the police and despite providing an alibi, had apparently feared disgrace over a notorious set of heinous murders, the brazen and horrifying Tengindu Tokyo jewellery store poisonings. This dark cloud is supposed to account for his suicide, but his ghost haunts the present, and Mineko looks for help from the shabbily dressed, but astute detective, Kosuke Kindaichi. He looks into the disturbing events, and attends a divination, becoming privy to the presence of a bizarre and sinister 'devil's' mark, hearing Tsubaki's oddly unsettling tune, leading him to dig deep into the family, its members, history, family relationships, and more. He is joined in his painstaking, detailed and assiduous inquiries and interviews by Chief Inspector Todoroki, togeher unearthing family secrets as more murders take place.

We are given a picture of Japan in this fascinating historical period, the chaos and turbulence, the impact of the war, attitudes, differences in the generations, aspects of Japanese culture, and the social and economic changes underway. This is an absorbing and engaging read that requires patience and the audio demands you pay attention to the details to avoid getting lost in this imaginative and haunting mystery, as we make our way through the long list of suspects, the twists and turns, the sins of the past, until finally reaching the surprising and disturbing final conclusions. This will appeal to readers of murder mysteries, historical fiction, particularly those interested in post-war Japan, and I can certainly recommend the audio. Many thanks to Bolinda Audio for the ALC.

The Devils Flute murders is a Japanese crime mystery that keeps you on your toes trying to solve the mystery. Every time you think you know the answer more clues are reveled. This book was also wonderfully narrated by Akira Matsumoto, who gives each character a distinct voice and traits. The entire book was like listening to an episode of 48hours and living the case at the same time as the detectives. They drop little hints throughout the book that throw you off and keep you guessing.

I first learned of this series from a Japanese to English translator friend of mine as well as by watching the movie of Death on Gokumon Island with my husband — this specific novel The Devils Flute Murders also falls under historical fiction as the events at the beginning of the book are loosely based on true events of mass murder by poisoning which happened in 1947/ 48. (So, of course I went down the rabbit hole reading and learning about the real events before continuing with the book ) This book and series has a feel of Sherlock Holmes mixed with Hercules Perot — with more comedy --as I do find Kosuke Kindaichi quite amusing in his comments and intelligent way of investigating. This is a complex storyline that at times is hard to follow as there are many characters — but in the end it all comes together. I listened to this story as an audiobook and I enjoyed the narrators voicing of the story -- the many voices that were helpful in distinguishing the characters — the mens young and elderly voices, the inspector-Kosuke Kindaichi--raspy voice which really suits his scruffy looks and demeanour in the story, the youthful women as well as the older women voicing were also well done. Overall, this book plays out very much like a murder mystery RPG—it is important to pay attention to the details to figure out the killer , motive and means of opportunity. I am looking forward to more books from this series.

I love Seishi Yokomizo. They are one of my favorite mystery writers so being able to listen to it has even great because I've been trying to get into audio books. I loved this and like always Seishi Yokomizo and their translator's never disappoint

The Devil's Flute Murder written by the master of Japanese Crime Fiction by Seishi Yokomizo and narrated by Akira Matsumoto is a deeply immersive, dark and thrilling mystery that roils and twists, weaving through many story arcs around the intended self-unaliving of Viscount Tsubaki who has apparently done the deed to assuage himself of the reputational desecration of being accused of the poisioning of multiple people

This is a translated version and it was read beautifully by Akira Matsumoto. There ware a lost of characters, but Matsumoto did a fantastic job of building each character in line with the narrative

I was utterly in awe of the depth and complexity of this mystery and could not have imagined the outcome. Based on the central premise of Japanes culture, to maintain faace and honour, it is artfully constructed and a deeply compelling listen

Highly recommended and I look forward to exploring Seishi Yokomozo further!

A highly compelling, tumultuous tale that belies the stereotypical nature of a book club into something much darker, deeper and ultimately, deadly. Way different from anything else I have read from the time this was written and as such, I am hooked. An awesome listen

Thank you to Netgalley, Bolinda Audio, the author Seishi Yokomozo and the narrator Akira Matsumoto for this brilliant ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own