This book was extremely clever. The way that the story was crafted around previous incidents made this more compelling to read.

This one just ended up not working for me mostly for the narration/writing style. I like to feel connected to the story and characters and that's what tends to draw me into a story, but I always felt so far away from the characters in this one. I felt like an outside observer just trying to follow along as best as I could.

Also what was that ending? Period blood? I feel like this author doesn't understand basic biology at all and sets back women's rights decades. Take a basic anatomy class please.

An older, very successful and influential mystery writer invites four protegees and three critics to his house in order to celebrate his sixtieth birthday. But as the guests wait, it becomes apparent something is wrong - only to be informed their host committed suicide.

The old author has left an odd will: he will split his immense fortune between setting up a literary prize and the one writer who can come up with the best 50-page mystery story in the next few days, and the judges will be the three critics. But as the days go by, murders start happening in the labyrinthine underground home and none of the guests can get out.

"The Labyrinth House Murders" is quite enjoyable, despite being a bit too dry for my tastes. But while the characters and setting aren't all that fleshed out, the mystery itself is exciting. It has twists and turns (like a labyrinth, lol) and stories within stories leading to false turns. And while I was quite sure I had the murderer right early on, I was still surprised to see how everything panned out at the end. Fun!

"𝐀𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥. 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞... 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲."

The Labyrinth House Murders is the third instalment of loosely connected books, each featuring a unique house designed by architect Nakamuri Seiji where impossible crimes occur and amateur detective Shimada tries to solve the case.

Four mystery authors, a critic, an editor and his wife, and a mystery novel aficionado have been invited to the infamous Labyrinth House for famed mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro's birthday, but soon all are drawn into a bizarre deadly competition that sees them locked in with no escape. Can the aficionado, Shimada, and the editor, Utayma, solve the crimes before all are dead?!

This story-within-a-story is quite addicting. It takes a second to understand the set-up: the beginning and end of the book are 'real life people' while the rest is the published story of what happened at Labyrinth House. Once I understood this, I was fully invested in this Japanese murder mystery classic. Translations can be tricky, as they don't always flow the way they do in their native language, but Ho-Ling Wong does a great job at balancing tone and flow. I listened to a portion of the story at the beginning, which I found very useful. Kaipo Schwab reads with a lot of expression, bringing the story to life; hearing character names pronounced correctly helped me keep track of them and allowed me to read their names properly. The plot is a bit convoluted, but once the murders start, they come fast and furious, heightening the sense of claustrophobia and danger. I adored the two amateur detectives, Shimada (who reminds me of a Japanese Poirot) and Utayma (who is the Hastings to Shimada). Just when the story seems like it came to a logical ending, Yukito Ayatsuji adds an epilogue that blows things out of the water! I appreciated the explanation Ayatsuji gave in breaking down the twisty plot.

The Labryinth House Murders is prime example of Japanese murder mysteries, with atmosphere and satisfying twists. Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Not difficult to follow at all. Fun to read and try and figure it out as you go. Interesting cast of characters that aren't confusing or difficult to tell apart. Really enjoy this author's work.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the audio also! This one felt layered and like YOU ARE FATALLY INVITED. While the basis of a literal locked room (or house in the case) wasn't new, I enjoyed all the different layers that felt original.

Another banger from Yukkito Ayatsuji.
I do worry sometimes about how far it can go but this slapped again! Such clever clever writing once angain! Actually obsessed with the ending, by far one of the best thriller books i've read to date!

The Labyrinth house murder had the stilted, cold narration that I find to be pretty typical in translated Japanese fiction, however I don’t mind it terribly in a murder mystery story. The puzzle itself was intriguing and I had quite a good time taking notes, making diagrams, and trying to solve the mystery with all the little clues, though the on page rehashing of clues was pretty repetitive. I also enjoyed the allusions to Greek mythology. Unfortunately, none of the things I liked could make up for the horrendous, misogynistic, medically inaccurate reveal. I am genuinely shocked that this ended up with a translation/republish in 2025. It seems as though the author has never before encountered a woman.

Pushkin Press is reissuing Yukito Ayatsuji's House /Shimadamurder series bringing more recognition to this master craftsman. The Labyrinth House Murders is by far my favorite of the three, although I really enjoy them all.

A group of young mystery writers comes to the house at the bequest of an esteemed older writer who lives in an underground house that is literally a Labyrinth, with all rooms decorated and named after the Minotaur myth. When on of the party does, and a strange competition ensues, it's a good thing detective Shimada Kiyoshi was in the party.

As the death toll rises, and there's no way out, we, the reader, are tricked and turned every which way.
Let me tell you: the ending is stunning, and you will not have come to the conclusion yourself, although the Fair Play ethos lays it out for you.

A famed murder mystery writer is celebrating his 60th birthday with a party for a select few. Invitees include four up and coming writers of the same genre, critics, and his editor. The guest of honor never showed, and it's revealed he committed suicide and has left a will with a competition for the writers to inherit. The writer's death is only the beginning of death as murders keep occurring and it's up to those left to work out whodunnit.

I've read several Japanese murder mysteries, and they are generally quite enjoyable. This one was surprising for how modern it was and that put me off track a bit. This one also was a book within a book which was a good premise, and it definitely kept me off balance some of the way through. I had figured out part of the mystery but the revelations at the end took me by surprise. And yet they really weren't so surprising as they sort of fit the book better than earlier reveals. I must admit that part of the revelation didn't quite sit right with me and perhaps this is a sign of the times when it was written.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book that is sure to appeal to those who enjoy a good murder mystery. Thank you to Pushkin Vertigo and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. My review has been completely voluntary.

Having enjoyed previous books from this author I was hopeful that I’d feel similarly about this but I’m afraid what let it down was the lack of character development. I didn’t care for any of the characters and it’s such a pity because the story itself would have been so much more engaging had they been fleshed out more.

The period explanation really took me out of it too and I felt the author really doesn’t understand women’s bodies and how they work. It just felt a bit all over the place. The concept was interesting but the execution of it let it down.

The Labyrinth House Murders is the fourth in series for Ayatsuji's detective, Shimada Kiyoshi. All three have involved labyrinthine houses and Labyrinth House is (surprisingly) no different, having been designed by the same architect, Nakamura Seiji.

The story, thankfully, is nowhere near as complicated as the last two and the cast of characters is not quite as enormous. I still didn't work out whodunnit, so some things don't change.

The plot revolves around Miyagaki Yõtarõ, a terminally author who invites several people to his home, Labyrinth House, for his birthday party. Amongst the guests are a critic, his editor and four mystery writers.

However almost as soon as the stay begins a tragedy occurs and then a strange and deadly game begins which leaves all the guests trying to find the answers before more tragedy happens. And it's not easy even navigating Labyrinth House, let alone trying to work out what's going on.

This was my favourite of the series so far, mainly because I didn't get hopelessly lost. It does throw several curveballs at you along the way and the twisty end is excellent. My only advice is not to ignore the afterwords or epilogues.

Definitely recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Vertigo for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

This is my second time reading a japanese murder mystery book and they're great. A famous mystery writer lives alone in the middle of nowhere in the labyrinth house. He invites amateur authors and critics to his house for his birthday but instead they all end up involved in a real life murder mystery game, not only do they have to figure out who the killer is and how to stay safe, but they also have to navigate the labyrinth house too.
Throughout the story you find yourself saying, I know who the killer is but when it came to the epilogue it just turns everything onto its head, it seems so unrealistic but in the layout of the story it works.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this book. Ive read a few Japanese murder mystery book and there's just something about them I love,

would recommend this book to any mystery lover

Imagine being trapped in a maze overnight with a murderer…

A rich retired mystery novel author invites a group of mystery authors, a critic, an editor and a mystery fan to his mansion, which features a mysterious maze in the middle of the house. When a murder occurs and the group realised they may be trapped in the labyrinth with a potential murderer, they must work together to solve the clues based on the Greek myth of the Minotaur to identify the killer.

The concept of the characters trapped in a maze with a murderer was quite creepy, but the eccentric cast of mystery writer characters kept the story from being too dark. The plot was exciting and moved fast, and I did not expect the twists at the end!

I don’t normally ready mystery novels but will definitely read Yukito Ayatsuji’s other books after this one!

Thank you Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

The third translated installment of the Bizarre House Mystery series by Yukito Ayatsuji - and a third hit for me! If you enjoyed both The Decagon House Murders and The Mill House Murders, The Labyrinth House will take you along similar paths in a new twisty (literally) mansion in a remote location.

The Labyrinth House Murders follows a group of writers, editors, critics, and our unassuming detective Shimada Kiyoshi as they arrive for the 60th birthday of renowned mystery author, Miyagaki Yotaro, at his house designed by Nakamura Seiji - an underground home with a literal labyrinth steeped in Greek mythology at its heart. Things take a turn when someone is found dead, and a deadly competition for a chance at fame and fortune begins. Who will make it out of The Labyrinth House alive?

Full transparency, while The Labyrinth House is probably my favorite of the series so far, there is an aspect of the final reveal that I didn't care for. It was still a good time though, and I'd recommend it to anyone who has a love or an interest in classic or golden age murder mysteries, locked room mysteries, and the like. I will keep reading them as they are translated!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for a digital arc - all opinions are my own.

A famous writer invites a group of authors and others to his isolated house. The house is built like a maze and various parts are named after characters from the Greek myth of Theseus. Immediately the group are informed that their host is dead and that his will sets a competition in which the winner will receive a huge bequest. However, soon all the writers have been murdered and it is up to the remaining visitors to solve the mystery.
This is a very Japanese twist on the locked room mystery and is a rather refreshing interpretation. I can imagine the translator had to work hard to ensure that the translation did not give away too many clues. I was finding the story very odd but the final twists really made a difference to my enjoyment.

The Labyrinth House Murders is the third book in Yukito Ayaysuji’s House Murders stories and it’s a return to form after the mediocre book 2.

Four murder mystery writers plus sundry literary critics are invited to the unusual home of master author Miyagaki Yotaro for a birthday party, but all is not as it seems and people start to be murdered one by one. I don’t want to spoil the plot, but the architecture of the house and the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur are central to the plot.

A recommended read for lovers of Japanese mysteries.

I liked the format, book within a book and the trickeries related to that.
Locked room mystery
8 people stranded in mansion
Interesting characters
Mythology referencea
Creepy mansion

I couldn't find the actual murderer, but the book had me thinking I had it all figured out all along and that dimmed the intrigue for a long time until I realised I was being tricked all along. But it was interesting to see the 'how'dunnit.

I even checked that particular detail in the beginning, so it was purposeful. I don't know how to feel about that. I am not a fan of intentionally keeping things from the reader just for the same of plot twist.

If you like books that are tightly plotted and provide you multiple tools for solving in your own, you would enjoy Yukito Ayatsuji’s books. This book is more of the same, with the layout of the Labyrinth House provided and playing an important role in the case. If you also read a lot of old mysteries, you’ll enjoy this one in particular. All of the participants are mystery authors, and their roles move from competitors in a game, to fighting for their lives using their puzzle solving skills.

If you are interested in more character heavy stories, these don’t do well on this front. The details of the characters are important, but not particularly engaging. This book engages your brain much more than your heart. But it’s a good puzzle.