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.

Absolutely nothing is as it seems. Question everyone and everything.. I. Read this 3 months ago and I still replay it over and over in my head.

I wish I read the books previous to this one in the series. Though you can read it as a standalone, I think it would have helped me to know some details from cases before.

🔍🩸🏠Labyrinth House Murders🩸🏠🔍

This is my second book from this author and I have another one (The Mill House Murders) that I'm in the middle of reading, I am a sucker for a Japanese murder mystery and this was just what I needed.

A closed-in Murders mystery in a unique location with a cast of characters that keep you guessing on whodunnit and who might be next.

I usually get ahead of myself and guess who the culprit is and typically still enjoy the novel. Not this one. Just when I thought I knew who, they pulled the rug from under my feet and point out a lot of things I missed from the beginning! it was such a good mystery! It's part of a series of translated mysteries that I look forward to reading all of them!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Vertigo for allowing me to read the e-book ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I have become something of a fan of Japanese murder mysteries in the past years. I love how they require close reading, play with genre expectations, and seem to delight in providing all the information. So naturally I was intrigued by The Labyrinth House Murders, which promptly became one of my favourites. Thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favourite aspects of The Labyrinth House Murders is the whole meta approach of it, the novel-inside-the-novel, with even the publication information being reproduced. The inside-book, also called 'The Labyrinth House Murders' also comes with its own map and I think it would be a joy to read this book physically, rather than on an e-Reader because of this. (To differentiate between the two, the actual book is in italics while the book-in-the-book is between quotation marks.) So much of Labyrinth and 'Labyrinth' expect you to pay close attention because Yukito Ayatsuji has carefully planned everything, from the smallest detail to the biggest plot points. I think it is this aspect I enjoy so much about Japanese murder mysteries in comparison to general thrillers, that you can't assume you know where it's going, that nothing is as it seems. Setting this within the industry of murder mystery publishing just adds an extra layer to that. Everyone in the novel has a deep understanding of the genre, either writing it, editing it, reviewing it, or enjoying it as a reader. Because of that, everyone is almost "levelled up" from the beginning, keeping an eye out for clues, pondering motives, and being familiar with the trappings of the locked room mystery. This makes reading Labyrinth House as an enjoyed of the genre myself very fun, because no one is being dumb.

A little note, in the novel itself, the names are listed in Japanese order, meaning family name precedes a given name. I'm retaining that here.

The Labyrinth House Murders is a delightfully twisty murder mystery. It begins with the Prologue when Shimada receives a new book, 'The Labyrinth House Murders' itself, from its author, Shishiya Kadomi. It is based on the actual murders which took place in the Labyrinth House of the famed murder mystery author Miyagaki Yōtarō. Not only was the author present, although they're hiding their identity, but it seems, so was Shimada. From there, we dive into the "novel" itself. Miyagaki Yōtarō has invited four of his protegees to his Labyrinth House for his birthday. Alongside them his editor, Utayama Hideyuki, and his wife, Keiko, and the reviewer Samejima Tomoo make up the other guests. But then an unexpected death changes the party into a more serious kind of game. The four authors must come up with a short story each over a period of a few days, all set at the Labyrinth House itself, to win an enormous prize. The game takes a murderous turn, however, and fact and fiction begin to intertwine. Utayama Hideyuki is the focal point of 'Labyrinth House' and through him we experience the game, the dramatic consequences, and the resolution. Afterwards, we return to Shimada, finishing the novel himself and we get his thoughts on how it all came together. I loved this playing with expectations and it truly is the kind of book where the last chapter's twist is an actual delight, rather than something that feels done for surprise value.

It is difficult to talk about this book and all the things I loved, because I absolutely do not want to spoil anything. Going into this book as blindly as possible is absolutely the way to go! Yukito Ayatsuji truly came up with a brilliant plot, which ties into the other books in his 館シリーズ series without being dependent on them for information. Because Labyrinth House is a book about books I really feel that Yukito played with the writing as well which, as I mentioned above, means that paying close attention and reading with intention really pay off. I also really liked the character of Utayama Keiko. I've sometimes had issues with the characterisation of female characters in Japanese murder mysteries, which is, I think, to a large extent because I lack a nuanced understanding of Japan's culture and history. Keiko was a very interesting character though, bringing knowledge and insight to the table in a way that surprised me. I also liked the Labyrinth House itself, which is delight to imagine with its various rooms and a rather impressive entrance. The Greek myth theme behind the house, centred around King Minos, the labyrinth, and the Minotaur is woven into the plot nicely as well, in that it is actually relevant rather than a gimmick. Ho-Ling Wong does a brilliant job with the translation as well, which is extremely important as some clues depend on those details that require things to line up with the Japanese. I am definitely looking out for more translations of Yukito Ayatsuji's work!

The Labyrinth House Murders is a delightful novel and gives the reader exactly what they hope for! It is genuinely one of the most delightful murder mysteries I have read in a long while. A solid recommendation for anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and meta-novels!

The Labyrinth House Murders is brilliant, exciting, and innovative! 💫💫💫💫💫

I've read this author before and love the creativity he puts into murder.

Four up and coming crime writers, one fabulous birthday party, what could possibly go wrong? Well, in the remote Labyrinth House, everything!

One murder early on sets off a competition of sorts while others continue to get killed off. In true form, Ayatsuji knows the art of murder and how to elegantly and mysterious get rid of his characters while also being very discreet with the murderer.

Thank you, Netgalley and Pushkin Press, for this jewel!

I choose this book totally hooked by the creepy title and my goal to read more Asian authors, especially Japanese ones. I had no clue this was the third book in a series when I picked it up yep, total newbie to Ayatsuji’s world, haven’t touched The Decagon House Murders or The Mill House Murders. Good news? It’s works so well as a stand alone, so I wasn’t lost, though I can definitely see how reading the previous books might enhance the experience.

The setup is straight-up bonkers. Four hotshot crime writers get invited to this creepy, maze-like place called Labyrinth House for some famous author’s birthday bash. The house is this weird, twisty masterpiece built by a nutty architect, and let’s just say things go south fast. A shocking death kicks off this messed up game where the guests are dropping like flies.

Ayatsuji is a genius at keeping you on edge. The house feels alive, like it’s out to get you, and the story’s packed with twists that had me second guessing everything.

Jumping in without reading the earlier books was fine, but I bet series fans are catching extra Easter eggs. Now I’m obsessed with Shimada and need more of Ayatsuji’s brain bending mysteries. This book totally sealed the deal for me wanting to dive deeper into Japanese crime novels.

4.25 stars.
This is the 3rd book in The Bizarre House Mysteries. I’ve read The Decagon House Murders but not The Mill House Murders. Some small references are made from the prior two books but you should be fine to read this one.

Anyway, murder mystery fans will love this book. The story does a great job of deconstructing the classic whodunnit. I should have made a list of all the characters because it did get confusing at times but I managed. The twists are fun and unexpected.

Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the early copy!

This isn't a genre I read often but when I do, I always play along with the novel and try to solve it before the end. Wow, I did NOT see that plot twist happening. I was SO confident that I knew who it was but I was WRONG.

The interweaving of Greek mythology into the core story arc was really intriguing and clever. It felt like it almost elevated the mystery as the reader attempted to solve it.

A locked door mystery set in an underground house, the Labyrinth house. A small group comprising of mystery writers, a critic, an editor and his wife are invited to a house party on April 1st, the host is announced to have killed himself just before they arrive. They are invited to stay and the writers tasked with writing a mystery, the winning mystery, as judged by the editor and the critic will win half of the hosts fortune.
However, they are soon confronted with the murder of one of them.
With the only door out locked who could the murderer be?
A complex and twisty mystery is one of the best Japanese mysteries I have read with twists and turns right to the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

If you love classic whodunits with a twist of architectural weirdness, The Labyrinth House Murders is definitely worth a look. Yukito Ayatsuji delivers another mystery that blends Golden Age detective fiction with a distinctly Japanese flair. The story centers around a group of people invited to a bizarre, maze-like mansion where the murders start piling up. The Labyrinth House isn’t just a backdrop. It’s practically a character, full of dead ends, secret passages, and mind-bending design choices that fuel the mystery, and the focus is on the puzzle itself. This clever construction really lets you work with the story to figure out the solution, and the satisfaction of an aha moment can't be beat.

I’m in two minds about this one. I found it slow to start and hard to get into, but then pretty page-turn-y and gripping into the middle and end.

I loved the homage to all things crime fiction and it gave me several books for the TBR.

I’m afraid I found the characterisations a bit thin, which made it hard to get on board with / care for anyone. And I hated hated the epilogue “reveal”. I’d have found it a tidy and entertaining story if it had ended with Miyagaki as the murderer, but the “menstrual blood” angle was positively ludicrous (and shows an alarming lack of understanding of how such things work), and a solution where all of the required info was missing feels a bit rough for the reader.

It would have been better with the official ending, I think.

That said, an interesting puzzler and I had a nice enough time. Not one I’ll rave from the rooftops tho.

First things first: this is either the third or fourth in the House Murders series, depending on how you count the books, but you do not have to have read the others to enjoy this one. In fact, this was my first time reading a book in the series and I had no problems picking up on everything. The other books are alluded to in this one, but there are no spoilers.

This is a book within a book, where in the first chapter, someone receives a book about what we are told are the real-life Labyrinth House murders, and then we are presented with that book in its entirety. The book presents the story of an aging famous mystery writer who invites four of his protégés to his infamous Labyrinth House for a challenge: whoever can write the best mystery in five days we receive a huge part of his inheritance. But shortly after the contest begins, things go terribly wrong.

The set up of this book immediately intrigued me, and the author definitely delivered with a story that was an homage to the classic detective story. Throughout the book, we are presented with problems and clues and characters is carefully consider each option, much like in classic Poirot novel. Add to all of this that the Labyrinth House is themed after the labyrinth of ancient Greek myth, and that adds an extra layer of suspense in meaning to the mystery. It’s a brilliant choice.

As I often say, make sure you read to the very end in this one. I won’t spoil anything, but yeah, make sure you don’t skip out on the last chapters of this one.

This was my first House Murders book, but it won’t be my last!