The owner of a local mill is found murdered alongside a railway track and suspicion falls on the Workers' Union which has been striking because of a labour dispute.While the police are called in to investigate, another man is found murdered and it's feared the killer has struck again and then again.

This murder mystery was originally written many years ago and is set in 1960s Japan, and but recently translated into English. It's an enjoyable murder mystery, filled with a number of devious twists that keep you guessing and turning the pages. Cleverly written, the storyline's unique setting kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the characters and how the plot all came together, and did not guess the outcome at all. The only thing that confused me a little about the book was the insertion of maps and train timetables within the pages, which didn't necessarily add to the storyline and which I felt interrupted the flow a little.

A recommended read. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. The Black Swan Mystery by Tetsuya Ayukawa is an intriguing and well-crafted detective story that blends mystery with suspense. Set in a unique and atmospheric setting, the novel follows the investigation of a perplexing crime that keeps readers guessing. Ayukawa’s writing is sharp and captivating, with well-paced plot twists and a strong, methodical detective at the center of the story. The characters are engaging, and the mystery unfolds in a way that will satisfy fans of classic whodunits. Overall, The Black Swan Mystery is a compelling read for those who enjoy thoughtful and puzzling mysteries.

I loved this mystery. It was such a well written book and I loved trying to find out who did it. I think the tension and character worked well together to keep the reader engaged

of course i enjoyed yet another mystery from pushkin press!! this publisher never fails to bring out good books and i’m so lucky to read and review arcs from
them!!

This could have been more...

This book has been compared to Tokyo Express, which I also find to be okay. I enjoy this type of mystery but I much prefer honkaku mysteries..

I normally don't add this in a review but the errors in the Kindle version really altered my reading experience.

There were a few publishing errors on the Kindle, which I could have pushed past: the lack of 'f' continuously was off-putting to say the least.... It was the misprint of the train timetables and map that really disconnected me from the book. I felt at a real disadvantage. I like to feel I am able to solve the murders with the detective but I didn't even have a chance with this.

This book wasn’t bad, but it didn’t blow me away either. The mystery had an interesting premise with a murder, a labor dispute, and a growing religious sect, which kept me curious throughout. The investigation itself was pretty straightforward, with Detective Onitsura and his assistant traveling around Japan to track down the killer.

The pacing was decent, and the story had its moments of suspense, but overall, it felt a little predictable. The characters were okay, but I didn’t find myself fully invested in them or the plot. It’s definitely not the most gripping or memorable mystery I’ve read, but if you’re looking for a decent, mid-tier thriller, this could fit the bill.

In the past couple of years I've enjoyed several of the recently translated/republished Japanese mysteries, which is why I was drawn to this book. The mystery itself was very layered and quite complex. But unlike most of the other books I've read, there were some things that just felt "off" in this one. Mainly, the pacing and lay out of story. But also the fact that there was repetition and and feeling of the book being somewhat bloated. On top of that, Inspector Onitsura doesn't even show up until midway through when what appeared to be the main detectives reached a stagnant point in the investigation, and overall wasn't in the book that much. If the story had been edited down I think it would have been much better. I liked it, I just wasn't blown away by it.

quite impressive!!!
if we ignore all the unnecessary details and them wiping their sweat again and again and again, this was a really good book!
plot shifting from whodunit to howdunit and the way they broke the alibi was what impressed me! 👏🏼 the howdunit part was my favourite! the murder was so cleverly planned that if it were not for a sharp-minded detective, it would have been impossible to solve and that is what i love in mysteries – a cleverly planned murder! 🙂‍↕️

thanks to the publisher and the netgalley for the copy!