I appreciate a good murder mystery - especially one written in the "closed garden" style of the golden age of murder mysteries AND I wish there were fewer twists and turns. Sort of like accessorizing - one or two details could have been taken out, and the story would have been in tact, stronger in fact, for this reader.

This book has such an intriguing concept, a multigenerational mystery set in early 20th-century Osaka, full of dark secrets, family drama, and classic honkaku-style twists. I really appreciated the historical backdrop and the structure that echoed Golden Age detective fiction.

That said, I found it a bit slow to get into. The pacing dragged for me, and it took a while before I felt truly invested in the characters or the mystery and the multiple pov didn’t work for me. There were moments when the plot picked up and surprised me, but overall it felt more like an intellectual puzzle than an emotionally gripping story.

Still, fans of old-school detective fiction and Japanese mysteries will likely appreciate its complexity and style. It’s smart and atmospheric, just a slower burn than I expected.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Clever, atmospheric, and full of classic mystery charm 🏛️🔎. Murder in the House of Omari is a brilliant locked-room mystery with all the twists, puzzles, and intrigue of a Golden Age detective novel. Taku Ashibe crafts a sharp, suspenseful plot set against an intriguing, richly detailed backdrop. I loved the brain-teasing clues and satisfying conclusion. Perfect for fans of classic whodunnits.

I've become a big fan of translated Japanese works this year, and have read quite a few Japanese crime fiction books. First published in 2021, this book won a number of Mystery Writers' awards in Japan in 2022 and has since been translated into English.

The setting for this story is Osaka during WWII and centres around the Omari family, a once rich and influential merchant family whose wealth and prosperity has been ruined by the war that rages around them. Unfortunately, in wartime, no one has the money to purchase cosmetics and beautiful items once sold by The House of Omari. To make matters worse, the Omari line is dying out and not by natural causes. The police are baffled as to why a number of the Omari family have been targeted for death and the race is on to find out who the killer is and why this family has been targeted before it's too late

The book provides insight into life in Japan for its people during WWII and the societal norms of the time, which creates an interesting read. The mystery itself is well crafted and clues are planted along the way if you're paying enough attention. Although I found the middle portion of the story a little slow, and some of the characters a little one-dimensional and therefore difficult to understand, it didn't cause me to lose interest in continuing to read the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.25 stars

The House of Omari in Osaka, Japan languished in the years during and following World War II; once a thriving company dedicated to 'modern' health and beauty products, the intervening years of deprivation and austerity left the House floundering in a dwindling marketplace. When murder strikes deep in the heart of the Omari household, the Osaka police are left scratching their heads at the mystery. Twists and turns abound in this historical crime thriller; the final unmasking of the killer left me questioning everything I thought I knew.

I have found myself frequently drawn to Japanese mystery thrillers of late; perhaps it is their latent qualities of storytelling that I find so fascinating. There is a particular style to these stories that I find hard to put into words but that is quite appealing. They do not seem to suffer anything in their translation to English, including this one, and overall the plot devices felt less contrived than their Western counterparts (but that's simply my personal opinion.)

Thanks to NetGalley, author Taku Ashibe, and Pushkin Press for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

Took me a while to get through this book. While I loved the mystery and thought it was well crafted the pace got to me. You're taken a third into the book until the pace picks up and you start seeing some movement. Which might be a big commitment for some. This is a slow read similar to some of the old school classic mysteries. Which is fortunately right up the alley of my sister so when this book comes out I definitely know who I'm getting it for.
Thank you netgalley for sending the arc!

The prologue was intriguing, And once the novel started it went at a very slow pace asu author tried to set up an environment for the plot, after 33% of the book the pace picked up as first murder occurs . I loved the way Taku Ashibe plotted the mystery cleverly and tricked me with the solution 😂. Definitely a good read but I would suggest to hold some patience and not to put off the book till it picks up the pace.

Some people believed that everything began with the mysterious disappearance of the young master of the House of Omari. Despite the lag of many years before the series of murders began, the vanishing act was the first of the unexplained happenings in what was once one of the reputable merchant families in Osaka.

True, the war was partially to be blamed for some of the ill-fortune that befell the Omaris. But the deaths soon called the police to attention that there might be something more sinister at play.

I appreciated the background of the story but the buildup took too long that I forgot I was reading what was marketed as a murder mystery. The details of the war and how it affected the family were important, but the resolution of the mystery was left towards the end, and it was conducted by amateur detectives which made the case seemed like an afterthought.

I did enjoy the case: I was rooting for some of the characters and was kept guessing till the end, but the mystery and crime elements were put on the back burner that I felt duped thinking it was supposed to be like Seishi Yokomizo’s unconventional private detective, Kosuke Kindaichi. The ‘reveal’ also seemed arbitrary and because there was no way to confirm with the characters involved, I didn’t feel convinced by some of the ways the mystery was explained.

Because of the heavy highlights on the setting of the war and the family, the pacing felt a bit too slow for me to be eager to recommend this to fellow murder mystery fans. If you enjoy both the meandering style of writing with focus on Japan during wartime plus a little bit of murder mystery, then this might be a good rec for you.

I read reviews that said this book had too many points of view and thought I wouldn't mind that, but I did. It was disjointed and dragged on and on and then there's a multipage detailed description of the bombing of Osaka which has little to do with the murders. I finished because I wanted to know how the murders happened, but was unsatisfied and disappointed.

Book Review: Murder in the House of Omari by Taku Ashibe

Taku Ashibe’s Murder in the House of Omari is a masterfully constructed mystery that delivers a satisfying blend of atmosphere, intrigue, and intellectual challenge. Set in the eerie and crumbling Omari mansion, the novel begins with a murder that unravels the tightly held secrets of a deeply troubled family. The house itself becomes a character in its own right—steeped in silence, decay, and hidden truths.

Ashibe excels in crafting a narrative that rewards close attention. As one character aptly observes, “The truth is never found where it's expected to be, only where it's hidden most carefully.” That quote encapsulates the spirit of the book—each clue carefully planted, each revelation deliberately paced. There are no last-minute, implausible twists; instead, readers are invited to solve the mystery alongside the detective, gradually uncovering layers of motive and misdirection. As the detective reflects, “The mind of a murderer is a labyrinth—and every turn, a truth you don’t want to face,” capturing the psychological depth the novel explores.

While the story’s deliberate pace adds to its cerebral appeal, the middle portion does slow down, particularly when delving into character backstories and timelines. Though these sections are essential to the plot, they may test the patience of readers eager to return to the central mystery. Additionally, a few side characters lack emotional depth, making them harder to connect with on a personal level.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Murder in the House of Omari remains an intelligent and rewarding read. It's an ideal choice for mystery lovers who appreciate methodical storytelling, rich atmosphere, and puzzles that engage both heart and mind. If you're looking for a mystery that challenges you to think and rewards careful reading, this one should be on your list.

Thank you Netgalley for my e-ARC!

Love the idea but I couldn't really get into the book enough to enjoy. Gave up at the 1/3 point. Sorry!

A Chilling Family Murder Mystery Set in Wartime Japan — and It’s Brilliantly Twisted

I'm new to the honkaku (traditional Japanese) mystery genre but absolutely loved this richly atmospheric and intricately plotted mystery set against the backdrop of wartime Japan. This isn’t your average modern thriller — it’s more of a slow-burn mystery with old-school detective vibes, set in a crumbling family mansion during the chaos of World War II.

The story kicks off in 1943 Osaka, where the once-powerful Omari family is falling apart — financially, emotionally, and, soon enough, quite literally. As mysterious deaths begin piling up inside the family home, you're pulled into a puzzle where every family member seems to have a secret and no one can be trusted.

What makes the book really stand out is how atmospheric it is. You can practically feel the weight of the war outside and the tension inside the house. The writing is detailed and deliberate — some parts move slowly, but if you like piecing things together and paying close attention, it’s super rewarding.

The characters are a mix of suspicious, tragic, and occasionally charming — the kind that keep you guessing right up until the final twist. And the twist? Let’s just say it pays off big-time if you’ve been following the clues.

This book is very much in the style of traditional Japanese mystery fiction (honkaku), which means it's more about logic and solving a puzzle than high-speed chases or gritty violence.

Murder in the House of Omari by Taku Ashibe is a masterfully crafted historical mystery that blends the elegance of the classic whodunit with the layered complexities of wartime Japan. Set across two timelines — the disappearance of a family heir in 1906 and a string of murders in 1943 — the novel unfurls with precision, drawing the reader into the enigmatic world of the Omari family. Ashibe, a notable voice in the *honkaku* tradition, evokes a rich atmosphere of suspense and intrigue. His narrative is intellectually satisfying, favoring methodical deduction over sensationalism. While the pacing may feel deliberate, the intricate plotting and emotional undercurrents reward patient readers. A cerebral, stylish mystery that honors the golden age of detective fiction while offering a distinctly Japanese sensibility.

It took me a while to get into this one, but I'm glad that I stuck with it. Set in the Osaka merchant district, it offers a portrait of life in the 1940s in addition to being a honkaku mystery. You can just see the pieces of the puzzle clicking together as you read and the characters are all very fully portrayed. When it all comes together at the end, it is very satisfying to see how cleverly the author constructed his tale.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'd love to read more from this author!

An intriguing mix of historical fiction and classic mystery, this story has a lot going for it—rich atmosphere, layered timelines, and nods to Golden Age crime fiction. While the concept is compelling and the setting vividly rendered, the pacing and complexity of the plot occasionally made it hard to stay fully engaged. It’s a smart and ambitious mystery, but not quite as immersive as I’d hoped.

I had a really really hard time even getting into this book and couldn't finish it. Not for me. The writing style wasn't intriguing enough to read on and after reading almost twenty five percent, I had to dnf.

I've only been introduced to Honkaku mysteries in the last couple of years so I would consider myself new to the genre but acquainted enough to give the review some justice. This book is good in terms of plot and the mystery. In terms of setting, there is repetition of descriptions. The one issue where this book failed to impress me is the pacing. You need to be patient for the climax and while it is rewarding, the uneven pacing and the meandering weighs it down. You'll still enjoy it if you have read honkaku mysteries in the past and know the art of remembering many names given at the beginning of the book.

I came to Murder in the House of Omari hoping for a smart, atmospheric locked-room mystery—and Taku Ashibe delivered exactly that, but with far more elegance and depth than I expected. This isn’t just a puzzle to be solved (though the puzzle is excellent); it’s a novel that invites you to linger, to observe, and to feel slightly off-balance the entire time.

Set in a sprawling, isolated mansion steeped in secrets and shadows, the story wastes no time in immersing you in its strange, claustrophobic world. The Omari house is practically a character itself—labyrinthine, theatrical, and brimming with tension. From the moment the murder is discovered, you can feel the walls closing in. And as more secrets begin to unravel, that sense of containment turns deliciously suffocating.

What I admired most is how Ashibe plays with genre conventions. This is very much a classic whodunnit in structure—think Christie or Carr—but the layers of psychological unease, cultural detail, and social commentary elevate it into something richer. Nothing feels purely decorative; every moment, every line of dialogue, is doing something subtle and deliberate.

The detective figure is equally fascinating—calm, observant, and just enigmatic enough to keep you guessing. And the resolution? Satisfying in that rare way where all the pieces click into place and you realize the answer was in front of you all along—if only you’d known how to look.

Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this eCopy to review

Murder in the House of Omari by Taku Ashibe is an intriguing historical mystery set in Osaka, 1943, during the chaos of World War II. The novel follows the Omari family, once prosperous but now financially ruined by the war, as they become the victims of a series of gruesome murders.

The book has a slow-burning, classic-style mystery feel, with a thick atmosphere of unease and shifting timelines. While the mystery itself is well-constructed, I found the pacing dragged in the middle, and certain characters tend to blur together. The historical setting is vividly depicted, but the detailed descriptions of life and commerce in early-20th-century Japan can feel repetitive at times.

The resolution of the mystery is rushed and somewhat far-fetched, though fans of Honkaku mysteries and cerebral whodunits might appreciate the layered storytelling. A thoughtful but uneven read that rewards patience. If you enjoy historical mysteries with intricate family secrets, this one might be worth a try.

This is not your average western murder mystery: the story seems to start around 20% of the way in (only much later do the earlier pieces make sense) and there are many different points of view used to tell the story, and we just flick from one to another with no signposting of this to the reader. Ultimately, this is the story of a crumbling merchant family with 4 generations and someone seems to be bumping a number of them off. By the end, it's really a case of who's left standing as to who's the murderer.

As well as the murder mystery, there's also a lot of historical description of the US firebombings in 1945 which were just as destructive as the atomic bombs but far less well known.

An interesting read but perhaps not a re-read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.