I think it was a good easy read. It just needs a few minor tweaks and edits before publishing!

I would recommend this book to people who want a quick easy read for autumn.

2.5 stars, rounding up. This one didn't do much for me. Maybe it was just so short? It didn't feel like there was enough time to really get going with an investigation unfolding, twists and turns and new developments, etc. like some of the other Kosuke Kindaichi books have had. Felt kind of like the author just wanted to do some bit of a twist on the "two bodies" murder mystery archetype (an archetype I wouldn't have really thought of as an archetype, much less one with the ironclad "rule" of the solution to said mystery setup that Kindaichi proposes; perhaps I'm not as thorough of a reader of classic mystery fiction to have noticed a trend) but there wasn't quite enough to sustain the story around that goal.

I used to live in Japan and love that more and more books are being translated to English so everyone can enjoy them. Seishi Yokomizo is Japanese crime writer and even thought I figured these two stories out, it did not make them any less enjoyable. The simplicity of this story was so well written, and I absolutely loved getting two stories both with their own twists and turns. I can't wait for more translated books to hit the shelves. Thanks, NetGalley for the ARC.

a good read and perfect for spooky season! Perfect to start preparing the cozy, crisp autumn!

Thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

so much fun and perfect for spooky season. highly recommend for a short and sweet fun time! will definitely reread again closer to october

"Murder at the Black Cat Cafe" is a stand-alone mystery, where detective Kosuke Kindaichi has to get to the bottom of two murders. There are 2 separate mysteries in this novel, one takes place at the Black Cat Cafe and the second one is told through a series of letters.

The first mystery really shocked me! I believed that, because of the conversation the detective had with his friend at the beginning of the novel, that I was pretty sure of the twist that was going to follow in the story. But I was wrong, I read the last pages of the mystery completely amazed. It was also atmospheric and interesting to see post-war Tokyo.
Rating: 3⭐

The second mystery I enjoyed even more though. I really liked the way the story was told through the letters and I was kept at the edge of my sit pretty much the whole way through. Even through the letters it was very nicely descriptive so that I could picture everything and get in the mood.
Rating: 4⭐

Overall Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth & Puskin for this ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC
I have really read a lot of translated fiction books in the past but I eas intrigued by this one. I will admit this was just okay, i liked both stories for unique reasons. This was wonderfully written.
Overall a 3⭐️

This was an incredibly quick and clever, twisty whodunnit that was interesting and really easy to read.

I just wish there was something else or something more substantial, I only finished it out of obligation to not put a book down, but maybe that's just me.

This book, and its murder mysteries, were giving me Christie/Poirot vibes. The way the detective lays out the way the crimes happened and why they happened seems equal parts confusing and simple. He never seems a burden to the police, as they always manage to glean helpful insight into the crimes, and their tie to the Black Cat Cafe. They also seem to quite enjoy his company.

I will say that while these were enjoyable to read and follow Kosuke’s logic as he craftily outwits the criminals (the breakdown of how things happen can get quite puzzling at times), these stories weren’t particularly groundbreaking or uniquely clever in their delivery. However, I would still recommend this book to those who like reading lighter twisty crime stories. 3.5 stars.

This book has two thrilling stories that it's easy to fall into immediately. The Black Cat Cafe is set in Tokyo in 1947, a police officer discovers the body of a woman who is 'faceless' and a dead black cat buried in the back of the cafe. As Detective Kosuke Kindaichi among others investigates the case there are many twists and turns whilst the attempt to unravel the puzzle of who the woman is and who murdered her, and the cat. I did not see the twist coming, the story was gripping.

The second story is a different type of who did it, it was a very enganging story, that reached an interesting conclusion. I kept changing my theory throughout and still didn't fully catch all the twists.

My biggest downfall with the book were the spelling and grammar errors, it made both the stories challenging to read and enjoy, it was impossible to get lost in it as it was too frequent there were words missing letters. Once those are fixed this book will be an ideal choice for mystery lovers who are looking for a compact, intriguing, and a twist filled experience.

This was my first book of Seishi Yokomizo’s and so also my first read of his Investigator Kosuke Kindaichi series. He’s quirky, erratic, and intelligent on page, and was present for a good chunk of Murder at The Black Cat Café, but wasn’t hardly there in Why Did the Well Wheel Creak, and I sorely missed him. In both stories, the red herrings were fantastic. When I thought I knew what was going on, I didn’t. I got good-humoredly humbled. You’re given all the puzzle pieces, and a solution that you think fits nicely until you realize either you’ve shoved pieces in that don’t quite fit, or have a couple extra pieces sitting in your palm, though the picture looks finished. Then the true solution is bombastically revealed. The mysteries are complex and bizarre, and just far-fetched enough to be exciting. I enjoyed the first story more as it was a narrative format, but with the second story being told through cherry-picked letters and newspaper clippings, I found it harder to get invested and feel the emotional impact of what the family was going through. They’re whodunnit short stories that stand on their own, so the characters don’t have a lot of development, but they do have distinctive personalities for the most part. I did struggle with getting some of the characters mixed up in the second story, but there was a convenient summary of the family tree and family history at the beginning that I could reference. There wasn’t a strong current pulling me along in the stories, so it took me longer to read than would be ideal. I recommend reading each story in one or two sittings for maximum enjoyment. When I’m next in the mood to solve a puzzle, I could see myself picking up this author again.

Thank you Steerforth & Pushkin for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.

I finally read a Seishi Yokomizo murder mystery. As much as I love Japanese lit I haven't read many mystery or thriller novels from Japan. But I'll be reading more.

I loved the writing style which only made it more fadr paced..there were no unnecessary details, something I hate in books from this genre.

This version also had a short story which makes about 40% of the book and it was extremely well done. There were twists and turn with every new letter or news clips in the end and it just blew my mind away.

An interesting read. I like the unique style of writing but I did find it a bit confusing as there are too many characters and too much happening all the time.
With that said, the translation was great and I would still like to read some of the author's other books.

This book presents two captivating stories that engage readers from start to finish. The main story is set in post-war Tokyo in 1947, when a police officer discovers the body of an unidentified woman and a dead black cat buried in the backyard of the Black Cat Café, a café also known for being a front for prostitution. Detective Kosuke Kindaichi investigates the case, unraveling a puzzle full of love, jealousy, and deception.

The second story offers a different narrative format yet remains equally intriguing. Readers have praised the plot for its surprising twists and satisfying resolutions, although some find certain parts slightly complex or too brief for detailed development. The simple, classic narrative style typical of Japanese Golden Age mysteries emphasizes clever puzzles over dramatic flair, making it ideal for those seeking an intelligent, concise read.

With a combination of a classic main story and a uniquely engaging bonus tale, this book is a perfect choice for mystery enthusiasts looking for a compact, intense, and puzzle-filled experience.

First of all I want to say a big thank you to NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think it’s important to note that Murder at the Black Cat Café by Seishi Yokomizo is the first murder mystery that I have read in a long time, and it’s not a genre that I often pick up.

There are two stories included in this book, one shares the title's name Murder at the Black Cat Café and seeks to turn the usual ‘faceless corpse’ mystery on its head and create a new twist ending. I felt quite pulled around by this story and I think to a certain extent, making sure that you didn’t know how it was done became the main focus of the novel, rather than the narrative. Having said that though, the timeline was easy to follow and although the characters were a bit hard to connect with, the overall tone was interesting.

The other short story was The Well Wheel Creaks which is told through a collection of letters and newspaper articles. I must admit that I enjoyed this half of the book more. I think altering the writing style to fit these new mediums made the story flow really well, and as you were only seeing snippets of the overall picture, it gave you room to theorise about the killer and their motives.

Overall, I think if you’re a fan of the mystery genre, and want a quick read that will keep you guessing, this would be a great edition to your list.

Murder at the Black Cat Café is a clever, atmospheric mystery set in post-war Tokyo, where nothing is quite what it seems. When a mutilated body and a dead black cat are found buried near a local café, detective Kosuke Kindaichi is called in to solve a case that’s as eerie as it is puzzling.

Kindaichi is a unique and memorable detective—scruffy, brilliant, and always a step ahead. His investigation takes him deep into a web of secrets, jealousy, and hidden relationships, and the way he slowly unravels the mystery is deeply satisfying. The clues are laid out fairly, and I enjoyed the sense that I could try to piece it together alongside him.

Yokomizo’s writing really shines in the way it brings the setting to life. The story takes place in 1947, and the atmosphere of a recovering Tokyo adds a lot of depth and mood to the mystery. There’s a real sense of unease throughout, with plenty of twists and surprises that kept me hooked.

I also appreciated the bonus short story included in this edition—it was a nice extra and gave another taste of Yokomizo’s classic style.

This is a must-read for fans of traditional whodunits with a Japanese twist. Intriguing, immersive, and smartly plotted, Murder at the Black Cat Café is a great entry point into the world of Kosuke Kindaichi.

This edition has two short stories. One with the same title as the book, the other is The Well Wheel Creaks.

Before I begin with my reviews of each story, let me just talk a bit about the cover, because even though it is beautiful, I’m disappointed that it does not match the rest of Kindaichi series. There’s a note from the publisher explaining away their decision to use this sort of cover. Essentially to attract a different type of readers, which I had already suspected. So, again I am disappointed because they are clearly trying to appeal to the cat and café novels that are quite popular these days. The problem is, those tropes are usually “healing” books, but nothing about this book is healing. In fact, the story was the opposite of healing, being dark and tense. And despite the title, the story barely touched on cat or café. Its focus, as is usually the case with Kindaichi mysteries, was on the murder case.

On to the reviews. Murder at the Black Cat Café was interesting and on par as to what you could expect from a Kindaichi mystery. Somebody was found digging behind what used to be the Black Cat Café. A body of a woman with a mangled face was unearthed. Who was the victim? Who was the perpetrator? Was it the digger? The owner of the café who just moved elsewhere with his wife? And why? The truth was probably not what you expected. Overall, it was an interesting read. However, it did have a boring part in the middle – a bit unnecessarily detailed. But it did pick up and ended well.

The second story was much shorter but in my opinion, also much more exciting and satisfying. The Well Wheel Creaks is essentially about 3 different families and their fight for wealth and control. It is a story about revenge and superstitions. I thought it was done very well, but for such a short story, it had so many characters that I kept having to go back to be reminded who was who. The ending was a chef’s kiss level fulfilling. I loved it, subtle but pronounced.

I recommend this book to mystery lovers, particularly fans of the Kindaichi mysteries.

This Japanese murder mystery was the classic story narration style of murder mystery, written from a writer's perspective looking into a police case.
However, unlike the traditional style of following a detective's investigation or the suspects, or even the killer's narrative, we simply follow the case.

There is a little disappointment to be expected, as the characters were wrenched about, neither fully focused on, nor left out; neither any detective shines, nor any killer. What shines is the mystery behind the identity of the dead. The books has no cozy vibes. There is a small group solving the case from beginning to middle and another one running the show from middle to end. What I could truly rely on on was the corpse and its killer/killers.

I have very mild feelings about the story. The narration style was not too my taste. At first we follow the investigators, characters of interest and intrigue but then we are thrown a bone of a late arriving hero with a grand solution.

If you love a murder mystery for it's mystery and wouldn't be too hung up about the detectives, you will enjoy this very much.

If you like to follow a detective and their particular style, like me, there is a irregularity in this sorry that might not be for you

Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Murder at the Black Cat Café by Seishi Yokomizo had all the ingredients for a deliciously dark mystery - a café, an air of superstition, and of course, a trail of murder. The vibes were spot on, the atmosphere eerie, and I was ready to be swept away.

But… the story didn’t quite live up to the promise. The pacing dragged, the characters felt a little flat, and I kept waiting for that “aha!” moment that never really came. It’s one of those books where you want to love it but end up feeling like you’re on the outside looking in.

Still, if you’re a die-hard fan of classic Japanese mysteries, you might appreciate the vintage style more than I did. For me though, this one just missed the mark.

This book is one of the finest that I have read this year. My very first time taking a try with a Japanese mystery book, and it was mind blowing 🤯🤯🤯
I sat for like 2 minutes in complete silence to allow my brain to process what I have just read 🧠
Everything in this book is very logically constructed. It's like a fast bullet train passing you on a station. One minute you are reading about something, you can feel the foreboding coming and the next it's just explosions everywhere💥
I have read good mystery books, but this is surely one of a kind. I tried to analyse the whole thing upside down, but every suspicion that I had was wrong 😵‍💫😵
I have to write this review without giving out any spoilers, but it's so hard.
The whole experience was rewarding and I can't ask for anymore from this book.
It's like quick sand. It will consume you and literally spit you on the other side 🤯🐈‍⬛🤌🏻🤌🏻💥

It included a bonus story called Why Did The Well Wheel Creek?
This was a bonus story included with this book. Another banger murder mystery in this series. This story unfolds through letters, bringing back that essence of former days. The pre-story and the character backgrounds are explained first. Before you start the story, you get a general idea of who's who and how they are related. This made me understand the characters more deeply and also of course the motive too.
It has a more eerie setting than the Black cat cafe story. There were very few characters so keeping up with the story was easier. The whole experience is weirdly creepy but at the same time exhilarating! I loved that it was fast paced. It kept me wanting to go back to read the story until it reached a conclusion.
But I have to say that these two stories, even though they had chaos, were very calming. Ironic isn't it?
The twist at the end was twisty 🪢. I have a habit of trying to over analyze stories and strip them down to the plot. And this time too, I wasn't even close. So maybe Japanese thrillers are my new obsession. We will see.