This is the fifth book in the Kindaichi Kosuki series I have read. For the most part I have enjoyed them, and this was no exception. What I hadn't realised is that this one is actually two novellas. The first story is the Black cat cafe story. Kindaichi Kosuki related a case he investigated that would fit with the 'faceless field's trope that we come across in golden age detective novels, though naturally there is a bit of a twist in this one.

The second story is a complicated family drama involving half brothers and mixed up identities. It for a little confusing as to who was who, but I managed to straighten it all out in the end. Mogadishu doesn't make much of an appearance in this one, but does pop in towards the end. I find I am warming to him as a detective.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

Murder at the Black Cat Café by Seishi Yokomizo
Translated by Bryan Karetnyk

This is a classic Japanese mystery about a strange murder at a café called the Black Cat. When a man is found dead, detective Kosuke Kindaichi steps in to solve the case. There are secrets, clues, and twists that keep you guessing until the end.

It’s a fun and clever mystery with an old-school feel. If you enjoy detective stories, this one is a good pick!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the e-arc!!

Reading Murder at the Black Cat Café felt like stepping into a classic locked-room-style puzzle wrapped in postwar unease. The Tokyo setting—worn down by the aftermath of war but full of secret life—creates the perfect backdrop for a strange and unsettling case: a faceless corpse, a dead cat, and a brothel café that feels caught between reality and performance.

The story is compact and fast-moving, with plenty of misdirection. I sometimes wished for a little more depth in the characters—some felt more like roles than real people—but that theatrical tone is part of what gives Yokomizo’s work its charm. The whole book plays out like a carefully staged performance where every line has a double meaning.

This isn’t the most emotionally deep crime novel I’ve read, but it’s clever, atmospheric, and satisfying. A great introduction to Kindaichi’s world if you like Golden Age-style mysteries with a slightly off-kilter twist.

enjoyed both the stories in the book. I am a huge fan of kosuke kindaichi and again he impresses me with the solutions. I felt I figured out the culprit in first case only to realize I was wrong 😂😂. As usual seishi yokomizo writes it cleverly. I would recommend it for all the thriller fans who love classic mysteries .