Shimada Kiyoshi returns in another spellbinding case that blurs the line between fiction and reality. When he receives a mysterious book from the elusive author Shishiya Kadomi—a pseudonym hiding a deeper trauma—he’s drawn into the chilling retelling of the Labyrinth House Murder Case, a haunting crime based on a real event from 1987.
Set in a bizarre mansion designed by the eccentric architect Nakamura Seiji—whose name is synonymous with architectural nightmares like The Decagon House and The Mill House—the story twists through narrow hallways and hidden truths. This time, the labyrinthine setting is the home of the reclusive mystery writer Miyagaki Yotaro, whose sixtieth birthday becomes a death sentence for several guests.
Miyagaki’s shocking suicide during the celebration throws the inheritance of his vast estate into chaos, and the mounting deaths that follow turn what should’ve been a literary gathering into a locked-room nightmare. With layers of deception and clues laced with references to Greek mythology, the book brilliantly fuses honkaku logic, classic whodunnit pacing, and mythological symbolism into a mind-bending narrative.
Shimada Kiyoshi shines once again as the brilliant detective unraveling a mystery only he could solve. With every page, I was pulled deeper into the maze—never sure what lay around the next corner. A masterful blend of brain and suspense, this is a must-read for fans of smart, atmospheric mysteries. Five stars—no question.
Thank you to @netgalley and @pushkin_press for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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