8 Must-Read Japanese Mystery Novels

If you're in the mood for some mystery and detective novels, it's time to turn to Japan. Let's talk about eight mystery novels by five Japanese authors who are all masters of the craft of detective fiction.

[delicatinelity]

It's wonderful to see someone actually recommend Natsuo Kirino!!! I've loved her for years and have been recommending her books any time someone asks. Out is definitely amazing but my favorite is Grotesque. Fantastic tale through and through!

[TheFran]

2:25 omg i just finished this and blowed my mind, i just find your channel and did a marathon on japanese literature and this was just the perfect book for me bc i loved murder mysterys novels

[mahmingjie]

Have you heard of Keigo Higashino? He's spectacularly good with mysteries and plot twists.

[terminatorreboot]

I was really looking for someone to give me recommendation about Japanese Mystery Novels after recently completing the book "The Devotion of Suspect X" by Keigo Higashino.Its a wonderful book if one likes psychological thriller. I am so eagar to read more such books.
Thanks for recommending these.

[jf]

Will Will Will! Just added all those to my booklist. Another fantastic set of record! Thank you so much!

[ameliareads]

I am not sure if I could follow the synopsis, but not because you did a bad job, but because I was in awe how you could remember all of this.
I have to say, that I am not that much into mystery (even loving Sherlock Holmes very much), but now I want to read all these books. So, you must have actually done an amazing job!

[randomsquare]

I loved The Devil and the Dark Water last year, so I applaud your taste! I read The Decagon House Murders as my introduction to Japanese mystery fiction, and am looking forward to taking up some of your suggestions. Just really happy there is someone out there geeking out over similar things. Sometimes I forget.

[SuzyYen]

How I wish that I have all the money in the world so I can buy all the books Willow recommended 😅. All the books are so so good. Can't wait to read them all.

[thekeywitness]

You should check out the work of Edogawa Rampo, the Edgar Allen Poe of Japan.

[Lvsl_iftdv]

Thank you so much for this brilliant video! I got into Japanese mystery novels a bit before you posted it and could barely find any video on the topic at the time. I've read The Honjin Murders and plan to read The Tokyo Zodiac Murders soon. Thank you for your review of The Decagon House Murders, it has convinced me to buy it as well!

[matthewdavies]

Honjin Murders is really good. I wanted to find another Japanese murder mystery and I was lucky to come across Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto, really recommend this one!

[JohannaVanWinkle]

Such great reviews! I just bought "The Noh Mask Murder" by Akimitsu Takagai and now want to read other books of this same genre. Thanks so much!

[johnsch]

I read “and then there were none” just last week and I’ve been reading Japanese mystery novels in Chinese lately because they translate many of them into Chinese.

[TheBonsaiGarden]

This triggered me to read Japanese detective fiction. I’ve read all the available Seishi Yokomizo books from Pushkin Press - they are very enjoyable but a bit variable. I loved the scruffy, eccentric Kindaichi.

I am currently enjoying Inspector Imanishi Investigates by Seicho Matsumoto which has a real weighty, gritty feel so far. The fact the main character loves bonsai and haiku is an immediate winner for me. 😊

For me, the greatest so far by a long way, has been The Decagon House Murders. It had a really modern sensibility to it and a great twist.

[mybibliofiles]

YES I have been looking for diverse writers of crime/detective fiction 😭🙌🏼

[moratheexplora_]

Was randomly recommended this video and immediately subscribed considering that I just pre-ordered “The Decagon House Murders” before finding this channel along with “The Name of the Game is a Kidnapping” by Keigo Higashino. Truly appreciate the diverse taste in books that you discuss!

[chrisreadingcorner]

Oh my, well that’s me off to the library to collect all the books I reserved. May is going to be a busy reading month.

[squidyinkydink]

I got to check out these books. Makes me think of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s film Cure. I think I will love this and I put a hold for both the Agatha Christie and Yokito Ayatsun book at my local library to start.

[TheBonsaiGarden]

I loved The Decagon House Murders. I’ve been working my way through the Pushkin Vertigo catalogue of Japanese murder mystery fiction, in part due to your recommendations.

[mai]

Loved the way you introduced the decagon house murders.
Don’t know how good the translation is but „the man behind the scissors“ or „Hasami Otoko“ is another classic I think you would enjoy!