Dark and Ominous, Death on Gokumon Island is an atmospheric novel inspired by Agatha Christie. It's a classic novel and the most widely regarded of Seishi Yokomizo's Japanese mysteries.

In the story, Detective Kosuke Kindaichi travels to the remote island (in which the name can be translated to "Hell's Gate) to following the dying wish of his close friend. Not only is he coming to the island after WWII to explain the passing of his friend, he is also tasked with warning the three stepsisters that they are in danger. Thus the clock starts and it's a mad race to solve the underlying mystery before all of the stepsister succumb.

Be prepared, however, for horror is intertwined with this story. The resulting deaths are intricate and unique and chilling. Apparently the detective is known for solving murders after many of the characters involved have....passed.

It's a great detective story and the author plays fair with the audience. If you are a fan of classics and detective novels, like a bit of horror with your murder mysteries or would just enjoy trying a novel from another culture, then Death on Gokumon Island is for you!
.#Pushkin #NetGalley

I picked this up as an ARC on NetGalley because of the awesome cover and I have always been interested in translated works. This one did not disappoint. Death on Gokumon Island was a murder mystery that had me guessing up until the very end and even the very ending was still a shock. I am glad I picked this because it introduced me to Seishi Yokomizo, a beautiful writer and storyteller.

The story itself is very interesting and quite unique because of how it was told from the point of view as a 'watcher' and not a main character. The main character, Kosuke Kindaiche, was portrayed as a nervous and flustered detective who is tasked with solving murders on an isolated island. However, the supporting characters themselves felt very one dimensional and I felt myself getting confused with who was being portrayed. This could be due to the true meaning being lost in translation, so I don’t fault how the story was provided for me.

The writing style of this novel was beautiful and I thought the translator did a really great job with portraying all of the minute details of each scene. The writing flows well and the scenes that were created were so detailed, I felt as if I were watching it as a film.

Overall, I thought this was a great read and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I have read a few books by Yokomizo, all of which I have enjoyed immensely. This one was no exception, but as with the others, and maybe more so with this one, I had a very real problems with The Japanese names. .Once I sorted them all out in my mind the book flowed really well to the very surprising ending.
I enjoy the culture and history period in this book, set after the end of the WW, there is a different perspective of the times.
Set on a old settled Island from pirate times, it weaves a story of family, greed, power and murder A very good story where the motive is well hidden and the ending different.

I enjoyed this book and can see why it's a classic and one of the more celebrated by Yokomizo. Eerie set-up, gruesome murders and a satisfying resolution.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. Whilst there was a good storyline and plot, it just didn't hold my attention enough. I found it hard to keep track of the story and what was going on and found that whilst reading, my mind was elsewhere. If you are a fan of murder mystery then this could be the book for you, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

I have been in love with Detective Kosuke Kindaichi's series ever since I read The Inugami Curse/Clan, the 2nd installment, and that book was just so damn good and I want more. If you know me, you will know I LOVEEEE CRIME MYSTERY/THRILLER GENRE. IT'S MY LIFE. Also, I'm a huge fan of the manga series Young Kindaichi which was inspired by the book series by Seishi Yokomizo here. Before I get into the review, firstly, many thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Final verdict: 4.5 stars

I will start with the premise of this book, what this book was marketed to the general audience. Since this book will be released in English in June 2022, I would like to try to clear out the marketing premise the publisher went for. This was said to be loosely based on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and as a fan of Agatha Christie and the book being my favorite book ever, I will say honestly, nope, this was misleading. First of all, the setting on the island/ the way the murder was committed allegedly was quite similar to Christie's novel. But, the island in Agatha Christie's novel was isolated and uninhabited while Gokumon Island was populated by islanders and flourishing with their fishing industry. I could say the murder's methods are not exactly similar but they bear a similar method which you will understand once you read the book and also if you have read And Then There Were None. Death on Gokumon Island can stand on its own feet without being compared with Christie's masterpiece, this coming from a huge fan of Christie. The plot for these two books differed so much that even if you said loosely based, I won't put the two together. That being cleared out, let's get into the book!

1. PLOT
Giving you a brief synopsis, after the Second World War, Detective Kosuke Kindaichi back from army repatriation went to a remote Gokumon Island to send tragic news of the death of his young comrade to his family. What concerned Kindaichi the most was the dying message of the friend with hidden malice in it that strikes him with fear and so he went to the island bearing the message in the hope to prevent a heinous crime from happening. But things aren't as easy as it seems with the residents of the island being wary of outsiders like Kindaichi.

The plot was slow pacing, as typical of Yokomizo because the author always started with the history of the places to create the atmosphere/ setting of the book. I found this style to be engaging because I like learning about the island's detailed history so you will know what to expect of these islanders. From explanations of the shape of the island, the history of the inhabitants, the family that leads the islanders, their fishing industry and who is the powerful figure, the secrets, the nitty and gritty of the island. For some people who are not familiar with his writing style, this may throw you off but believe me, this introduction set the book in the direction of what the author meant. Giving you these details will make you understand more of this place and their cultures and what it means in the crime that happened.

2. NARRATIVE STYLE
As usual, 3rd POV is used here or the omniscient narrator is more specific. We as a reader are usually addressed by the narrator as part of the story. Mostly, we got in-depth thought from Kindaichi but also other supporting characters were given their thoughts and views which makes it interesting to see from a different point of view. Besides that, I always found the way that the narrator will reveal to you bad news or what makes things regrettable to be something that gets me tensed because this will make me want to continue reading. Since I know things will go bad, I want to know what exactly happened.

3. CHARACTERS
There are a LOT OF CHARACTERS IN HERE, MIND YOU. but fret not, we have our beloved Kindaichi with us to maneuver us to know these characters, particularly the Kaemon's family which are the family we got to know the most in here. Kindaichi was endearing as always, his stammers, his excitedness whenever he got into one of his moods, the constant habit of scratching his head, ahhhhh this man is still cute despite being middle age, probably around 35 years old. I LOVE HOW EXCITED HE IS WHENEVER HE SOLVES A CASE. There are some emotional moments here as he met a person from the past, this showed how he remembered people he met in his life and I appreciate this side of him so much (*cries). The family we met in this book are some of the interesting characters yet they were not completely fleshed out which kind of disappointed me a bit because I would love to know them more especially Sanae, however for the book, I kind of understand why.

4. MYSTERY
Here is where the author's strength shined the most. Why I love Yokomizo's mysteries is because he used Japanese culture in his mysteries. There are lots of Japanese references such as traditional classic stage plays, haiku poetry, and significant myth or legend that act as puzzles in the crimes committed. I love how these are well executed and what made them stand out the most. The crimes committed in this book are very disturbing and how Yokomizo incorporates the cultural references are so clever. The plot twist is quite unexpected for me and I do think they are brilliant but I was left wanting more or perhaps a grand reveal. However, the sick and twisted nature of the crimes is already making me squirm uncomfortably so what more can I get from it.

If you want to read this book, I will suggest starting with the first book Honjin Murders because you will appreciate the references made here. There are some callbacks to the first case here and those who read it will love what was being presented here. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself liking what happened in here even if it's brief but I LOVE IT!
There is a lot of Japanese vocabulary here which might be quite confusing to some but there are definitions of these available here. I'm unsure if the final edited book will have a glossary for these terms and I would love it if they have since the one I read was an uncorrected proof.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (WILL GET PHYSICAL COPY FOR SURE)

I've read Seishi Yokomizo before so have enjoyed returning to this classic author, it's great that Pushkin Press publish long forgotten classic crime fiction from around the globe. We meet Kosuke Kindaiche who first appears in The Honjin Murders, as a character he follows in the line of Sherlock Holmes and Ellery Queen, he is unusual and the characters around him pick up on this. He is on Gokumon Island to fulfil a promise to a dead friend however things do not go well for Kosuke. These are great for fans of classic detective fiction my only quibble is that I think the dialogue is slightly off which could be down to the translation.

In preparation for reading this novel I read Yokomizo's first Kosuke Kindaichi book, which was excellent. While not absolutely necessary, it did give a better understanding of the private detective's background. Written many years after the original and taking place after WWII as opposed to before the war, Kindaichi was in a different place emotionally. On top of that, he has the unenviable task of visiting the insular island of Gokumon in order to report that his friend and top heir to the main family's fortune has succumbed before reaching home. Additionally, his friend's final cryptic words implored Kindaichi to watch out for his sisters as they were now in danger. Upon reaching Gokumon Island Kindaichi discovers the unusual dynamic of the inhabitants and the unconventional attitudes of his friend's family and neighbors. And as mystifying murders begin to take place it's up to him to help the police and locals find the killer.
Though written over 50 years ago, the flow of the prose felt like it could have been written today. While it's steeped in older Japanese culture and customs, the story is told in such a fashion that it's relatively easy to comprehend most of what's laid out, and the plot will keep you guessing until the shocking solution is finally presented.

My plan to read fiction from world over got another boost with the e-ARC of Death on Gokumon Island—a classic mystery by the extremely prolific Japanese mystery master Seishi Yokomizo, translated into English for the first time by Louise Heal Kawai and published by Pushkin Vertigo—graciously made available by the publishers through NetGalley.

Kosuke Kindaichi used to be a famous private detective at a young age before Second World War came and swallowed up about a decade of his best years as he got drafted into the army. It’s September 1946, a little while after the war ended and the repatriation of surviving soldiers from various locations is in progress. Kindaichi arrives on the Gokumon Island on the Seto Inland Sea on a personal mission—something he hasn’t been able to make sense of yet. Chimata Kito, a young comrade of his and the scion of the island’s main fishing family, has died on the repatriation ship and in his last moments has entrusted Kindaichi with saving the lives of his three sisters who are sure to be murdered soon. Puzzled as to how Chimata—far away from home in terms of both time and space—could predict the murders and how to stop them, Kindaichi gets accommodation in the Senkoji Temple on the basis of the letter of introduction Chimata had given him long before his death. Wary of outsiders, the people of the island including its lone policeman, Sergeant Shimizu, suspect Kindaichi of some ulterior motive. Soon after his arrival, a dead body turns up, followed by a few more and, like any small community such as the one on the little island, everyone closes ranks and the investigation into the murders becomes a tough task, especially for Kindaichi who himself becomes a suspect. Try as he might, Kindaichi fails to stop the spate of murders that seem to be horrifically preordained, the only consolation being his ultimate success in solving the mysteries by peeling off layer after layer of the community’s bizarre secrets.

Built on the classic frame of a closed-room—in this case a closed-island—mystery, Death on Gokumon Island is gripping as much for its plot as its setting. The author gives a detailed introduction about how the island got its name that means Hell’s Gate and builds a terrifying atmosphere with the landscape as well as the social situation. Kindaichi hides behind his unremarkable appearance a sharp mind, but is overwhelmed by his devilish opponent in this instance. There is not much space for development of most characters in this plot-driven tale except for one or two major persons. The intricate plotting compels the reader to focus on the narrative and try to solve the mystery along with the detective, and there are multiple red herrings, twists and mis-directions that keep one guessing. The denouement at the end is clever and makes sense in a twisted way though the motive for the crimes is not powerful enough in my opinion. While the translation is as seamless as it could be, some of the dialogues feel a bit odd, which I would chalk up to the cultural nuances of the original that defy translation into a western language.

Death on Gokumon Island is the first of the Seventy-seven mysteries featuring Kosuke Kindaichi I’ve read and I would like to read more of them. My hearty appreciation goes to Pushkin Vertigo for their efforts to bring such hidden gems to a wider audience.

4 stars

this is my first time reading Insp. Kindaichi's series and enjoyed the reading. maybe not to the utmost but mystery/thriller can never go wrong when it comes to the revelation.

first thing that i noticed in the story was the pace was quite slow. at some point i became lazy to continue but i still continue reading whenever i get the strength to do so. i heard a lot of good stuff about Kindaichi but as i only read one book, i can't depicted much about him but he's really calm, collected and humble throughtout the story. he looks smart too as he's some sort of haiku fans and can memorized and recognized the haiku's. he also was described as flawed as he was blind in seeing clues to solve which made him looks rlly humanize.

looking to the murder cases, that was very unpredicted. i was expecting other thing but result showed differently. the case might be more easier for those who were committed to understand properly the japanese vocab usage in this book. i was lazy to do so i used my simple imagination to grasp on the how the murder happened. nevertheless, the murder was perfectly plan. a simple bloke like me wouldn't be able to nab the murders for sure.

no doubt this book would be enjoyed by mystery/thrillers lovers.

Kosuke Kindaichi is back and this time a murder takes place on a remote island where the locals are anything but friendly. In this closed community as the number of victims mount can Kosuke reveal the murderer and stop them before more deaths occur.

I really enjoyed this novel and more so after reading the Honjin Murders. Kosuke is an interesting detective and the cast of characters on the island where all so well written (and all so suspicious) that I couldn't put the book down until I knew who did it. A gripping and claustrophobic story where the murderer is hiding on plain sight and where the Island's inhabitants unwittingly hinder more than help solve the crime.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

I am so grateful I got to read an English translation of this book. Although I haven't read the first book in the Kosuke Kindaichi series and is kind of inspired by Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" I definitely liked this book better and can't WAIT to read the first one despite the wrong order (which is frustrating me). The setting was impeccable , i was curious and drawn to the plot since page one and my favourite part was that Defective Kindaichi isn't our usual strong and brooding detective. He's endearing although not fully fleshed out, or maybe that's my problem since i started reading the books midway. Would definitely love to read the rest of the books in the series<33

I am familiar with Seishi Yokomizo's works, but admittedly this is the first of his novels I had the pleasure of reading. I express my gratitude to the publisher and NetGallery for the opportunity to delve into the world of Kosuke Kindaichi.
While murder mystery is not the typical genre of novels I read, I frequently find myself picking up Japanese literature. It is clear that while similar to Western murder mystery novels such as those written by Agatha Christie, this work is uniquely Japanese. For those intrigued by Japanese culture and history, there are various references that the reader can fully appreciate; however, I would not go far as to say these references are alienating to a reader unfamiliar with them. The setting and atmosphere of this novel were immersive, and I found myself drawn to continue reading.
This novel is masterful in laying out its characters and conflicts in such a way that there are no loose ends by the end of the work. As with any translation, I must give credit to the translator - well done. Quite a satisfying read, and I will certainly be reading more of Seishi Yokomizo's works!

A deeply enjoyable read, this book is a great for fans of Agatha Christie and other mystery novelists. The period seeing in post war Japan is atmospheric and picturesque. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Thinking this is the Japanese version of “And Then There Were None” is I think misleading for the reader. Yes both are set on islands and multiple people die—the similarities are superficial at best. There is no comparison.

Death on Gokumon Island is a classic and for good reason. I was completely lost and unsure who the killer is until the reveal. The translation read awkward at times but that could be how the original by Seishi Yokomizo was written. All in all, an enjoyable read especially for a rainy day!

The story is set immediately at the end of World War II as Japanese soldiers are being repatriated. Chimata and Kosuke survive the war in the Pacific and are travelling back to Japan. Unfortunately whilst on their repatriation ship Chimata dies, and on his deathbed he asks Kosuke to travel to Gokumon Island to inform his family of his death.

Kosuke Kindaichi arrives on Gokumon Island, which is unlike anywhere else in Japan that he’s visited. It’s a remote island whose population is made up predominantly of fishermen who are descended from prisoners. The island feels almost feudal with the two powerful clans who control the fishing industry. The inland sea waters surrounding the island are dangerous with pirates.

Loosely based on Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, the bodies start to pile up in this murder mystery. I enjoyed the twists and turns and really had no idea who was committing the murders. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pushkin Press, for this ARC copy of Seishi Yokomizo’s “Death on Gokumon Island” for a fair and honest and review. I will certainly look out for other translated Yokomizo books in the future.

The book is number four in a series of stories surrounding famed private detective, Kosuke Kindaichi and is set directly after World War II on an island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. Kosuke arrives on Gokumon Island to deliver a message to the family of his fallen comrade, Chimata. What happens next is chilling and presents an epic puzzle for Kosuke to attempt to piece together.

It’s a classic whodunnit and I had difficulty putting it down. Although it’s part of a series, I didn’t feel I lost anything having not read the other books yet. It works great as a stand-alone story.

The translation is seamless. It’s that perfect balance of having a natural and compelling flow in English, while retaining all the cultural references that ensure you don’t forget it’s set in Japan.

Rated: 4/5 I will definitely read more of this series!

Unabridged review on my Instagram page, @sarahfullybooked

yokomizo's style is very heavy on the telling which slows the momentum of his narrative. i found the long monologues boring and my attention diverted from the story on many occasions.

And Then There Were None is one of my all-time favorite novels. This was an incredible and respectful homage to that book, and I loved every second of it. Well written, mysterious, addictive. I loved it.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The comparison to Agatha Christie is an apposite one - I just wish more people knew about Yokomizo's work!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Honjin Murders and was excited to read his most famous work in this new English translation.

"It really was a bizarre, and frankly impossible-seeming, string of murders"

A real insight into Japanese island culture and the beautiful absurdism of mysteries of the age. Dramatically staged, multiple red-herrings and an unguessable solution, I loved every twist of the mountain path that was Death on Gokumon Island!

A quick thanks also to the translator, who beautifully captured the word play of the original whilst still maintaining the integrity and culture of the work.

I genuinely cannot wait for the next installment to be translated!