While I actually preferred the Decagon House Murders, this was still an enjoyable read. Perfect for anyone who likes classic mysteries but wants to branch out a bit.

This book started slow, but quickly built up the pace. The plot and the plot twists were fantastic. This was missing something for me, so it wasn't quite a favorite, but it is one that I would recommend to mystery fans.

This was definitely darker than the first book (The Decagon House), but it was fascinating still. I found this book easier to read than the other, and I liked the shifting perspectives and timelines from past to present.

I love a good locked room mystery and this was amazing. It was so gripping right from the very first chapter it had my attention. Highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. A fun locked room mystery for fans of Agatha Christie.

“The unfortunate woman who fell from the tower. The stolen painting. The suspicious man who disappeared. And in his attempt to catch the thief, another man was killed, cut up in pieces and burnt in the incinerator. Eventually, the storm passed. And with that, all the incidents of the night would be buried, hidden away behind one unified explanation.”

Fujinuma Kiichi lives in the Mill House with a valuable collection of paintings. Once a year he opens up the house to a small group so they can view the paintings. Fujinuma is confined to a wheelchair and always wears a mask as the result of injuries incurred in an accident. The events described in the above quote occurred at last year’s opening. Now, visitors are arriving again, including the uninvited guest, Kiyoshi Shimada, who has a lot of questions.

There is a list of characters at the beginning of the book. This is helpful, but the problem is that all of the characters act and speak the same, so it is impossible to tell them apart. The book is narrated by Fujinuma in a very wooden way and the dialog is very cheesy. Maybe some of this was caused by a problem with the translation The idea behind the plot wasn’t bad, but there was really too much going on. The book had one of the most convoluted denouements I have encountered in a mystery. The author is striving to write in the fashion of classic mysteries, but his style doesn’t appeal to me. I prefer the mysteries of Seishi Yokomizo.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE VERY INTERESTING. I ENJOYED THAT IT WAS A LOCKED ROOM MYSTERY. IT WAS CREEPY AND FAST-PACED FOR ME.

I loooove a classic Japanese murder mystery, especially when it comes with a cool house. But this one unfortunately doesn’t have much for the house, it’s just there in the background. The characters.. didn’t speak to me either. I found myself wanting to rush through the book. However, the last one third of the book was thrilling and I was super engaged. Overall it’s entertaining, but the book could’ve had more potential. I’d still be interested in checking out more works from this series though!

I had been anticipating reading this novel, however, it didn't fully meet my expectations. The murder mystery didn't engage me as much as I had anticipated. The characters appeared somewhat shallow and it took a while for the mystery to capture my attention. Moreover, the translation of the story seemed slightly flawed, resulting in a somewhat disjointed narrative. The characters lacked full development and the mystery itself felt a bit overly evident for my personal preference.

My first ever Japanese mystery and I'm glad it's this one.

We start this story off high but also the way such tales usually do; with a murder. The stakes never fall of note and maintains it's rhythm which is very important for mysteries.

Hats off to the author for crafting such a well thought out mystery and I hope to read more soon.

Thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy

I was so excited to read this and unfortunately it fell flat for me. I think the translation must have been off because it felt fragmented. Characters felt underdeveloped and the mystery was obvious, in my opinion. Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was my first Japanese locked room mystery and it surely won’t be my last. The Mill House Murders is a murder mystery that follows a group on their annual visit to the Water Mill House, a remote home in the middle of nowhere, owned by Fujinuma Kiichi. This visit does not go as planned, a disappearance followed by an art theft and murders shocks both guests and tenants alike. Kiyoshi Shimada investigates to try to get to the truth while the group’s secrets became uncovered, one by one.

Perhaps this one was too smart for me, which I love because I could not figure out who committed the crimes. I love when that happens. A slow burn, this book was a perfect one to get me out of my reading slump. I really enjoyed the mystery and I can’t wait to read other books by Yukito Ayatsuji.

It’s tough to review without giving anything away, but I enjoyed this book from start to finish! If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie novels, give this one a try! It’s full of nostalgic murder mystery and the setting is both eerie and interesting.

The son of a well-known artist built the isolated, castle-like mansion known as The Mill House, and a group of individuals go there each year to view the artwork. An awful incident involving a murder and a disappearance occurred a year ago and the masked owner of the Mill House is terrified something bad would happen again as people are again coming back.

This is a really gloomy, depressing story. The characters are oddballs, and it's simple to create a spooky mood. The relationship between the man and the young woman who spends her days in a kind of edifice is unclear.

The past and present are alternated throughout the narrative and because some events occurring in both timeframes were similar or things constantly referenced became somewhat confusing. The dark atmosphere did not work for me this time and in general, the story did not arouse my interest.

All in all, this was an okay read, I just liked Decagon better!

The Mill House Murders is an enthralling locked room mystery that will keep you engrossed until the very last page. Penned by celebrated Honkaku mystery writer, Yukito Ayatsuji (not to be confused with the character in Bungo Stray Dogs), the story is masterfully crafted, with seamless transitions between past and present events, and all the classic elements of a gripping murder mystery.

Set in a secluded mill house, the plot revolves around Fujinuma Kiichi, a recluse with a disfigured face, and his wife, Yurie, who live off the grid. Their sole visitor, Masaki Shingo, met a tragic end on a fateful and ominous night a year ago. The housekeeper, Negishi Fumie, also lost her life, and a valuable painting was stolen, leading to Furukawa Tsunehito being accused of the crime. Furukawa had received an annual invitation to the Mill House as one of the exclusive guests. One year later, Shimada Kiyoshi arrives uninvited at the Mill House, determined to unravel the mystery once and for all.

Overall, the book is a delightful read that can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, but for maximum enjoyment, I would recommend reading The Decagon House Murders beforehand. Ayatsuji's writing is both captivating and vivid, and the intricate details of the plot make for a truly immersive and thrilling reading experience.

DNF @20%

With the whole concept of this book (and also look at the cover, it's gorgeous!) I was certain that I would love this book, but unfortunately the writing style didn't work for me and I couldn't get into the story.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed this one, learning that it's the second in a series makes me wish I'd read The Decagon House Murders first — I wonder if I would have liked it more had I done so. It doesn't seem like it's exactly a necessity to read the other first, but I do wonder if having read the first might have been nice. The atmospheric quality of the book was a nice touch — nothing like a mystery set on a dark and stormy night — but I often have trouble getting into books that take place over two timelines. It can take a little more brain power than I'd like to toggle back and forth between the two periods, even though this one was done fairly well. While it was a fun read, some of it fell fairly flat for me, and sometimes I had to remind myself which timeline we were in.

This felt like something different so I had to give it a try. I did really enjoy it, and it is superb if you love bone chilling, creepy vibes - the weather, the setting, the eerie feeling of doom, the haunting artwork, the strange architecture of the isolated house - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for creepiness.

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It was also fun in an Agatha Christie-esque way, as the ending was completely unexpected and surprising and left me totally shocked. The unveiling of the truth behind the horrific events in the house was always delivered in a Christie character manner, with an unexpected, amateur sleuth swooping in unexpectedly and putting the pieces together, largely through group discussion and casual conversation.

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My biggest complaint is the characters were very surface level, and I did not feel like I ever really grasped who was who, with the exception of two standouts. There was not a lot of development there.

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In summary, this story centers around an annual trip to the Mill House - a castle like, isolated bizarre architectural masterpiece - during which a small group of acquaintances are hosted by the home’s reclusive and mysterious owner, who is infamous for his post-accident deformities, and wears a white mask at all times to cover his scarred and mutilated face.

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The main draw of the home is the fact that it houses the artwork of one of the most iconic and famed artists in the world, the deceased father of their host. As they father together on the anniversary of tragic events that occurred in the house the precious year, an unexpected guest and a string of murders turn an artistic homage into a bloodbath.

Unfortunately, this murder mystery fell short of my expectations. Despite the constant intrigue and the promise of an atmospheric setting, I couldn't fully immerse myself in The Mill House Murders. The characters lacked depth, and it took a considerable portion of the book for the mystery to capture my interest. Regrettably, something crucial was missing, making it a less enjoyable read for me personally. While others might find satisfaction in this story, it simply wasn't my cup of tea.

I am so thankful to Pushkin Press, Yukito. Ayatsuji, and NetGalley for getting advanced digital and physical copies of his book before publication day. What a seriously twisted and demented tale needing to be told. I am literally living for this book.

Can’t go past a murder mystery, and these honkaku classics have become something I’ve looked forward to with each release! This is another atmospheric story that engages with time in its telling, with an ending that stayed on my mind for some days!