I received a review copy of this book from Pushkin Press via Edelweiss, and a DRC via NetGalley — many thanks to both.

Seishi Yokomizo’s The Devil’s Flute Murders plunges readers into post-war Japan, where shadows of the past intertwine with eerie hauntings, tragic secrets, and a beautifully twisted locked-room mystery. This installment, set in 1947, delivers a rich blend of suspense, atmosphere, and slow-burning tension, with Detective Kosuke Kindaichi navigating one of his most intricate cases yet.

The story kicks off when a young woman named Mineko seeks out Kindaichi’s help. Her father, Viscount Tsubaki, recently vanished and was later found dead yet now, his ghost seems to be reappearing, accompanied by a haunting flute melody he composed before his death. Is it grief that drives the family to hallucinate? Or is something far more sinister at play?

What follows is a multilayered mystery that unfurls gradually, revealing a tangle of family ties, old grudges, disturbing rumors, and yes, plenty of murder. The pacing allows each twist to breathe, giving readers space to question every character’s motives. I loved how the novel refused to spoon-feed clues; every revelation felt earned, and even though I suspected pieces of the “why,” the “who” completely caught me off guard until the final act.

Yokomizo’s writing continues to channel vintage detective fiction, reminiscent of both Christie and Conan Doyle, with its melodramatic flair, secretive estates, and emotionally charged investigations. That said, the style does lean heavily on repeated dramatic reactions: gasps, chills, wide-eyed shocks. It’s a small gripe, but I found myself occasionally pulled out of the moment by the overuse of these tropes.

The character list is large (you’ll be flipping back to the dramatis personae a lot), and honestly, most of them aren’t particularly likable—except for Kindaichi himself, who remains as shrewd and quirky as ever. Despite that, I was hooked. The ghostly elements, the musical motif of the devil’s flute, and the sheer number of curveballs kept me turning pages late into the night.

Overall, The Devil’s Flute Murders is a standout in the Kindaichi series—a complex, atmospheric mystery that fans of classic detective fiction should not miss. Though slightly weighed down by its dramatic stylings, it’s still a thoroughly satisfying and layered tale of murder, memory, and the ghosts we cannot escape.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to receive this ARC since I really enjoy the series and I was not disappointed. This installment of the series was one of my favorites. (I am not quite sure what that says about me.) It was just like the taglines: dark, atmospheric, and disturbing. The translation by Jim Rion really showcases all that and the genius of Seishi Yokomizo.

Detective Kousuke Kindaichi is back again by request of a Viscount's family. Just like every family, there is a history and secrets lurk to bring the family's demise. There is complexity and depth with all the characters. At first I got a bit overwhelmed but like other books in this series, I appreciate the list of characters and their relationships at the beginning of the book. References like this make the story enjoyable. There are some references to previous stories in this series but they don't spoil in my opinion any of them, so you don't necessarily need to read this in order. However, to understand dynamics and the personality of Kousuke Kindaichi, I highly recommend reading at least a previous book in the series before this one. This whodunit really had me guessing and wondering. Yokomizo is a lot like Agatha Christie for me. I enjoy the plot and characters so much that I forget I'm trying to figure out who did it. It is rare when I can figure out who did it so at the end of the story, you have the final reveal. (It's quite satisfying.) I really enjoy locked room or isolated mysteries and add family dynamics to it and it's all chef kiss for me. The Devil's Flute Murders delivers on all of that. The writing and delivery of the story seem to be more mature then earlier novels. There is growth in Yokomizo's writing. There are a lot of adult themes and actions that could give people the icks or be a trigger. To name a few: incest, rape/sexual assault, suicide/death, and toxic relationships. Please look into all the content warnings before reading.

I highly recommend this book and this series in general. I cannot wait for the next translated installment in this series.

A peek at the very immediate aftermath of WWII in bombed-out Tokyo, and the dreadful inconvenience all this war nonsense with its barbaric social leveling brings to The Better Classes.

Deeply dislikable "noble" people doing disreputable things for ignoble motives, aaahhh there's the sweet spot for a story! The supernatural window-dressing was sort of fun. Seances are entertaining silliness in fiction, cynical and sordid manipulations in person. The one in this book is, oddly, both; the fact is the "supernatural" gubbins of the music playing eerily would not work at all in today's world, but was very amusingly handled so flew under my eyeroll threshhold.

Again, and as always in this vintage of Japanese crime novels (based on my limited sample size, anyway), be prepared for the sleuth to know things you do not. You're here to be Dr. Watson, or Inspector Japp, not Hercule or Sherlock. Accept this and enter in the spirit of "what did bombed-out Tokyo look like?" and this read will both entertain and educate you. Kosuke Kindaichi's rumpled Columbo-like presentation of self is a lot more...unusual, noticeable, in Japanese society both then and now. The author's choice to make him rumpled is making a statement about surfaces in a country where they're even more important than they are here in the West.

I land on four stars, per usual in this series, for the fun of being in this very, very dissimilar-to-mine world.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

Twisty and eerie murder mystery which exemplifies perfectly the unique narrative structure and writing style of a Japanese novel. Few elements didn’t stand the test of time or bluntly portrayed Japan cultural differences from the “western world”, but I deeply appreciated the decision to preserve them for the English translation. I look forward to continuing this series!

Rated 3.5 stars.

Seishi Yokomizo is now being translated and his books are a great read. Nothing conveys cultural nuance than a mystery with its details on gender relationships, respect, honor and crime with its break of norms or the normative. The character of the detective is striking and very endearing. Yokomizo has placed his novels in different landscapes. I encourage students majoring in Japanese to read crime fiction in their area study. They will gain insight through an enjoyable read.

Probably my favourite book in this series since the very first book, The Honjin Murders! I really feel that this book is Yokomizo on top form. Eerie atmosphere that builds with each chapter, complex characters that have you guessing even yourself and a plot that is liking walking through a labyrinth it has so many twists and turns.

I really enjoyed every second of reading this book and read it in 2 days.

I really enjoyed this reading, although I haven’t read any other in the series, I found this one very intriguing, and didn’t feel lost at all. I understand the detective Kosuke is a recurring character in the series and definitely would love to go back an read the first 4 books. It’s rather atmospheric but not in the way that is boring or slow. There’s a lot of regional details and it’s very attached to the time it was written, lots of references to the war, also the culture is really embedded into the story. I love Mistery novels and I’m glad I picked this one up.

This time the beloved scruffy sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi investigates a series of gruesome murders within the feuding family of a brooding, troubled composer, whose most famous work chills the blood of all who hear it. Another in this brilliant series! If you are a fan of locked room masteries, this one is the best I have ever read. I cannot wait for more of Kosuke!

Seishi Yokomizo's "The Devil's Flute Murders" is a masterfully crafted murder mystery that transports readers to 1937 Japan. With intricate plotting and a rich atmospheric setting, this novel showcases Yokomizo's prowess as a pioneering voice in Japanese crime fiction.

The story follows the investigation into the peculiar deaths of two men, both found clutching Japanese flutes. As the enigmatic Kosuke Kindaichi unravels the case, Yokomizo deftly weaves a tapestry of clues and red herrings, challenging readers to piece together the puzzle alongside the detective.

What truly elevates this novel is Yokomizo's meticulous attention to detail, from the vivid depictions of Japanese culture and traditions to the intricate psychological profiles of the characters. The author's deep understanding of human nature lends depth and complexity to the narrative, transcending the boundaries of a mere whodunit.

While the pacing occasionally lags, Yokomizo's skill in misdirection and his ability to maintain suspense until the final, satisfying reveal more than compensate for any minor lulls. "The Devil's Flute Murders" is a captivating and immersive journey into the golden age of Japanese crime fiction, solidifying Yokomizo's status as a master of the genre.

DNF at 33%

I'm a bit upset because I really wanted to get into this as I want to read more translated literature and I've heard that Seishi Yokomizo was a very famous and well loved Japanese crime writer. I think unfortunately, and I would say this is more my fault, I kept getting confused because of the large cast of characters. I also wasn't super invested in the mystery and I think that was because of my confusion. I would like to try another novel by this author though because I think there's one out there for me, but this isn't it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve read a handful of Japanese mysteries and am always fascinated by their construction. This one is no different. It’s distinctly different from American and British mysteries, so you have to know what you’re getting into when you start. However, they’re intricately plotted, with minute clues dropped throughout. This book also includes a darkness that I wasn’t fully prepared for and that I found compelling.

A locked room mystery with a twist so dark it will blow your mind. I haven't read anything like it. The introduction itself has incidents that will at first seem ordinary, but as I got into it further , it got more and more twisted.
The writing is brilliant, the whole atmosphere is disturbing and mysterious. I suspected every single person in this convoluted family full of vendetta and trickery, even towards the end I couldn't find out who or why of this mystery.
It was definitely interesting and gives more food for our thoughts throughout. What didn't work for me was the pacing, it was rather slow for my liking. For some time almost nothing happened in between.

The style is fairly consistent - and one the author Seishi Yolomizo explores well - deep, dark family secrets, which when brought into open, give birth to jealousy, greed and ultimately ... murder. And here again, we have all those elements: a family saga of love and hate, revenge and redemption; many suspects but always one whom you are least likely to suspect; a suspenseful mystery, tied together by a long narrative that conveys the essence of the story, location and characters to perfection. This is Yokomizo's trademark.

In this instance we have a mysterious disappearance, a locked room murder mystery, a jewel robbery, and the haunting and ominous tones of a flute.

I cannot recommend this series enough, with our detective, Kindaichi, who according to the local policeman, looks more like a criminal than a world famous detective!

I really enjoy Japanese fiction (of the ones I've read, anyway!) and The Devil's Flute Murders appealed to me due to its locked-room mystery plot. I'm a fan of a classic murder mystery and this didn't disappoint. The structure of the plot did remind me of Agatha Christie and would highly recommend for any fans of the great lady herself!

I read Inugami Curse and liked it. Devil's Flute Murder too is a brilliant installment. Kindaichi series has a separate fanbase due to it's different style of writing from thrillers and mysteries like that of Keigo Higashino.

I will not talk about it details lest I give out spoilers which I definitely don't want to do. A chilling yet engaging read. I may have been addicted to Yokomizo Seishi's writing ngl.

I loved this book but this a book you need to sit down and spend dedicated time to reading in long sittings to really get into the story.

The characters and plot was well developed and I enjoyed the flow a lot more than I do with others in the genre!

I thought it was so well written I have purchased seishi yokomizos other books and I look forward to delving in his world further!

This is not a book for new readers but would be loved by anyone who is already an avid fan of the murder mystery genre!

I love the creepy, otherworldly mysteries from this author. No doubt there are numerous layers I am missing due to my own lack of knowledge about Japanese culture, but I hope Pushkin Vertigo keeps making these available to English-speaking audiences.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, via NetGalley. I enjoyed this book, although it took me a little longer to get into, in the end I couldn't put it down! Would recommend!

I really enjoyed the previous books from this author but this one had way too many characters and I was confused all the time. The translation made it difficult too and the fact that I’m not familiar with the Japanese names and the way they change depending on who they are made it very difficult to follow. Also, the ending was kind of far fetched. I will continue reading these translations but this one just wasn’t for me.