The Devil's Flute Murders (Detective Kindaichi Mysteries)

‘The Devil’s Flute Murders’ by Seishi Yokomizo was written in the early 1950s and is set in 1947 as Japan continues its postwar recovery. It is the fifth book in the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi Mysteries that has been published in English in recent years. It was translated from the Japanese by Jim Rion.This is a classic locked room mystery. Scruffy private detective Kosuke Kindaichi is visited by Mineko Tsubaki, daughter of Hidesuke Tsubaki, a former viscount, composer and flautist. He had disappeared the previous Spring, one month after performing his new work: “The Devil Comes and Plays His Flute”, a tune that chills the blood of all who hear it. Later his decomposed body was discovered.However, recently Mineko’s mother, along with two other members of their household, believe they had seen him at an opera. In order to answer the question of whether Hidesuke Tsubaki is still alive, the family is holding a divination evening. Mineko invites Kindaichi to attend. Yet events soon take a shocking turn that results in a series of murders within the feuding family. Kindaichi investigates along with his friend, Chief Inspector Todoroki of the Tokyo Police. No further details to avoid spoilers.The novel has a large number of characters though there’s a handy listing at the start. In the opening chapter Seishi Yokomizo breaks the fourth wall, addressing his readers as the chronicler of the case distilled from ‘the various materials Kosuke Kindaichi provided me”. In this way Yokomizo serves as a Watson to Kindaichi’s Holmes.Aside from being a fascinating and complex mystery, Seishi Yokomizo examines Japanese society in the postwar period. It was interesting to see the aftermath of the bombings from this point of view.Overall, ‘The Devil’s Flute Murders’ proved another compelling mystery in this series. I was pleased to read that a sixth book, ‘The Little Sparrow Murders’ will be published next May.

Japan's answer to Hercule Poirot returns in the fifth translation of Yokomizo's Kosuke Kindaichi novels. The detective is called in by the family of an aristocrat and flautist, who disappeared and was found dead some time later. Shortly before his disappearance, he composed a strange and horrible piece of music - 'The Devil Comes and Plays the Flute'. Now his family are convinced he may not be dead, the melody haunts them, and it's possible it may all be connected to a mass murder and robbery at a Tokyo jewellers. Soon the body count is mounting and Kindaichi must identify the 'devil' who is behind it all.Like most of the novels, it features a large, feuding family and takes advantage of an immediate post-war setting and all the opportunities that offers for false identities, missing people and destroyed evidence. The setting is somewhat eerie, in a grand house left standing in an area largely flattened by bombing. As you'd expect from such a mystery, there's a whole host of possible suspects, but no one more obvious than anyone else. Investigations are hampered by post war shortages, transport chaos and the literal obliteration of some of the places the want to visit.I didn't guess who did it any faster than Kindaichi, which is somewhat unusual for me these days and always a bonus. It is an intriguing plot and as always I enjoy the Japanese postwar setting and learning little bits about the culture of that place and time. Yokomizo is perhaps not as ground-breakingly inventive as Agatha Christie, but he writes a good, solid and very readable story. As always, the translation is excellent and they manage to find ways to make clues work that must have been more challenging in a language other than Japanese.I would recommend this novel, and all of the others in the series (it is not necessary to read them in order), to fans of detective and mystery fiction. It's also a must-read for anyone with an interest in Japanese history and culture.

Excellent books series

Interesting and atmospheric story that is a proper page-turner! A (multiple) murder-mystery set in post-war Japan will be a delight for fans of Kosuke Kindaichi and the new readers alike! Highly recommended.

Private Detective Kindaichi is back in action for another masterful example of classic crime!Set in Japan 1947, we follow the tracks of the Devil's flute murderer and his disturbing secrets... Unputdownable! Enjoy!

There are twenty-two characters in this book, not counting some minor characters. I had to refer often to the character list in the front of the book to keep track of them — especially at first. Sometimes the author calls a character by a first name, sometimes by a surname — which added to my difficulties. I love to read Japanese novels and speak a bit of Japanese, so I’m used to Japanese names. Even so, this book was a challenge.But I kept at it, mainly because I like the sleuth, private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. He dresses in traditional Japanese garb, always rather shabby. His hat is particularly disreputable and plays a role in this plot. He has an unruly mop of hair like a sparrow’s nest, and when agitated, he scratches his head fiercely, letting loose clouds of dandruff. He often stutters when interrogating people. Not very impressive — but his friends in the police force recognize his genius for solving cases.This case offers a lot of dark atmosphere, a whiff of the supernatural, a feast of twisted human relationships, and lots of unsavory behavior among aristocrats. The aristocrats, however, have just lost their titles. In 1947 Japan’s new constitution abolished the peerage. This book gives a very interesting picture of post-war Japan — property in ruins from fire bombing, food shortages, flourishing black marketeers, unreliable train transportation — quite a contrast to modern Japan!The story contains a locked room mystery, which Kindaichi solves quite cleverly, as well as other murders that seem inexplicable at first. Throughout the narrative, a devilish flute composition wafts through the air whenever there’s a murder or a threat of one. A clue to the murderer is embedded amidst the eerie notes.Seishi Yokomizu has an original voice and a rather endearing fondness for Golden-Age- style story telling. I never miss anything he writes.

Definitely the best from this series.

I am a fan of Japanese crime fiction books and after reading this book, I can say that it is one of the best crime books, I have ever read. This book is full of drama and suspense and the readers will find themselves hooked to the book till the very end, with a jaw-dropping climax.Highly recommended.

book was received in good condition and quickly