If you love a good murder mystery novel, then you will enjoy the House Murder novels by Yukito Ayatsuji. The novels take place in a house that has hidden components. All of the houses are built by a famous architech.
So far, two novels written by Ayatsuji have bene translated to English. There are nine total books in the House Murder series according to Goodreads. It will take years for all of them to be translated. So for now, we will be discussing the first two books in the series.
The House Murders Book Series
The Decagon House Murders
Seven students who are part of a mystery club decide to spend a week vacation on an island off the coast of Japan. A murder took place on the island six months ago which is part of the reason why it was selected and the case was never solved. A day after they arrive, they wake up to a warning that six of the seven friends will be killed.
At the same time in Japan, a former member of the mystery club named Kawaminami received a letter that says that the death of a member of the mystery club was a murder. Kawaminami decides to investigate the letter and learns that that former member’s murder and the murder on the islands from six months ago are connected.
You can read the full book review and summary here!
The Mill House Murders
The novel starts off in the year 1986 in an isolated house in the mountains called the Mill House. Fujinuma Kiitchi, a wheelchair bound man, is holding his yearly gathering of friends to visit his home and see the famous paintings of his father Fujinuma Issei. Kiitchi lives in the house with his beautiful and young wife, along with two helpers.
The year prior, in 1985, when Kiitchi’s friends were visiting, his housekeeper fell off the tower, another man was killed, and Furukawa Tsunehito, a priest disappeared along with a painting. It is 1986 and Shimada Kyoshi, an uninvited guest and friend of Furukawa, wants to solve the mysterious crime that took place last year.
You can read the full book review and summary here!
Conclusion
This guide should help you read this fun murder mystery series. And when another novel in the series is translated, we’ll make sure we review it. Happy reading!
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