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A review by scarletshore
The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Another brilliant work by Seishi Yokomizo. Reading his books sets high expectations for thrillers I haven’t yet explored. The Inugami Curse unfolds around Nasu Lake in a post-war era, where the powerful and wealthy Inugami family is caught in a twisted struggle over inheritance. This background, set in the early 1900s, gives insight into the attitudes of that time—men, especially, treating women as tools to serve their desires.
The story shows how old traditions and feudal beliefs create conflicts over power, honor, and revenge within the wealthy family. The death of the Inugami patriarch sets the tone, almost like an omen for the chaos that tears through the family. The curse is more than just superstition, it’s deeply tied to the family’s bloodline and driven by each character’s hidden motives.
Yokomizo captures the hatred and malicious intent that fester among relatives when wealth is at stake, exposing how far family members are willing to go to secure a share of the inheritance. Each character has their own tangled story, showing just how detailed Yokomizo gets with his characters’ lives and motives. Some scenes are bloody and violent, not for the faint-hearted, but they add the edge that a gripping mystery needs.
The book’s premise and execution are flawless, embodying all you’d want in a murder mystery. Like Yokomizo’s other works, it’s fascinating to watch Kindaichi methodically pull apart the layers of secrets and betrayals that each family member conceals. Yokomizo's writing shines here, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and turning pages right to the end.
The story shows how old traditions and feudal beliefs create conflicts over power, honor, and revenge within the wealthy family. The death of the Inugami patriarch sets the tone, almost like an omen for the chaos that tears through the family. The curse is more than just superstition, it’s deeply tied to the family’s bloodline and driven by each character’s hidden motives.
Yokomizo captures the hatred and malicious intent that fester among relatives when wealth is at stake, exposing how far family members are willing to go to secure a share of the inheritance. Each character has their own tangled story, showing just how detailed Yokomizo gets with his characters’ lives and motives. Some scenes are bloody and violent, not for the faint-hearted, but they add the edge that a gripping mystery needs.
The book’s premise and execution are flawless, embodying all you’d want in a murder mystery. Like Yokomizo’s other works, it’s fascinating to watch Kindaichi methodically pull apart the layers of secrets and betrayals that each family member conceals. Yokomizo's writing shines here, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and turning pages right to the end.