A review by duskx
The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Sōji Shimada

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 
Sōji Shimada’s honkaku masterpiece, “The Tokyo Zodiac Murders,” is a mesmerizing blend of cerebral intrigue and macabre fascination. 
 
Set in 1936 during the Shōwa period in pre-World War II Japan, Heikichi Umezawa, the eccentric artist, stands at the center of this twisted tale. His confession drips with madness: he plans to kill his six daughters and nieces to assemble their bodies into the perfect woman, Azoth. Astrological alignments guide his blade, and alchemical metals mark their resting places. But before Umezawa can carry out his macabre plan, he is found murdered in his locked private studio, skull shattered—a classic locked-room mystery. And then, Kazue Kanemoto, the daughter he meant to spare, meets a similar fate—violated, her head crushed. 
 
As the days unfold, Umezawa’s horrifying vision materializes. His six daughters and nieces, dismembered, their lives stolen to create Azoth. The question echoes: Who committed these atrocities, and why? 
 
"My greatest fear is that I might already have told you too much about the case! But I dared to do that both for the sake of fairness of the game, and, of course, to provide you with a little help. 
Let me throw down the gauntlet: I challenge you to solve the mystery before the final chapters!" 
—Excerpt from The Tokyo Zodiac Murders, Sōji Shimada 
 
Shimada challenges readers to think critically, question assumptions, and appreciate the beauty of deduction. His prose, like a blade poised above our hearts, reveals clues with surgical precision. Every clue necessary for unraveling the web of intrigue is meticulously included in the text, along with dramatis personae, maps, charts, and illustrations—no unfair advantages, no hidden tricks. As you turn each page, you're both observer and participant, piecing together the puzzle with a sense of urgency. 
 
What makes “The Tokyo Zodiac Murders” stand out is not just its intricate plot but also its masterstroke of misdirection. The story's originality lies in its ability to weave an elaborate tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Just when certainty blooms, doubt creeps in. Shadows shift, and we question our assumptions. Even though I happened to solve the mystery early on—largely due to having encountered “inspired” plots in other thrillers (Kindaichi Case Files vol 2 - The Ijinkan Village Murder Case and 少年包青天 / Young Justice Bao)—the novel's relentless pacing and palpable tension ensured that I remained captivated throughout the 252 pages. 
 
For those who relish intellectual challenges and the satisfaction of piecing together a complex puzzle, "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" is an unmissable triumph—a literary gauntlet flung down, daring us to solve the case before the final revelation, and it is a dare well worth accepting. 

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