The Noh Mask Murder - Akimitsu Takagi

The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi, translated by Jesse Kirkwood / ISBN 9781782279655 / 223-page paperback from Pushkin Vertigo

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"A wickedly plotted mystery with a metafictional twist that feels far fresher than those of more contemporary versions with the same idea" — The New York Times

A bewildering locked-room murder occurs as an amateur crime writer investigates strange events in the Chizurui mansion in this prizewinning classic Japanese mystery

This ingeniously constructed masterpiece, written by one of Japan's most celebrated crime writers and translated into English for the first time, is perfect for locked-room mystery fans who can’t resist a breathtaking conclusion.

In the Chizurui family mansion, a haunting presence casts a shadow over its residents. By night, an eerie figure, clad in a sinister Hannya mask is seen roaming around the house. An amateur murder mystery writer, Akimitsu Takagi, is sent to investigate — but his investigation takes a harrowing turn as tragedy strikes the Chizurui family.

Within the confines of a locked study, the head of the family is found dead, with only an ominous Hannya mask lying on the floor by his side and the lingering scent of jasmine in the air as clues to his mysterious murder.

As Takagi delves deeper into the perplexing case, he discovers a tangled web of secrets and grudges. Can he discover the link between the family and the curse of the Hannya mask? Who was the person who called the undertaker and asked for three coffins on the night of the murder? And do those three coffins mean the curse of the Hannya mask is about to strike again?

The Noh Mask Murder’s legendary ending offers locked-room mystery fans the perfect coda toan ingenously constructed mystery.

"A playful, meta-narrative puzzle that will delight fans of the classic locked-room subgenre, but which also digs beneath the surface mystery to explore the “collective derangement” that can affect an entire family – or, for that matter, an entire nation" -- The Irish Times

"Japanese crime-writing legend and innovator of the form, Takagi, lends contemporary thought to traditional Golden Age tropes to superb effect... Reflects the distinct and elegant storytelling of Japan and riffs on the locked room mystery" -- Crime Time