Death on Gokumon Island by Seishi Yokomizo

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of the Kindaichi series and I'm really pleased they are continuing to translate and publish these books. Death on Gokumon Island is the second in the series and it tells the tale of a series of creepy deaths on an isolated island. Kindaichi, our detective, shows up after receiving a message from a dying friend and is disturbed when the warnings seem to come true.

Of all the Kindaichi books I've read so far, this one is probably my least favourite. It has a solid premise and some cool/interesting deaths, but the writing style is less conversational than the first book and the characters seem less involved. There is less of a focus on a small, tightknit group of characters (like in The Honjin Murders) and therefore this book offers slightly less of what I enjoy about murder mysteries. However, the deaths are more intense and varied than the first book and I think there is enough of a mystery to keep people invested.

Overall, I don't think this book is worth skipping if you're reading all of them but I wouldn't suggest starting with it necessarily. The other books are stronger and while this is still a solid murder mystery, it's not the best this author or series has to offer

Overall Rating:

3/5 stars

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

 I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of The Appeal and I think it's a book which stands up on a reread, so I was pretty excited when I heard about a sequel coming out. The Christmas Appeal continues the antics of the Fairway Players as they put on a production of Jack and the Beanstalk at Christmas time. As with the first, this book is told entirely through emails, texts and other forms of communication.

For full disclosure, I have actually read this book twice now and my opinion on it has changed slightly. The first time I read it, I was incredibly disappointed. While this book mimics many of the qualities of the first one, it lacks any real ingenuity to the murder case. There is little opportunity to solve anything and no real additional elements once the incident is revealed, which for me is the main appeal of the first one. The whole thing just falls a little flat and doesn't seem to add much as a result.

Having said that, I reread this book this Christmas and I had a bit of a better time. I still stand by the opinions above but I was able to see a bit more of the fun in it, and it certainly fills a good role as a book to read around Christmas which doesn't require too much attention. The characters are enjoyable, it's very readable and it has a decent enough atmosphere.

Overall, I think this book is worth checking out but perhaps lower your expectations if you're a big fan of the first one. Whether it's due to the shorter length or just the 'Christmas tone', this book isn't a great example of the murder mystery genre but it can be a lot of fun and is certainly better than some other Christmas-themed thrillers I've read.

Overall Rating:

Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz

 I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Books UK in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book a lot better when it was called Knives Out.

Perhaps that is a bit unfair but I can't help but feel the movie's influence throughout the whole of this book, and not in a good way. Young female protagonist who seems undoubtedly guilty early on? Check. Determined sleuth who teams up with said young protagonist to add stress to their situation? Check. Heck, the other detective in the audiobook even has the same accent as Daniel Craig! It was very distracting.

Despite all this, the main reason I have an issue with this book has nothing to do with Knives Out and everything to do with the fact it doesn't play fair. From the very start of the murder, we are told the main character goes into the room of the victim with a knife. We are not told what she does in that room. She then talks mysteriously about her 'secret' for the rest of the book. The clear implication is that she has killed him, and yet (despite being the POV character) she never actually says those words so it is painfully obvious that we are being misled. I don't like this and it left a sour taste in my mouth, particularly because without this subterfuge I think it becomes incredibly obvious who is the real killer.

There are some strengths of this book. I liked the characters well-enough. They were a bit more fleshed out than your typical YA thriller/mystery, and while I found the love interest to be the blandest, I liked reading about everyone else. The detective is pretty good and I feel like the book would have been stronger written from her POV, not the least bit because it would solve the POV issue from above. There is one genuine twist which was clever and surprised me, although admittedly that's because I was actually expecting the book to go for a darker option.

Overall, I would say I love the writing style of this book but the elements themselves didn't work for me. If this author releases another book, I would definitely give it a try for the aforementioned strengths mentioned. I just wish this book was a little more original and a little less unfair with its mystery

Overall Rating:

Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good cosy mystery and this is a great example of one!

Death Comes to Marlow is the second book in the Marlow Mystery Club series, a vaguely crossword-themed cosy mystery series focused around an elderly woman named Judith and her two friends. On the day before Sir Peter's wedding, Judith is asked to come investigate and things soon take a dark turn when he is crushed by a wardrobe. The police are convinced it was an accident but Judith isn't so sure, and she's determined to find out the truth.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I'm not a huge fan of cosy mysteries as a rule, but occasionally I do like to read one as they do a better job of capturing the tone of older murder mysteries than the modern thriller. This book is a great example of how to do the formula right. The characters are likeable and intriguing, the set pieces are lovely and picturesque and the plot is engaging enough. I particularly liked the heart this book has. The ending is very strong and it was lovely to get those periodic moments of seeing the characters just unwind or do 'cosy' things.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of the genre. It was a lot of fun and I am excited for the next one!

Overall Rating:

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

There are some books when you start reading them, you know you are going to fall in love. Daisy Darker was one of them.

The tone of this book is much more gothic than thriller. Daisy has been summoned to her grandmother's house for her 80th birthday. Her grandmother was told she was destined to die at the age of 80, and so she has gathered the entire Darker family for a reading of her will. Her grandmother lives on a remote island which gets cut off by the tide periodically, so once the family arrive they are immediately trapped there. After the will reading goes badly, terror strikes when one of the family members is found dead. And it doesn't end there...

This book has incredible atmosphere. It really reminds of What Remains of Edith Finch, both in tone and plot. I was completely sucked into the sleepy, subtly creepy story being woven. From the offset it is very clear there is something deeply wrong with the family, but there is also this fantastic unwillingness to address the abnormality. There are hints of Agatha Christie with the huge, isolated house and the unhappy family residing inside.

I don't want to say too much about this book, but it does have a certain plot element which I think makes it a bit like Marmite. It's actually the kind of thing I usually hate, but I think it is executed well here and I personally enjoyed it a lot. I think it did knock it down from a 5 star read and I understand why people aren't a fan, but for me personally it wasn't enough to spoil the book.

Overall, I strongly recommend this book if you enjoy creepy, gothic horror/murder mystery vibes. It absolutely delivers on that front and manages to have a unique identity of its own whilst evoking other work in a welcome way. I know I will remember this book for a long time and it has definitely become one of my favourites

Overall Rating:

.5

The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.

The Inugami Curse is the story of a wealthy family who gets thrown into disarray when the contents of the patriarch's will get revealed. To the family's shock, the money gets left to a seemingly unrelated female guest of the house, with additional caveats that she must marry one of the grandsons within a set time period. The only way to escape this clause is if all three grandsons die, or if the woman herself dies.

The setup to this book is a lot more complicated than the Honjin Murders, though this also allows for a lot more interpersonal conflict and character interactions. It is an intriguing mystery once you get into the swing of it, with lots going on and plenty of dramatic reveals throughout. I particularly enjoyed the sense of threat throughout. It's like an Agatha Christie with more bite, with the rich family members all treating each other with suspicion and gruesome deaths round every corner.

Overall, I am thoroughly enjoying these translated mysteries and I really hope for more in the future. They're a great way to branch out your murder mystery tastes, and it's always good to read more detective fiction from the golden age

Overall Rating:

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first Japanese murder mystery I'd ever read, and I wasn't sure how I would feel about it. I tend to be a 'married to Agatha Christie' girl in terms of my mysteries, but I am so glad I branched out here.

The Honjin Murders is a fascinating tale of a newly-wed husband and wife, who both die violently on the night of their wedding. Just days before, a mysterious man was seen outside the house. The Ichiyanagi family are rich and proud, and adding to the mystery is the fact that the room the deaths occurred in appears to be locked with no way for a murderer to escape.

This book was an absolute joy to read. The writing/translation is fantastic and very entertaining. I loved the characters, particularly the detective Kosuke Kindaichi. The chapters are short and quick to read, which means it has a similar pacing to a Christie book. The mystery itself is very intriguing, with the surrounding characters and clues making for an enjoyable time.

I absolutely recommend this book if you are a fan of the genre. I have subsequently read almost all the translated books by this author, and they are all brilliant reads. I am so glad this book has been chosen for translation, and I can only hope more will follow.

Overall Rating:

The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.

I am loving this recent boost in translating Japanese murder mysteries, and The Mill House Murders is no exception. I read and loved The Decagon House Murders last year, and this book had a similar setup but with a completely different mystery and feel, which I really appreciated.

The Mill House Murders is the story of a strange group of people who gather every year in the same house to view a collection of prestigious paintings. One year though, a horrible string of events results in two people dead. The following year, people gather as usual but are joined by a detective who wants to solve the mystery of what really happened a year ago.

This book is told across two time points, the past and the present. The main character linking these together is Fujinuma Kiichi, a man who hides his face behind a rubber mask due to an accident which left him disfigured long ago. This style of narration/structure works quite well. I found I didn't often get confused about what time period it was, something which the distinct characters also helped a lot with. It was interesting seeing the mystery unfold in 'real time' whilst also getting the investigation of the present day.

In terms of tone, this book excellently captures that kind of Christie-esque vibe. I was surprised (perhaps naively so) how culturally accessible it was from that standpoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the creepiness of the mystery, the intrigue of the characters and the overall premise and solution.

Overall, I strongly recommend this book if you enjoy traditional murder mysteries. The plot is captivating, the characters intriguing and the writing/translation is very entertaining. An enjoyable read all round!

Overall Rating:

Don't Swipe Right by L.M. Chilton

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic surprise this book was!

Don't Swipe Right is the story of Gwen, a woman who gets caught up in a string of murders when it turns out the men she keeps dating keep on dying. She naturally becomes a suspect and decides to investigate in an attempt to clear her name.

On the surface, I was already sold by the premise. It's a little hard to judge what kind of book this is from the cover, but it is much more cosy mystery/humorous thriller than the typical psychological thrillers. I suspect this might lead to a few disappointed readers, but if you know what you are in for then this book is a breath of life.

For starters, it's actually funny! It's so rare that I laugh at books and this one was genuinely entertaining in a very engaging way. The mystery aspects are fairly weak but the writing and characterisations are so good that I was hooked. I had an absolute blast reading it and I didn't want to put it down as a result.

If you want a tense, intricate thriller then this book isn't for you. But if you want a decent plot with great writing and great characters, then I strongly recommend this book. It is a very fun time and the perfect enjoyable read.

Overall Rating:

.5

Auld Acquaintance by Sofia Slater

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Swift Press in exchange for an honest review.

Auld Acquaintance is the story of Millie, a woman who receives a mysterious New Year's Eve party invitation to a remote Scottish island. When she arrives however, the old friend who invited her is nowhere to be seen and instead she is surrounded by strangers, with one notable exception-someone from her past she really doesn't want to see. Things start to go wrong and before long, Millie is trapped on the island and in very real danger.

I must confess, it took me a while to get into this book. The first 20% is structured a little oddly, with one of the most interesting characters being killed off almost immediately, leading me to wonder why Millie was bothering to stay on the island (she was not yet stranded by the storm). Unclear motivations was an ongoing theme throughout the book, and while the plot was decent, the writing felt like it could use another draft. It quickly takes the structure of a typical 'murder island' mystery which are some of my favourites, but the characters aren't quite relatable enough to carry it properly. There are some good gruesome deaths and an interesting sense of foreboding, but not much else to keep you reading.

Having said that, once I got used to the writing style I did enjoy this book quite a lot. It works well as a themed seasonal read that you can enjoy full of turkey and Christmas pudding, without needing to focus too hard on it. I found the character of Winston really interesting, and I think if they'd all been as developed as him then this book would have been a lot stronger. Ultimately though, not being able to understand the motivations of the main character is quite a big problem. This book also borrows quite heavily from And Then There Were None, a recent trend which really bothers me because it is starting to feel more like ripping off than homages. I am a huge Agatha Christie fan but unless you have a really good spin on the formula, you will always just be stealing her plot in my eyes.

Overall, I still recommend picking up this book if you want a decent seasonal read with some genuinely cool deaths. Just set your expectations for fun rather than a genius mystery.

Overall Rating:

.5

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre in exchange for an honest review.

I could not be more in love with this book if I tried.

The Christmas Murder Game is the story of Lily, a girl whose aunt has just died but has left behind one last puzzle. The owner of a large manor house, her aunt was responsible for designing cryptic Christmas games for them to play as children. Now she has designed one last game for her relatives to play. The prize? Inheriting the entire estate. Lily herself isn't interested until she is told that solving the game will also help give her additional information about her own mother's death many years prior.

This book is an absolute blast to read. It's perfect for fans of old school murder mysteries and there are plenty of staples of the genre to be found here (large house, bickering relatives, cryptic riddles). There is also plenty to keep it fresh and interesting. I think a book like this can live or die by its characters, and every single one of these felt like real and interesting people. This really helps the book be a nod to classic murder mysteries without feeling tired or cliché.

Another delightful bonus is the puzzles woven throughout the text for the reader to spot. The framing of the novel is the 12 days of Christmas, and fittingly there are anagrams of each of the lines of the song hidden throughout. There are also the names of murder mystery novels set in old houses hidden throughout as well. I did find these interfered somewhat with my immersion, but ultimately it was a very fun idea and I did get a delightful sense of smugness whenever I managed to spot one.

Overall, if you like the idea of this book then you will not be disappointed. It is rare to find a modern murder mystery which captures the atmosphere and intrigue of a classic one, and especially for a seasonal thriller I haven't read anything which comes close. It's an absolute must read for fans of the genre.

Overall Rating:

Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK in exchange for an honest review.

Having enjoyed Midwinter Murder, I was intrigued to see how this summer collection compared. I think on the whole it is a decent collection of stories, albeit it with less strong theming than the previous collection. There are certainly stronger summer stories which could have been included to rectify this but I actually think the way the collection ended up is better this way. It is clear that sacrifices have been made in terms of theme in order to present a more unique and varied collection, and I do appreciate that. Instead of 12 Poirot stories, every detective gets an outing and there were plenty of stories I'd not read before as a seasoned Christie fan which was nice.

If you enjoyed the previous book in this collection or else you just want a chance to read more of Christie's short stories, you can't go wrong here. The cover is beautiful as always and I really enjoyed the selection of stories here. It's the perfect gift for the Christie fan in your life, or for you to take away on holiday with you.

Overall Rating:

.5