Murder at the Black Cat Cafe – Book Review

Overall review:- there was suspense, though at the end, it kind of got a little confusing. At the end of the book is also another murder case which is not really related to the story.

Rating- 4/5

Tokyo, 1947.

The Pink Labyrinth is one of the bomb-scarred city’s most shady neighbourhoods. There, in the dead of night a patrolling policeman catches a young Buddhist monk digging in the back yard of The Black Cat Cafe, a notorious brothel. In the shallow grave at his feet lie the dead body of a woman, her face disfigured beyond recognition, and the corpse of a black cat.

Who is the murdered woman, and how was she connected to the infamous establishment? And where did the dead cat come from, given that the cafe’s feline mascot seems to be alive and well? The brilliant sleuth Kosuke Kindaichi investigates, but as he draws closer to the truth, he finds himself in grave danger…

Seishi Yokomizo is the Japanese Agatha Christie.

The story starts with a policeman patrolling around the area when he comes across monk digging what looked like a grave. When the police were brought in, they discover a half decaying corpse with the face nearly gone–thus dubbing the faceless corpse. The police get together to solve the mystery that involves the owner of the Black Cat Cafe–a couple which is actually a notorious brothel and a young mistress who is involved with the husband. The body was initially suspected of belonging to the young mistress but the police then believe that the body might belong to the wife. But then a young bright detective named Kosuke Kindaichi starts investigating the case and then brings light to the case.

This was interesting. It is actually a short story however, the story to me was a bit predictable. Otherwise, it was intriguing and interesting and the greatest twist at the end was quiet unexpected. The short murder story at the end was interesting but a bit disturbing.

Overall, this was a good thriller book and I feel like I want to read more books from this author—worth four stars.