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The Devil’s Flute Murders is the 8th book in Seishi Yokomizo’s Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series.
A troubled composer named Hidesuke Tsubaki went missing from his house and his body was found a few days later. His last piece of music was called The Devil Comes and Plays His Flute.
When his family gathers for a divination to conjure the spirit of their departed patriarch, the devil visits the house once again. Kosuke Kindaichi was approached by Tsubaki’s daughter to attend the divination. He’s called to the Tsubaki house once again the next day – after a dead body is discovered, that is.
Kindaichi must uncover Tsubaki’s most disturbing secrets… while the gruesome murders continue.
The story starts with the narrator giving us a background of what started the horrific and gruesome murders in Tsubaki house. It started a couple of days before Hidesuke Tsubaki’s disappearance. Known as the horrific Tengindo incident, thirteen victims were poisoned by a man who claimed to be a representative of the health department. Only three of the victims could be saved. They all worked at a jewellery store – and the imposter vanished with the loot after leaving his victims gasping for their last breath.
The Devil was finally playing his flute, and the curtain had fallen on the first bloody act of the tragedy of the Tsubaki family.
– The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
The narrator is listening to the eerie “The Devil Comes and Plays His Flute” – a composition that Hidesuke Tsubaki wrote just a month before his disappearance. Tsubaki wasn’t from a noble family but his wife was. He inherited her estate after marriage. Her uncle and brother’s home was burnt in the Tokyo war bombings and they, together with their family (spouse/mistress and kids) come to live with Hidesuke and his wife Akiko.
Mineko, the late Tsubaki’s daughter (and only child) approaches Kosuke Kindaichi and asks him to attend a divination that’s held to learn of her father’s ‘whereabouts’ (whether he’s dead or alive). Her mother is frightened that Hidesuke isn’t dead and is here for blood – after all, Akiko and her relatives hated and belittled him at every given opportunity.
The divination happens during the blackout and the family is shocked to see a symbol drawn in sand. Later on, when Kosuke questions Mineko about the symbol, he learns that the same symbol was drawn on a diary found alongside Hidesuke’s body. Kosuke returns home only to be called back to the Tsubaki house the next morning.
“Please, hurry! There’s been a murder… In our house… Oh, Kindaichi-san, I’m so frightened! So very frightened! Come at once…”
– The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
First, we have a suicide – that of Hidesuke. But his family believes he’s not dead and is out to get them – revenge for insulting him. Next, we have a locked room mystery – the first murder soon after divination. Then, the body count starts to increase. Seems like someone’s out there to destroy the family. But why?
I couldn’t help but notice how dramatic Kosuke really is. When Mineko first tells him that her father might still be alive, he’s shocked.
“Kindaichi gaped in surprise and jerked as if an intense shock had run through his body. He gripped the sides of the table as if to steady himself and asked, “Wh-why do you say that?!”
– The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
Yes, Kindaichi also has bouts of stammering and stuttering every now and then. Then there is his (in)famous sparrow’s nest like hair and dandruff. Thankfully, just a mention or two of dandruff in this installment. (I remember one of the previous installments had multiple mentions of it, with the dandruff flying left, right and centre every time Kindaichi scratched his head. )
The eerie atmosphere, divination, and Hidesuke’s possible rise from the death – sure to give the reader a haunted-house vibes. As the body count starts to increase, the mystery takes a gruesome turn.
One last thing that not only caught my attention but left a bad taste in my mouth is the ending. Don’t get me wrong, here – I loved the shocking twist and the killer’s motive and reason for murders did justice to all the suspense built from the beginning of the story. But the reason behind the killer’s blood lust – it left me gawping; something to do with relationships.
The story is set in post-war Japan (1947.) Blackouts and jam-packed trains (passengers are compared to sardines in a tin); there’s also a scene where Kindaichi has to travel to another prefecture by train but he wouldn’t have gotten a ticket if not for the Tokyo Metro Police’s help. (But their influence didn’t reach far – Kindaichi couldn’t find a seat on the train.)
It took me three days to read this book but only because I wanted to savor and enjoy each chapter – take in all the dramatics and the dysfunctional familial dynamics. This was truly a very enjoyable read – the twists and shocking discoveries were nothing short of jaw-dropping moments.
Last but not the least, I want to congratulate the translator for their excellent work, as a mystery written in its native language may become a bestseller in its home country, but for English readers, a well-done translation is crucial to convey the emotions, drama, and dialogue effectively. Kudos to Jim Rion, the translator of The Devil’s Flute Murders.
If you are looking for a Japanese murder mystery (believe me when I say – if read one and you want to read them all!!), I highly recommend The Devil’s Flute Murders by Seishi Yokomizo.
I received an ARC from Pushkin Vertigo and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
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