“A house built on lies will always collapse under the weight of truth.”
Chapter 1: The Crooked House
The story opens with the introduction of the bizarre architectural marvel known as the Crooked House, built on a remote cliff in Japan. Its owner, the eccentric millionaire Kozaburo Hamamoto, invites a group of guests, including the detective Kiyoshi Mitarai, to celebrate his daughter’s engagement. The house’s tilted floors, labyrinthine corridors, and unsettling design immediately unsettle the visitors.
Chapter 2: The First Death
During the first night, one of the guests is found dead in a locked room—an apparent suicide. However, the circumstances are suspicious: the room was inaccessible from the outside, and the victim left no note. Mitarai begins quietly observing the guests, sensing foul play.
Chapter 3: Unraveling Secrets
As the investigation unfolds, Mitarai learns about the strained relationships among the guests. The Hamamoto family harbors dark secrets, including past betrayals and hidden grudges. The crooked architecture of the house seems to mirror the twisted motives of its inhabitants.
Chapter 4: The Second Murder
A second guest is killed, this time in another impossible locked-room scenario. The method of murder is even more baffling, deepening the mystery. Mitarai examines the crime scenes meticulously, searching for overlooked clues in the house’s disorienting structure.
Chapter 5: The Detective’s Deduction
Mitarai pieces together the puzzle, realizing that the house’s design is key to solving the murders. He identifies hidden passages, optical illusions, and mechanical tricks that allowed the killer to commit the crimes undetected. The detective confronts the culprit in a dramatic showdown.
Chapter 6: The Truth Revealed
The killer’s motive is exposed—revenge for a long-buried injustice tied to the Hamamoto family’s past. The crooked house, a physical manifestation of deception, becomes the stage for the final confrontation. Justice is served, but not without a haunting reminder of human frailty.
Key Ideas
- A masterfully crafted locked-room mystery with an impossible crime setup.
- The house’s surreal architecture serves as both setting and central plot device.
- Psychological depth in characters, revealing hidden motives and tragic pasts.
- Classic whodunit structure with a modern, culturally rich Japanese twist.
- Brilliant use of misdirection and logical deduction in the resolution.
Who should read this book?
- Fans of intricate locked-room mysteries and impossible crime stories.
- Readers who enjoy atmospheric, psychologically rich detective fiction.
- Those interested in Japanese literature with a classic mystery twist.