“Astrology is a science, but murder is an art.”
Chapter 1: The Bizarre Manuscript
The novel opens with the discovery of a disturbing manuscript written by the eccentric artist Heikichi Umezawa. In it, he details a gruesome plan to murder six women—his daughters and nieces—and use their body parts to create a perfect female statue, “Azoth.” Shortly after, Umezawa is found dead in his locked studio, an apparent suicide.
Chapter 2: The Unsolved Case
Forty years later, the Tokyo Zodiac Murders remain unsolved. The manuscript and Umezawa’s death are treated as separate cases, though the police suspect foul play. Private detective Kiyoshi Mitarai and his illustrator friend Kazumi Ishioka take an interest in the cold case, intrigued by its complexity.
Chapter 3: Reconstructing the Crime
Mitarai and Ishioka begin investigating by reviewing the original police reports and interviewing surviving relatives. They uncover inconsistencies in the alibis of key suspects and strange astrological connections in the murders. The detective theorizes that the locked-room aspect of Umezawa’s death holds the key to solving the case.
Chapter 4: The Zodiac Clues
The murders were committed in locations corresponding to zodiac signs, and the victims’ body parts were arranged symbolically. Mitarai deciphers hidden astrological patterns in the manuscript, suggesting the killer followed a precise ritual. The detectives realize that Umezawa’s suicide may have been staged to conceal the true murderer.
Chapter 5: The Breakthrough
Mitarai deduces that Umezawa’s locked studio was a misdirection—the killer used a clever mechanical trick to make the death appear self-inflicted. By reconstructing the crime scene, they identify a hidden accomplice who manipulated the evidence. The detectives confront the surviving family members, exposing long-buried secrets.
Chapter 6: The Final Revelation
In a dramatic confrontation, Mitarai reveals the true killer’s identity—a family member who exploited Umezawa’s madness to carry out the murders for personal gain. The motive was inheritance, disguised as an occult ritual. The case is finally closed, though the horror of the crimes lingers.
Key Ideas
- A locked-room mystery with an elaborate murder scheme.
- Astrological symbolism as a key element in the crimes.
- The blurred line between insanity and calculated evil.
- The role of detective logic in solving seemingly unsolvable cases.
- Exploration of post-war Japanese societal tensions.
Who should read this book?
- Fans of classic locked-room mysteries and intricate whodunits.
- Readers who enjoy astrological or occult-themed crime fiction.
- Those interested in Japanese detective fiction with psychological depth.