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aegireads's review
i think i just don't like this writer, this is the third time i read him and it's not working so i'm going to save myself the trouble
cardica's review
4.0
Sat atop the pantheon of Japanese Murder Mystery sits one name. [a:Edogawa Rampo|4795659|Edogawa Rampo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1338485978p2/4795659.jpg]. One of the most acclaimed murder mystery awards in the genre bears his name, both in honour of his contributions as an author, and his role in pioneering the Mystery Writers of Japan, the largest club in Japan’s extremely active community. Rampo is best known as an author for his character Akechi Kogoro, who has gone on to have a life of his own in Japanese pop-culture outside of Rampo’s works. Seventh place on our recommendations list for 2020 is the Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro, a collection of four of the first Akechi Kogoro tales, The Murder on D Hill, The Black Hand Gang, The Ghost and The Dwarf.
The Murder on D Hill details a simple locked room mystery that challenges the belief that Japan’s paper walls would make such a thing impossible, after the wife of a bookstore owner is found dead in his shop. The Black Hand Gang details a mysterious case where a young woman is demoned away over a ransom by the Black Hand Gang, where Kogoro is summoned to find out what the gang is really up to and if there’s a way for the father to have his daughter returned safely. The Ghost, interestingly one of Rampo’s least favourite of his own works, follows a businessman who is stalked by his recently deceased arch-nemesis, in which Kogoro arrives late in the tale and sets about undoing the curse. The final story, The Dwarf, was the first novel-length Akechi Kogoro story, detailing the tragic death of a young girl and her family’s collaboration with Kogoro to unravel the actions of the elusive Dwarf that appears responsible for the murder.
Kogoro is such an unusual protagonist, unlike many of history’s iconic detectives, he seems flawless. Certainly, characters like Sherlock and Poirot are unmistakably brilliant, but even as ‘flawless’ characters, they have their detractors, such as Sherlock’s drug abuse and overbearing personality, or Poirot’s obsessive nature, infuriating perfectionism and lacking physique. Kogoro, much in the spirit of [a:S.S. Van Dine|7172955|S.S. Van Dine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1475139794p2/7172955.jpg]’s Philo Vance, is personable, intelligent, quick-witted and handsome, ready to rise to any challenge that should face him. It’s not to say that these two are alone in their faultlessness, but rather, that like Philo Vance, history tends to treat them less kindly. Somehow, though, I don’t find Kogoro anywhere near as obnoxiously perfect. Kogoro is much more sparingly used, with his talent only coming out when it seems Rampo believes you have had the opportunity to learn what you need. In some cases, like The Ghost, Kogoro doesn’t even appear until the last part of the story, an announcement by Rampo that you should be able to solve it by now, a rather blatant example of how he treats his detective.
This isn’t to say that Kogoro is absent of character. His curiosity is enticing, as he leads his chronicler to and fro with quiet clues as to his own thought process. Particularly the mind games played with the multicoloured kimono that even had our narrator suspecting Kogoro himself of the Murder on D Hill were excellently played. His exuberant intrigue as he discovers he inadvertently saved a man’s life in The Ghost. The remarkable character moment he has at the end of The Dwarf, they’re all excellent and make his pure perfection feel closer to human than it would be reasonable to expect. These are also the first cases in the character’s run, so don’t expect it to remain this way if you delve deeper into the Kogoro catalogue. In these stories alone, Rampo’s approach to a perfect detective is so much more compelling than Van Dine’s, and I think it’s a fascinating case study to compare the two as their approaches, on the surface, are so similar.
As for the mysteries themselves, we have an interesting bundle. I don’t think any of them are particularly challenging, though it’s worth noting that despite managing to piece together events entirely, The Dwarf did manage to best me. I won’t get into how it managed to do that, but this was one of the most satisfying defeats I’ve experienced in a long time, even if it was a very cheap blow that knocked me out. On the other hand, two of the stories in this collection fall on almost the same trick, which would be annoying if you were reading them as separate purchases, but is actually quite a compelling example of an author improving upon their own ideas when read as a pair. Considering the staggeringly prolific community he inspired, Rampo undoubtedly proved his case that mystery novels, including closed room puzzles, were compatible with Japan’s culture, and architecture.
Rampo’s work is one of those fantastic works which has inspired so much that has come after it, and so as you read through you will inevitably notice elements from other more recent stories you’ve read, from all over the world. What really surprised me about Rampo’s work, is that alongside authors whose work is so heavily referenced, his work manages to hold its own compared to those who he inspired. The brilliant absurdity and occasional grotesque touches provide each story with a flair that, whilst others have undoubtedly improved upon since, still have a great deal of unique value. There are occasional touches that had me concerned, such as The Dwarf’s peculiar description, but Rampo is clear about making it a caricature and is reported to have gone to lengths to ensure it was portrayed respectfully in film adaptations. Other motivations revolve around darker or more hidden parts of society and do so in a way that is credible and engaging, but I dare not say more because Rampo has trapped me by tying them so closely with the core of his puzzles. Ultimately, at no point would I describe these stories as ‘tame’, and that really is the core of what makes them so great to read, even to this day.
You can catch our full thoughts and discussion on The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro up on Death of the Reader's Podcast.
The Murder on D Hill details a simple locked room mystery that challenges the belief that Japan’s paper walls would make such a thing impossible, after the wife of a bookstore owner is found dead in his shop. The Black Hand Gang details a mysterious case where a young woman is demoned away over a ransom by the Black Hand Gang, where Kogoro is summoned to find out what the gang is really up to and if there’s a way for the father to have his daughter returned safely. The Ghost, interestingly one of Rampo’s least favourite of his own works, follows a businessman who is stalked by his recently deceased arch-nemesis, in which Kogoro arrives late in the tale and sets about undoing the curse. The final story, The Dwarf, was the first novel-length Akechi Kogoro story, detailing the tragic death of a young girl and her family’s collaboration with Kogoro to unravel the actions of the elusive Dwarf that appears responsible for the murder.
Kogoro is such an unusual protagonist, unlike many of history’s iconic detectives, he seems flawless. Certainly, characters like Sherlock and Poirot are unmistakably brilliant, but even as ‘flawless’ characters, they have their detractors, such as Sherlock’s drug abuse and overbearing personality, or Poirot’s obsessive nature, infuriating perfectionism and lacking physique. Kogoro, much in the spirit of [a:S.S. Van Dine|7172955|S.S. Van Dine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1475139794p2/7172955.jpg]’s Philo Vance, is personable, intelligent, quick-witted and handsome, ready to rise to any challenge that should face him. It’s not to say that these two are alone in their faultlessness, but rather, that like Philo Vance, history tends to treat them less kindly. Somehow, though, I don’t find Kogoro anywhere near as obnoxiously perfect. Kogoro is much more sparingly used, with his talent only coming out when it seems Rampo believes you have had the opportunity to learn what you need. In some cases, like The Ghost, Kogoro doesn’t even appear until the last part of the story, an announcement by Rampo that you should be able to solve it by now, a rather blatant example of how he treats his detective.
This isn’t to say that Kogoro is absent of character. His curiosity is enticing, as he leads his chronicler to and fro with quiet clues as to his own thought process. Particularly the mind games played with the multicoloured kimono that even had our narrator suspecting Kogoro himself of the Murder on D Hill were excellently played. His exuberant intrigue as he discovers he inadvertently saved a man’s life in The Ghost. The remarkable character moment he has at the end of The Dwarf, they’re all excellent and make his pure perfection feel closer to human than it would be reasonable to expect. These are also the first cases in the character’s run, so don’t expect it to remain this way if you delve deeper into the Kogoro catalogue. In these stories alone, Rampo’s approach to a perfect detective is so much more compelling than Van Dine’s, and I think it’s a fascinating case study to compare the two as their approaches, on the surface, are so similar.
As for the mysteries themselves, we have an interesting bundle. I don’t think any of them are particularly challenging, though it’s worth noting that despite managing to piece together events entirely, The Dwarf did manage to best me. I won’t get into how it managed to do that, but this was one of the most satisfying defeats I’ve experienced in a long time, even if it was a very cheap blow that knocked me out. On the other hand, two of the stories in this collection fall on almost the same trick, which would be annoying if you were reading them as separate purchases, but is actually quite a compelling example of an author improving upon their own ideas when read as a pair. Considering the staggeringly prolific community he inspired, Rampo undoubtedly proved his case that mystery novels, including closed room puzzles, were compatible with Japan’s culture, and architecture.
Rampo’s work is one of those fantastic works which has inspired so much that has come after it, and so as you read through you will inevitably notice elements from other more recent stories you’ve read, from all over the world. What really surprised me about Rampo’s work, is that alongside authors whose work is so heavily referenced, his work manages to hold its own compared to those who he inspired. The brilliant absurdity and occasional grotesque touches provide each story with a flair that, whilst others have undoubtedly improved upon since, still have a great deal of unique value. There are occasional touches that had me concerned, such as The Dwarf’s peculiar description, but Rampo is clear about making it a caricature and is reported to have gone to lengths to ensure it was portrayed respectfully in film adaptations. Other motivations revolve around darker or more hidden parts of society and do so in a way that is credible and engaging, but I dare not say more because Rampo has trapped me by tying them so closely with the core of his puzzles. Ultimately, at no point would I describe these stories as ‘tame’, and that really is the core of what makes them so great to read, even to this day.
You can catch our full thoughts and discussion on The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro up on Death of the Reader's Podcast.
izzatiidrus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The book consists of 4 cases:
The Case of the Murder on D. Hill (3 stars)
The Black Hand Gang (3 stars)
The Ghost (3 stars)
The Dwarf (4 stars)
I was not very impressed with the first 3 cases, as they were pretty predictable but they weren't necessarily bad.
The last case, the longest story, was more intriguing and some parts pretty surprising. I didn't really enjoy the demonization of a cripple though, but I understand the story was published back when such a prejudice was prevalent.
Overall, I would say the stories were okay. But what I really didn't like from this particular publication was the awkward translation. The English didn't seem natural at all, I had to re-read a few times and correct the sentences in my head.
The Case of the Murder on D. Hill (3 stars)
The Black Hand Gang (3 stars)
The Ghost (3 stars)
The Dwarf (4 stars)
I was not very impressed with the first 3 cases, as they were pretty predictable but they weren't necessarily bad.
The last case, the longest story, was more intriguing and some parts pretty surprising. I didn't really enjoy the demonization of a cripple though, but I understand the story was published back when such a prejudice was prevalent.
Overall, I would say the stories were okay. But what I really didn't like from this particular publication was the awkward translation. The English didn't seem natural at all, I had to re-read a few times and correct the sentences in my head.
starry_sim's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Its probably obvious why I chose to read this story but no matter. I loved it, it was a very entertaining read and a nice introduction to Akechi. (After reading this I found a reference the the title Muder on D. Hill being modified in BSD for Ranpo's chapter into the Murder on D. street and the geek in me freaked out). Anyways, my favourite story was the dwarf - it was longer and had more time to unfold. But also the convenience store scene... It was so eery.
huntdogs's review
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
the mysteries were lovely and then they dropped the casual ableism idek anymore
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Ableism, and Misogyny
crows_in_a_trenchcoat's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nisha_nee's review
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
greyyy's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
heniaakbar's review
4.0
I need to expand my knowledge about sleuth fiction from Japan because I've only heard about Edogawa Rampo (and I love it so much) so if you good people have recommendation about Japanese sleuth, please do share.
Anyway, Akechi Kogoro rings two bells inside my head:
1. Kogoro Mouri, the sleeping detective in comic book Detective Conan
2. Inspector Akechi, the handsome police detective in comic book Detective Kindaichi (which is actually has better crime solving than those of Conan's, but sadly less popular because of God-knows-why).
Anyway, Akechi Kogoro rings two bells inside my head:
1. Kogoro Mouri, the sleeping detective in comic book Detective Conan
2. Inspector Akechi, the handsome police detective in comic book Detective Kindaichi (which is actually has better crime solving than those of Conan's, but sadly less popular because of God-knows-why).
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