Although Seishi Yokomizo had written more that 75 mystery novels and was famous in his native Japan for creating the fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi, he is not as well known in the English speaking world. Only six of his mystery novels have been translated into English: The Honjin Murders,The Inugami Curse,The Village of Eight Graves, Death on Gokumon Island,The Devil's Flute Murders and the one I've just finished reading, The Little Sparrow Murders.
The mystery in The Little Sparrow Murders revolves around a Japanese folk tune - a children's tune - a Temari song - wherein the Little Sparrows are three young girls, murdered in line with the words of the song.
Like all the novels by Yokomizo, this one, written in 1957, is a top notch mystery. I was kept guessing until the very end.
Sadly, Seishi Yokomizo's novels aren't translated into English fast enough to suit me....a new one comes out about once a year. I haven't read when the next one is due to be released, but I suspect it will be in 2025.
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