Death on Gokumon Island
Seishi Yokomizo
Widely regarded as one of the best of Seishi Yokomizo’s classic Japanese novels, Death on Gokumon Island, loosely based on Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’, is a twisted tale with many of the crime genre’s most popular themes.
Best known for creating the fictional detective character Kosuke Kindaichi, Yokomizo was renowned for being one of Japan’s most famous mystery writers – described by CrimeReads.com as “the king of the locked-room mystery”. And that prowess can be seen in Death on Gokumon Island. This twisted tale covers themes of mystery, inheritance, lines of succession, and more, resulting in a series of storylines that combine to create a deep, intense overall plot.
"A fascinating insight into Japanese culture and behaviour more than 70 years ago"
- Irish Independant
As the fourth novel of Yokomizo’s to be translated into English, completed by Louise Heal Kawai, Death on Gokumon Island is now accessible to an international audience. Thankfully, this means more and more lucky people get to experience this fascinating insight into Japanese literature.
A follow-on from The Honjin Murders – another great read – Death on Gokumon Island features many classic Yokomizo techniques, including the way he builds up a detailed image of the island the plot is set on. And with the name translating to ‘Hell’s Island’ or ‘Hell’s Gate Island’ in English, you get some sense of the setting Yokomizo is aiming for.
From the way he describes the mountains and landscapes, to his detailed insight into the population’s way of life, readers are able to immerse themselves fully into this intricate and meticulous world – the perfect backdrop to his intriguing story. For an interesting glimpse into post-Second World War Japan, Death on Gokumon Island is well worth a read, with a particularly satisfying conclusion.
