The Decagon House Murders

Synopsis

"Ayatsuji's brilliant and richly atmospheric puzzle will appeal to fans of golden age whodunits... Every word counts, leading up to a jaw-dropping but logical reveal" - Publishers Weekly
 
A hugely enjoyable, page-turning murder mystery sure to appeal to fans of Elly Griffiths, Anthony Horowitz, and Agatha Christie, with one of the best and most-satisfying conclusions you'll ever read. A classic in Japan, available in English for the first time.

From The New York Times Book Review:
 
"Read Yukito Ayatsuji's landmark mystery, The Decagon House Murders, and discover a real depth of feeling beneath the fiendish foul play.
 
Taking its cues from Agatha Christie's locked-room classic And Then There Were None, the setup is this: The members of a university detective-fiction club, each nicknamed for a favorite crime writer (Poe, Carr, Orczy, Van Queen, Leroux and - yes - Christie), spend a week on remote Tsunojima Island, attracted to the place, and its eerie 10-sided house, because of a spate of murders that transpired the year before. That collective curiosity will, of course, be their undoing.
 
As the students approach Tsunojima in a hired fishing boat, 'the sunlight shining down turned the rippling waves to silver. The island lay ahead of them, wrapped in a misty veil of dust,' its sheer, dark cliffs rising straight out of the sea, accessible by one small inlet. There is no electricity on the island, and no telephones, either.
 
A fresh round of violent deaths begins, and Ayatsuji's skillful, furious pacing propels the narrative. As the students are picked off one by one, he weaves in the story of the mainland investigation of the earlier murders. This is a homage to Golden Age detective fiction, but it's also unabashed entertainment."

Read more

Summary

Chapter 1: The Invitation

* Lucy Foley, a mystery writer, receives an invitation to a weekend retreat at the Decagon House on a remote island.
* Lucy is the girlfriend of Julian, the owner of the house.
* The other guests include:
* Val, the host and Julian's mother
* Jack, Val's husband
* Bobby, Jack's brother
* Helen, Bobby's wife
* Luke, Val and Jack's son
* Katie, Luke's wife
* Nick, Helen's brother
* Fran, Lucy's agent
* As the guests arrive on the island, a storm brews, isolating them from the mainland.

Chapter 2: The Dinner

* The guests gather for dinner, where tensions simmer.
* Julian and Lucy's relationship is strained.
* Helen reveals she is pregnant, causing conflict with Bobby.
* Fran clashes with Val over her portrayal of Lucy in her latest novel.
* Kate's flirtations with Nick draw attention.

Real Example:
"The atmosphere was electric with unspoken words and simmering resentments. Helen and Bobby exchanged charged glances across the table, their marital discord barely concealed. Across from them, Val and Fran were engaged in a verbal sparring match, their voices carrying the sting of old wounds."

Chapter 3: The Storm

* The storm intensifies, trapping the guests inside the house.
* The power goes out and communication is cut off.
* As the night unfolds, secrets are revealed and suspicions grow.
* Jack warns that someone in the group is a murderer.

Chapter 4: The Body

* The next morning, Jack's body is discovered in the study, stabbed to death.
* Panic and paranoia set in among the guests.
* Lucy becomes the prime suspect due to her recent argument with Jack.

Chapter 5: The Investigation

* The guests appoint Bobby as their unofficial leader and begin investigating the murder.
* They search the house for clues and question each other's alibis.
* Suspicion falls on various individuals, including Nick, Helen, and Fran.

Real Example:
"Bobby, despite his initial reluctance, emerged as the group's reluctant leader. He organized a search of the house, his face grim and determined. The guests followed in his wake, their footsteps echoing through the darkened corridors."

Chapter 6: The Motives

* As the investigation progresses, the guests' motives for killing Jack are revealed.
* Val had a strained relationship with her husband.
* Bobby was deeply jealous of Helen's pregnancy.
* Nick had a history of violence.
* Fran was angry at Val for tarnishing Lucy's reputation.

Chapter 7: The Killer

* After days of investigation, the true killer is unmasked.
* The motive is shocking and the identity of the perpetrator surprises the guests.
* Lucy's connection to the murder is revealed.

Real Example:
"As the truth emerged, a collective gasp filled the room. The killer stood before them, their face contorted in guilt and remorse. The motive, once veiled in secrecy, now lay bare, a tangled web of betrayals and shattered dreams."