Village of Eight Graves

Description: "Nestled deep in the mist-shrouded mountains, The Village of Eight Graves takes its name from a bloody legend: in the Sixteenth Century eight samurais, who had taken refuge there along with a secret treasure, were murdered by the inhabitants, bringing a terrible curse down upon their village. Centuries later a mysterious young man named Tatsuya arrives in town, bringing a spate of deadly poisonings in his wake. The inimitably scruffy and brilliant Kosuke Kindaichi investigates"--

Review Quotes: "Kosuke Kindaichi, the scruffy investigating detective, bears more than a passing resemblance to Columbo who made his TV debut in 1971 -- which, coincidentally, is when this amusing novel was first published in Japan."
--The Sunday Times Crime Club (UK)

"This taut mystery provides an original variation on The Hound of the Baskervilles... Kosuke Kindaichi, Yokomizo's Columbo-like sleuth, arrives to sort through the tangled puzzle and provide a satisfying solution. Fans of gothic-tinged fair play will be enthralled"
-- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Wickedly rich and worth every minute... Halfway through, I was already recommending it to my mother, grandfather, basically anyone who loves a good murder mystery!"
--Abstract AF! blog