Tatsumi Aikawa, who has dominated the top ranks of mystery rankings in recent years, is also known as a preeminent mystery mania, having won the 23rd Honkaku Mystery Award (Criticism/Research Division) in 2023 for 'Tatsumi Aikawa's Reading Diary: Thus the Mystery Writer Speaks <Rookie's Struggle Edition>'. His latest novel, 'The Girl Dreams of Murder,' packed with the author's profound love for本格ミステリー (honkaku mystery), will be published by Shinchosha on July 15 (Wed).
'The Girl Dreams of Murder' is a collection of linked mystery short stories set at the Tokyo University reading circle, 'The Moonlit Tea Party.' Tatsumi Aikawa, a leading mystery mania, challenges himself to pay homage to historical masterpieces such as John Dickson Carr (Carter Dickson)'s 'The Three Coffins,' Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None,' and Ellery Queen's 'The Greek Coffin Mystery.'
Homages to domestic works include Yukito Ayatsuji's 'The House of the Ten Cats' and Rintaro Norizuki's 'The Condemned Man's Puzzle' (from 'The Adventures of Rintaro Norizuki').
We received the following comments from Ayatsuji-san and Norizuki-san!
A book full of light and intellectual playfulness. I also enjoyed 'The House of the Nine Cats.'
— Yukito Ayatsuji
Poisonous and dangerous! After reading this, you won't be satisfied with ordinary whodunits anymore.
— Rintaro Norizuki
Itaru Bakuta, a first-year student who just joined the circle, participates in a reading session hosted by Akari Yumemi, a second-year senior. While nervous about his first reading session, he takes a moment to relax with the tea brewed by Akari, only to be overcome by intense sleepiness... and finds himself caught up in an 'incident' eerily similar to the mystery novel they were discussing. It turns out to be a 'dream' world created by Akari.
When engrossed in the world of books and imagination runs wild, she creates a mystery play in her 'dreams' based on recently read books, drawing in those who drink the tea she brewed. Unless the mystery is solved within the 'dream' world, Bakuta and the other circle members cannot return to reality!
Author Aikawa-san is an alumnus of Tokyo University's General Literature Circle, 'The New Moon Tea Party,' which served as the model for 'The Moonlit Tea Party.' In addition to the highest concentration of mystery-solving in 2026, please fully enjoy the atmosphere of the reading circle that only Aikawa-san could depict, and the joy of mystery and reading books!
Book Contents
KEY FIGURES
I, Itaru Bakuta, who participated in a reading session at the circle 'The Moonlit Tea Party,' get caught up in an 'incident' strikingly similar to the mystery novel assigned. It's a 'dream world' created by second-year senior Akari Yumemi, and if I don't solve the mystery, I can't return to reality!? Carr, Christie, Queen, and... The young standard-bearer of the honkaku mystery world pays thorough homage to his predecessors.
Author Introduction: Tatsumi Aikawa (あつかわ・たつみ)
Born in Tokyo in 1994. Graduated from the University of Tokyo. Debuted in 2017 with 'The Detective Does Not Lie' through the new talent discovery project 'Kappa Two.' In 2020, 'The Invisible Man Hides in the Locked Room' ranked first on the Honkaku Mystery Best 10. In 2023, he won the 23rd Honkaku Mystery Award (Criticism/Research Division) for 'Tatsumi Aikawa's Reading Diary: Thus the Mystery Writer Speaks <Rookie's Struggle Edition>.' Other works include the <Kan Quartet> series such as 'The Murder at Gurenkan,' and 'As Lucas Says,' 'The Culprit Likes You,' 'Deadman's Chair,' etc.
Book Data
【Title】The Girl Dreams of Murder
【Author】Tatsumi Aikawa
【Release Date】July 15, 2026 (Wed)
【Format】46-size softcover
【Price】2,090 yen (tax included)
【ISBN】978-4-10-357111-7
【URL】https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/book/357111/
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: 書籍発売