Reader-supported: when you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
12 books to read next
If you loved The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada
Readers who love The Tokyo Zodiac Murders usually come for the puzzle: a seemingly impossible crime, a detective who lays out every clue, and maps and diagrams that let you test your own reasoning. The book also mixes this logic with gruesome imagery and dark humour, and its pace comes from a long, stage-like unfolding of the case. The picks below follow those threads, from locked-room puzzles to Japanese crime fiction and classic detective stories.
John Dickson Carr
A locked-room murder solved through a sequence of logical deductions, much like the impossible-crime puzzle at the heart of The Tokyo Zodiac Murders. Carr's lengthy explanation scene rewards close attention to the physical details.
Seishi Yokomizo
A Japanese classic built on a closed-room killing in a rural mansion, with a detective who weighs strange details patiently. It shares the Tokyo Zodiac book's blend of old traditions and a grim, grotesque crime.
Yukito Ayatsuji
A group of students isolated on an island, where a series of murders unfolds in a sealed setting. Like Shimada's novel, it is a deliberate homage to Golden Age puzzle fiction and asks readers to solve the crime themselves.
Agatha Christie
Ten strangers are trapped on an island and killed one by one, with clues that gradually reveal the pattern. Its tight structure and fair-play clues appeal to anyone who loved the methodical reasoning in The Tokyo Zodiac Murders.
A.A. Milne
A country-house puzzle built on a missing man and a clever chain of alibis and misdirection. Its playful, witty tone and fair-play structure echo the sly, surprising solution that drives Shimada's novel.
Josephine Tey
A detective confined to a hospital bed reinvestigates a centuries-old crime by piecing together old records. Its focus on reasoning from evidence and questioning received stories suits readers who enjoyed Mitarai's stubborn investigation.
Natsuo Kirino
A group of night-shift factory workers become entangled in a brutal murder and its cover-up. Its bleak, unflinching take on violence and the lives behind a crime will appeal to fans of the gory, eerie side of Shimada's book.
Keigo Higashino
A mathematician shields a neighbour after a killing, and a detective with a sharp mind works to see through the cover-up. Its clever logic and emotional twist reward readers who enjoy intricate Japanese puzzle plots.
Kanae Minato, BookSource Staff
A teacher's grief over her daughter's death leads to a chilling, nested account of revenge told through several narrators. Its shocking reveals and dark edge will suit readers who enjoyed the horror and twists in The Tokyo Zodiac Murders.
Umberto Eco
A medieval monastery mystery in which a monk and his novice investigate a series of deaths, with the same love of codes, clues and ingenious reasoning. Its learned, layered style rewards readers who want a more demanding puzzle.
Dashiell Hammett
A tight, sharply plotted hunt for a precious object in which every character hides something. Its taut construction and gradual revelation of motives will appeal to readers who enjoy watching a detective assemble the truth.
Raymond Chandler
A private detective is drawn into a web of blackmail and murder in which every answer raises new questions. Its dark humour and winding plot echo the playful, sardonic voice that runs through Shimada's novel.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. Learn more
