This is another story that features the Holmes and Watson-esque duo of Mitarai and Ishioka. Millionaire Kozaburo Hamamoto has invited some business associates to a retreat at his unusual mansion in the remote northern coast of Japan. It's got sloped floors, a leaning tower with a drawbridge, and a room full of bizarre dolls and masks. You know, typical eccentric rich guy stuff. A snow storm ensues, and soon his guests begin to die in seemingly impossible scenarios inside their locked rooms.

I've read so many whodunnits at this point that I can usually piece together the clues, but with this book, I really did not have the slightest clue what the heck was going on at any point. But when the solution is finally revealed, it's utterly brilliant and astonishingly original. Sadly this is one of only two of Soji Shimada's mystery books that have been translated into English. It makes me want to learn Japanese just so I can read more.