What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Honjin Murders
Seishi Yokomizo · Book · 2020
If you loved The Honjin Murders, start with Midsomer Murders (Anthony Horowitz, 1997) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Honjin Murders across media.
You were captivated by the claustrophobic tension of The Honjin Murders, where isolated, tradition-bound settings hide dark, intricate secrets beneath a veneer of normalcy.
Films on the same thread
Rashomon
Akira Kurosawa · Film · 1950
Explores: unreliable narrator, subjective truth, moral ambiguity.
Like The Honjin Murders, this film masterfully dissects the subjective nature of truth, forcing you to navigate conflicting testimonies within a high-stakes mystery defined by psychological depth and ambiguity.
The Handmaiden
Film · 2016
Explores: Deception, Forbidden Romance, Manipulation.
This period drama echoes the atmospheric tension of The Honjin Murders by trapping its characters within a secluded, tradition-heavy estate where secrets and dangerous power dynamics dictate every movement.
Murder on the Orient Express
Sidney Lumet · Film · 1974
Shares a thread with The Honjin Murders: Whodunit.
Fans of The Honjin Murders will appreciate this classic locked-room style puzzle, which centers on a complex investigation where a confined environment forces a detective to uncover hidden motives.
Yojimbo
Akira Kurosawa · Film · 1961
Explores: moral ambiguity, lone wolf, cynicism.
If you enjoyed the period-specific atmosphere of The Honjin Murders, you will appreciate how this film utilizes a small village setting to explore moral ambiguity and the friction of human schemes.
Series on the same thread
Midsomer Murders
Anthony Horowitz · Series · 1997
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Investigation, Rural Crime.
This series mirrors the rural mystery appeal of The Honjin Murders, offering a deep dive into the hidden, unsettling crimes that fester beneath the surface of a quiet, traditional community.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Explores: Power Struggle, Cultural Clash, Survival.
The historical immersion of The Honjin Murders translates well here, as you witness a clash between tradition and modernity within a volatile power struggle that threatens to dismantle established order.
Magpie Murders
Anthony Horowitz · Series · 2022
Explores: Book Within a Book, Hidden Motives, Small Town Secrets.
This narrative structure will satisfy those who loved the literary mystery of The Honjin Murders, as it layers secrets and deception through a complex, meta-fictional lens of hidden motivations.
Murdoch Mysteries
Maureen Jennings · Series · 2008
Explores: Forensic Science, Social Progress, Gender Inequality.
Much like the detective work in The Honjin Murders, this show balances period-accurate social tension with a methodical investigation, highlighting the struggle between rigid tradition and progressive forensic science.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If the rural setting of The Honjin Murders kept you hooked, this podcast provides an analytical, often darkly comedic look at how small-town environments serve as perfect backdrops for tragedy.
Dark Asia with Megan
Podcast
Explores: Asian crime, crime cases, infamous incidents.
This collection of Asian crime cases captures the same sense of intrigue and historical mystery that made The Honjin Murders a landmark work, focusing on the dark realities behind infamous incidents.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Honjin Murders the first book to feature the detective?
Yes, The Honjin Murders introduces the detective to readers for the first time. It is considered one of Japan's greatest classic murder mysteries and was translated into English for the first time in 2020.
When does the story in The Honjin Murders take place?
The events of The Honjin Murders occur in the winter of 1937. The story is set in the village of Okamura, where the local community is preparing for the wedding of a son from the Ichiyanagi family.
What is the inciting incident in The Honjin Murders?
The Honjin Murders centers on the wedding preparations of the Ichiyanagi family in the village of Okamura. Amidst the excitement of the upcoming nuptials, the community is disturbed by rumors regarding a sinister masked man.
Is The Honjin Murders a contemporary novel?
No, The Honjin Murders is a classic murder mystery originally set in 1937. While it was translated into English for the first time in 2020, the narrative remains rooted in its historical setting within the village of Okamura.