Pathway to Japanese Literature
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The Man in BlueAuthor: Kōga Saburō
| Original Title | 青服の男 |
|---|---|
| Author | 甲賀 三郎 |
| Genre | Detective & Mystery |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a desolate coastal villa abandoned to winter’s chill, a caretaker’s scream unravels a macabre riddle: a pale-faced stranger lies dead in a locked study, eerily serene yet unmistakably lifeless. Authorities dismiss it as a tragic heart attack—until a telegram insists the victim cannot be who he seems. Enter Shinzo Kohama, the villa’s enigmatic heir, alive and baffled, identifying the corpse as his estranged cousin Takuichi. Their uncanny resemblance sparks unease: one a reclusive loner, the other a charming eccentric obsessed with schemes and *renju* strategy games. As a tenacious detective traces their movements—midnight car rides, phantom train trips, and a shattered storm shutter—gaps emerge. Why did Takuichi break into a locked villa only to die alone? Why does Shinzo’s alibi feel rehearsed? And what secrets bind them beyond blood? Beneath layers of inheritance and artifice, a chilling game of identity unfolds, where even the dead might hold winning moves. |
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