This is a classic detective short story by Edogawa Rampo, first published in 1925. It marks the debut of the iconic detective Kogoro Akechi, who would appear in many of Rampo's later works.

The story is narrated by an unnamed man who spends his time at a café on the main street of D-Slope, watching a secondhand bookstore across the road. The bookstore owner's wife, known for her striking beauty, mysteriously fails to appear despite the open store. The narrator is soon joined by Akechi, a fellow regular at the café and a fan of detective fiction. Curious about the strange situation, the two visit the bookstore—only to discover the woman's dead body in a back room. But when the police investigate, they conclude that the room was completely sealed from the inside—a classic locked-room mystery.

The contrast between the narrator's seemingly logical deductions and Akechi's later revelations makes the story especially compelling, completely overturning the initial theory. The twist ending delivers a thrilling surprise that showcases Rampo's skill in misdirection and psychological intrigue.

This tale offers readers not just a murder mystery but a clever battle of wits—full of suspense, irony, and unexpected turns.

Annotations

[1] Chrysanthemum Doll

[2] Shoji Screen

[3] Coarse-striped Yukata

[4] Junichirō Tanizaki

[5] In Transit

[6] Differences in Obi Tying

[7] Kasuri Pattern

[8] The Murders in the Rue Morgue

[9] The Speckled Band

[10] Rose Delacourt case

[11] The Mystery of the Yellow Room

[12] Perfect Crime in Japanese Houses

[13] Four-and-a-Half Tatami Mat Room

[14] Hakuryū Kanda

[15] Black-Striped Yukata

[16] Yuata in Ryokan

[17] Inkstone

[18] Münsterberg

[19] Ooka Echizen

[20] The Resident Patient

[21] Lord Sado