My Grandfather, the Master Detective
Masateru Konishi
Translated by Louise Heal Kawai
13 November 2025Synopsis
The heartwarming, award-winning Japanese sensation, My Grandfather, the Master Detective is an affectionate, cosy whodunit – and a story of living your days to the fullest. Perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
There used to be a cafe called Mon Cheri at Nishi Waseda where members of the Waseda Mystery Club spent day after day frothing in excitement over the latest mystery novels, and now he and Kaede solve mysteries together . . .
As a lover of classic crime stories, it’s perhaps no surprise that twenty-seven-year-old schoolteacher Kaede encounters everyday mysteries more often than your average person. Solving them is another matter, though, and the person she always heads to for guidance is her beloved grandfather – who, despite having dementia, retains a keen sharpness of mind.
From impossible locked-room murders to confounding missing person cases, the granddaughter and grandfather team ‘weave stories’ in master-and-apprentice fashion. Together, they get to the bottom of case after case. But, all the while, a shadow slowly closes in on Kaede, posing a more insidious threat . . .
Filled with charming characters and steeped in references to classic crime – from Christie to Chesterton to Poe – My Grandfather, the Master Detective is a touching, charming mystery by Masateru Konishi. For fans of The Thursday Murder Club. Translated from the Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai, winner of the Lindsley and Masao Miyoshi Traslation Prize 2025.
Details
13 November 2025
9781035037704Reviews
The author nails the ending
Sure to please the mystery buff in us all, with nods to classic mysteries. A variation of Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme.
The characters are appealing. Their conversations sparkle! . . . Masateru Konishi will write appealing stories for years to come . . .
Heartfelt and clever, My Grandfather, the Master Detective expertly weaves together ideas of family and loss alongside homage to classic detective fiction spanning eras and countries. Perfectly balanced mystery vignettes build up to a satisfying conclusion, with wonderful friendships and a hint of romance woven in. . . . Utterly delightful.
