Out of all honkaku mystery I've read, I really fancy Shimada's style the most-- he gives lots of diagrams/illustrations and detailed explanation for the crime, and also an intriguing chapters set classified as 'scenes' like in a stage play. It was told in a third-person view until Kiyoshi Mitarai and Kazumi Ishioka came into the scene where later it changed to Kazumi's perspective. A series of murders happening during a Christmas event organised by the house owner, Kozaburo Hamamoto that led to all remaining guests who attended the event to be held under a house arrest.
Known as the whimsical Ice Floe Mansion with a maze of sloping floors, strange staircases (full of bloodcurdling masks and uncanny dolls) and a cylindrical leaning tower to its east, I was stunned on the explanation about the house-- really amazed on how carefully and thoroughly Shimada built his crime scene setting. Usually the detective would caught my attention first but this narrative making me concern, intrigued and curious about the other characters the most especially Sasaki, Eiko and Mr. Kikuoka. I wish Kiyoshi and Kazumi could enter the scene sooner (they only came in the 3rd act) but I was entertained by both Ushikoshi and Ozaki (the detectives from the city police HQ) with their investigation work (although I was not really into hot-tempered Ozaki)-- delving into each character's past, unknown relationships and cracking their heads on the bizarreness murder scenes.
Straightforward hints (not really red herrings to me) and well crafted characterization. Having my suspicion and guesses but was a bit taken aback with the killer's motive at the end which I find not much convincing, nevertheless it was still a thrilling and adventurous crime fiction for me due to its compelling setting and storytelling. I wish more books from the series could be translated in future, would love to read more of the duo; Kiyoshi and Kazumi. Giving the book 3.7 stars!