Shinhonkaku: An Introduction to the “New” Japanese Locked-Room Mystery Genre is a 16 page zine exploring one of Japan’s most inventive mystery traditions. Shinhonkaku mysteries are often locked-room, puzzle-driven novels built on the principle of fair play: readers are given all the clues needed to solve the crime themselves, with no surprise suspects or last-minute evidence revealed by the detective. Despite the transparency, the solutions are still clever, challenging, and full of twists!
Written from the perspective of a devoted reader (it's one of my favorite genres), this zine introduces the genre, explains what makes it unique, and includes reading recommendations for anyone ready to dive in. It's a great, quick read for fans of clever puzzles, locked-room mysteries, and anyone interested in Japanese literature or experimental crime fiction!
16 pages, 1/2 size, black ink. Published Spring 2026.
