Hirai Tarō (平井 太郎), better known by the pseudonym Rampo Edogawa ( 江戸川 乱歩), sometimes romanized as "Ranpo Edogawa", was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery fiction.
It is no exaggeration to say that, the master of short stories, Edogawa Rampo, is truly Japan's Edgar Allan Poe. His eccentric yet captivating narratives, infused with the rich atmosphere of Japanese culture, create stories so irresistible that I can’t help but crave more.
Although, to modern readers, his early works’ depiction of women often feels outdated and antiquated, perceiving them through the lens of history makes it more acceptable.
My favorite short stories include:
"Poison Weeds" – A story about a miraculous medicinal herb that leads to unexpected consequences.
"A Brute's Love" – A newlywed woman discovers that her husband’s attention is not on her, but on someone—or something—else!?
"The Traveler with the Pasted Rag Picture" – A man encounters a passenger on a train carrying a beautiful artworks of a pasted rag picture. The lifelike figures and scene might just pull an unsuspecting viewer inside.
"Doctor Mera's Mysterious Crimes" – A tale involving a monkey that triggers a series of bizarre and deadly incidents.
Edogawa Rampo is the best thriller novel writer, period. He's able to establish a creepy and unusual atmosphere very early in each story and maintain that vibe throughout. Those were some of the creepiest and weirdest stories I've ever read. Only Rampo is able to write these. I look forward to reading more short stories by him because he's the definition of creativity.
It was creepy and unsettling but I'm also a Try Guys' fan. Which means while I was reading this, I also kept remembering the video where Keith disguised himself as a chair. It was like a tug-of-war. But this story was really well done.