[DeepL Translation - needs review] A beautiful female bandit with a tattoo of a black lizard on her left arm. The shapeshifting Lady in Black, a socialite and queen of the underworld, boldly challenges Kogoro Akechi, the famous detective, for the secret treasure of the wealthy Iwase family in Osaka and their beloved daughter! A breathtaking fight to the death unfolds over the "Star of Egypt," the most valuable diamond in Japan. Edogawa Rampo's feature-length mystery depicting the fatal love ...
What a delight to read! A lady thief, murder, disguises, some wink wink nudge nudge sexy themes - what's not to love.
If you like old, somewhat campy detective novels you really can't go wrong here. I personally got a kick out of allusions that were made in the book to a short story the author had also published, and was laughing at bit at a rather specific manner of death he'd brought up in another book of his I'd read. I know for some people this would feel repetitive but for me it's like a