A famous writer holds a code-breaking contest, and Hajime Kindaichi naturally rises to the literary challenge. But when the writer is murdered, Kindaichi finds himself as the primary suspect! Now the police are moving in. As Kindaichi fights to prove his innocence, an unlikely ally believes he is not the real killer.

"First published in Japan in 1995 by Kodansha, Ltd., Tokyo"--T.p. verso. This book is printed "manga-style," in the authentic Japanese right-to-left format.