Hi all, I've been looking for a long time and I couldn't figure out the title of this detective story. 🤢 There're just wayyy too many scanlator groups around these days.

Demographics: probably shoujo or josei(this one I'm not so sure about)
Genre: mystery. No romance or fantasy involved. Definitely little action.
Period setting: early 19th century or late 18th century in Japan
Male lead: 20s/30s, dresses in Victorian-style type of clothing with top-hat and gentleman's suit. I think he's a private detective.

(Edit): Also there's only him in the main cast.

Plot: Can't remember much, just that the lead was looking around, to solve a mystery(possibly disappearance or death). At some point, he might have boarded a train to depart to another location? It is possible he was also examining a package or box while on the train.

Length: around 2 to 3 volumes, I think.
Style of art: very gothic-like.

Thanks! 🙂

Was this translated into/published in English? It wasn't a manhwa, was it? 'Cos it sounds like exactly the kind of thing I'd love, but I'm pretty sure I haven't read it.

Some guesses:
Mouryou no Hako or one of its related series, maybe? For example, Moryou no Hako has been partially scanlated into English, while Ubume no Natsu and Hyakki Tsurezurebukuro have chapters out on Batoto.

If not one of those, how about Kamen Tantei or Shin Kamen Tantei?

Quote from calstine

Was this translated into/published in English? It wasn't a manhwa, was it? 'Cos it sounds like exactly the kind of thing I'd love, but I'm pretty sure I haven't read it.

Some guesses:
Mouryou no Hako or one of its related series, maybe? For example, Moryou no Hako has been partially scanlated into ...

OP said it's either shoujo or josei

Quote from VampireBanana

Demographics: probably shoujo or josei (this one I'm not so sure about)

Is it Tousei Gensou Hakubutsushi?
I turned on Histrorical + Josei and did the same with Shoujo too (try the other ones too if i failed). I also deactivated Romance and imputing Detective/s.

(Erotic Mysteries - Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes rape porn! WTF Japan?)

I also read EU/US comics and am a librarian.
Manga-Masters, My ANN-Lists + Imdb

Quote from residentgrigo

Is it Tousei Gensou Hakubutsushi?

That was my first thought as well, but then the OP said it wasn't fantasy (which I took to mean it also wasn't supernatural). But then again Mouryou no Hako is supernatural too -- just less obvious about it. But Hyakki Tsurezurebukuro isn't supernatural or fantasy. Also, in Tousei Gensou there are several other important characters: it isn't solely focused on the MC.

And LOL@ my paying more attention to this post than the OP herself. If it really is Tousei Gensou I'll be both happy and disappointed.

Ah, thanks everyone for the replies! 🙂

Edit: It's my mistake. It's indeed Moryou no Hako. I missed the title 'cos I was clicking too quickly!

Thanks again! 🙂

Quote from VampireBanana

Ah, thanks everyone for the replies! 🙂

Edit: It's my mistake. It's indeed Moryou no Hako. I missed the title 'cos I was clicking too quickly!

Thanks again! 🙂

Yesss! Your description really rang "Mouryou no Hako" bells in my head, so I was pretty taken aback when you said that wasn't it. Glad I could help!

You might want to watch the anime, though, since the manga isn't completely scanlated. It's a pretty good adaptation, imo.