This murder mystery – The devotion of suspect x by Keigo Higashino, was recommended by a friend and it is perhaps the best murder mystery book I have read till date. Having read this, I also read The Salvation of a saint and Naoko. And also plan to read A Midsummer’s Equation by the same author. This is the first time I have read a book by a Japanese writer after which of course I got more interested in Japanese writers and read Kafta on the shore by Haruki Murakami which is another marvel. The best thing about this book is that the writer reveals the murderer in the second chapter only but what keeps us intriguing is the perfection of the crime! or was it too perfect in the end ?
The devotion of suspect x by Keigo Higashino Review
Genre : Murder Mystery Fiction
‘Devotion of Suspect X’ is one of the masterpieces penned down by Keigo Higashino. The third book in the “Detective Galileo” series has gained success by thrashing the ‘whodunit’ format. The mystifying and deceptive plot used by the author is so intense that it leaves reader’s spell bounded and astonished. The book is a marvellous infusion of psychological suspense, thriller and mystery genre with Japanese philosophy and culture. I was amazed by the author’s exceptional writing skills and how beautifully he explored through the human’s complex mindset. The book takes you on an enthralling journey where you will find yourself contemplating on the worth of a person’s life.
Keigo Hasagino has always been a Rockstar in the mystery genre delivering readers with a dramatic and unexpected reading experience. The writer creates an exceptionally intricate web of events that reading till the end becomes an inevitable necessity. Although the murderer is revealed in the second chapter yet, what made us impossible to keep the book down was the mystery of how the perfect crime was done.
The excellence in the author’s storytelling talent reflects in the fantastic portrayal of characters. The subtitle characters of the novel raise the brilliance of the book extremely high. The characters of the two contenders, the mathematician Ishigami, and the physicist, Manabu Yukawa elevates the level of the book. Even the side characters in the book like Shinji Togashi and Shunpei Kusanagi are designed with precision and sophistication. Also, if we keep aside the battle of wits and the case, Ishigami’s love for Yasuko is unconventional and touching.
Although the book is very beautifully and cleverly written, there were some highs and lows in the storyline. Firstly, the plot used by the author is not brand new as I can re member similar plots. Police bailing Yasuko and her daughter so quickly seems improbable, showcasing the pot hole in the story plot. There is a lack of thrill in the first few pages making the novel uninteresting and mundane. But as the story proceeds, it takes a dramatic turn, and the few facts based pages can be condoned.
I loved the works of Keigo Higashino, and this book just made me a big fan. The Devotion of Suspect X is one of those novels that you can’t afford to miss. The book is a must read for all the mystery and crime readers inducing them into a mysterious world. The book also grants an enthralling and entertaining journey to those who want to dive deeper into Japanese culture. A good read for all the mystery lovers out there.
Recommended For:
For the Murder Mystery lovers. Readers looking for something different from ‘whodunit’ format. For Readers who have a slight interest in Japanese culture may also give it a go.
About the Author:
Keigo Higashino is a Japanese writer who is famous for his mystery novels. He was born in Osaka and started writing novels while he was still working at Nippon Denso Co as an engineer. He won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hokago at early age of 27. Subsequently, he quit his job and started a career as a writer in Tokyo.
His book The devotion of a suspect X was the second best seller of Japan during the year it was published. Over 800,000 copies were sold.
His Books are closely knit with the movie and TV series adaptation business with many of his works making it to that media.
Also Read:
The Review of the book Kafka on the shore by another Japanese writer Haruki Murakami
Pros
- > Genius insight into human behavior
- > A spellbinding series of events
- > Not a regular 'whodunit' murder mystery
Cons
- > First few pages were mundane
- > Stilted translation in English
Really? He reveals in 2nd chapter only?
Yeah !! surprising right ? 😀