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The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #1)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 3,933 ratings · 894 reviews

This e-book now includes preview chapters from Higashino's newest mystery, SALVATIONOFASAINT.

Yasuko Hanaoka is a divorced, single mother who thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband Togashi. When he shows up one day to extort money from her, threatening both her and her teenaged daughter Misato, the situation quickly escalates into violence and Togashi ends u...more

ebook, 304 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by Minotaur Books (first published 2005)

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Feb 28, 2012 Megan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, 1-star, crime-and-mystery, fiction

I'm DNF-ing this, because I don't hate myself enough to force myself to read it all the way through. I stopped at 77 pages out of 298.

The prose is flat. It's not hardboiled, mind you; I dig hardboiled prose, I swoon for Chandler's sturdy writing style, etc., etc., but this writing is flat, bland, and repetitive. Don't know if that's the fault of the translator or what, but it was awful to read: my eyes kept recoiling from the shallow sentences and insights, and I could not get through more than...more I'm DNF-ing this, because I don't hate myself enough to force myself to read it all the way through. I stopped at 77 pages out of 298.

The prose is flat. It's not hardboiled, mind you; I dig hardboiled prose, I swoon for Chandler's sturdy writing style, etc., etc., but this writing is flat, bland, and repetitive. Don't know if that's the fault of the translator or what, but it was awful to read: my eyes kept recoiling from the shallow sentences and insights, and I could not get through more than a few chapters. Like, okay: three different people "yelp," for different reasons and under different conditions, within a couple of pages. Who, other than my pint-sized dogs, yelps that much? I wanted to help this book out, offer to go to thesaurus.com to find words that actually pulled their own weight.

Then there are my personal preferences, which made attempting to read the book unenjoyable for me. I struggle very very much with books with a main male character lusting/stalking over a woman he only barely knows, and based on the extremely shallow prose and depiction of characters, I had no trust that the author would make this a satisfying complex character study, sooo. I was basically being told that this guy was some genius, but all I saw was him thinking with his dick and making bizarre leaps of logic.

And basically, I thought I'd be interested in crime fiction that broke down the concept of "alibi," but it turned out, I'm not. I mean, really. You killed a guy, lady. That's against the law. Sure, you had reasons why you did it, and I sympathize, but that doesn't make it legal to do what you (and your daughter) did.

Like I said, I bounced off the book, both for personal reasons and for the lifeless prose, but I'm sure there was a fabulous plot somewhere. But given the characters and the premise, I wasn't interested in sticking around for the analytical puzzle. Lesson learned: be way more selective about books I request through FirstReads. And stick to crime fiction which is more whodunnit/whydunnit than cat-and-mouse style.

Note: I received a review copy of this book for free from the publisher via the First Reads program here at Goodreads.(less)

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Jul 15, 2012 Dyuti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-thriller-mystery

The Devotion of Suspect X is the third book of the 'Detective Galileo' series by the author Keigo Higashino. The reason why I believe it has managed to attain such popularity, is because the book has broken free from the shackles of the typical 'whodunnit' format. The author presents us with a greater challenge than wondering who the murderer is: he keeps us guessing about how the murder can be hidden, in order to make it a perfect crime.

The premise of the story, as oft-repeated, is simple.

Yasu...more The Devotion of Suspect X is the third book of the 'Detective Galileo' series by the author Keigo Higashino. The reason why I believe it has managed to attain such popularity, is because the book has broken free from the shackles of the typical 'whodunnit' format. The author presents us with a greater challenge than wondering who the murderer is: he keeps us guessing about how the murder can be hidden, in order to make it a perfect crime.

The premise of the story, as oft-repeated, is simple.

Yasuko is a single mother to her teen-aged daughter Misato. She is frequently troubled by her ex-husband who reappears intermittently to extort money from her. One day, things go a little out of hand, and Yasuko, in a terrible fit of rage, ends up killing him. Her neighbor Ishigami, a high school maths teacher, comes to her rescue. He gives her the perfect alibi, with the perfect plan to cover up the murder.

Investigating the murder is Detective Kusanagi, who finds himself drawn into one of his most puzzling cases. He can sense something is wrong, but can’t put his finger to it. Thus, he takes the help of his friend, Yukawa, a physist with a penchant to solve crimes, thus earning himself the title ‘Detective Galileo’.

What follows next is the ensuing battle of wits between the two geniuses: Ishigami and Yukawa. As the story progresses, we are forced to wonder, in the author's own words,"Which is harder: devising an unsolvable problem, or solving that problem". I believe these two characters are the best sketched out, and they interested me the most.

However, one down-side to the novel was the abysmally bad translation. The sentences were jerky, and the flavour of the book was destroyed by the limp sentences. So, it took me a while to ignore that and get drawn into the story. Also, towards the middle, it kind of did get a bit slow, and I wished there were some more twists or actions.

On the whole it was quite an enjoyable read, but a few things were off the key which stopped me from loving it.However, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to all those who would like to savour something out of the ordinary, on a wintery or rainy night.

3.5 stars.
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Dec 19, 2010 Lyndsey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: firstreads, reviewed-2010, reviewed-3-stars

First off: I am not generally a thriller/suspense reader. I love it in movies and TV, but I have yet to find an amazing suspense author capable of keeping me fully-immersed in a crime story and it's characters. Though, I do plan to read the books by "Richard Castle" whether they are any good or not, just because I love him so much. I'm not sure what that says about me.

I watch quite a bit of crime TV and perhaps I have become way to accustomed to the fast pace at which the episodes progress. This...more

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Nov 15, 2010 Irene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, have-a-copy

Not only is THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X a multi-faceted cultural reading experience, but it also acutely complements the familiar psychological suspense/thriller/mystery genre by infusing Japanese philosophy. Keigo Higashino shrewdly and subtly induces the reader to contemplate the immeasurable complexities of the human psyche by questioning what motivates one human being to judge who is worthy of life, and who is not.

Tetsuya Ishigami’s daily schedule is precisely what one would expect of a Japane...more Not only is THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X a multi-faceted cultural reading experience, but it also acutely complements the familiar psychological suspense/thriller/mystery genre by infusing Japanese philosophy. Keigo Higashino shrewdly and subtly induces the reader to contemplate the immeasurable complexities of the human psyche by questioning what motivates one human being to judge who is worthy of life, and who is not.

Tetsuya Ishigami’s daily schedule is precisely what one would expect of a Japanese mathematics’ teacher. His unsuccessful attempts to motivate visibly bored and apathetic students discourage Ishigami, and his one true passion of solving a complex mathematical formula, lies outside of the classroom within the confines of his small apartment. A barren life carved out of necessity dramatically changes when Yasuko and her daughter Misato introduce themselves as his new neighbors. He imagines a fantasy life with them, listening to mother and daughter through the thin apartment walls, and his daily walk to school includes a stop to purchase his boxed lunch at the small shop where Yasuko works. Within this fictitious context, Ishigami surprisingly exhibits a fierce desire to protect both mother and daughter, and so begins a bizarre tale that originates with the unexpected arrival of Yasuko’s nefarious ex-husband Togashi.

To divulge the minute intricacies of this suspenseful tale would require *spoilers.* Ishigami’s masterful, methodical, and devious scheme demands a skillful exposé by the incongruous, yet highly likeable duo of Dr.Yukama and Detective Kusanagi, the intrepid investigators who are destined to unravel the shocking and mind-boggling conundrum. Imperial University graduates in different fields, Ishigami, Yukama and Kusanagi, seem equally matched; Ishigami, unappreciated mathematical master of a methodical crime committed to protect Yasuko and Misato, and Yukama, preeminent master of rare intuitive observations of human frailties, and Kusanagi, resolute advocate of justice match their unparalleled wits to a stunning unbelievable conclusion. The factual drama predominantly hinges on the intellectual “cat and mouse” chase between Ishigami, “Buddha” at University and Yukama, affectionately known as “Professor Galileo” by the police.

Initially, the translation was a bit stilted, but once engrossed in the book, it was hardly noticeable. In addition to the utterly fascinating and distinctive premise, the cultural milieu depicted an informative contemporary view of Japanese life.

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Oct 28, 2012 David rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: japanese-noirboiled

Comment upon first reading: The Devotion of Suspect X is not a whodunit but a whatdunit. Readers are privvy to the identity of the criminals but not to a clear understanding of their activities. The novel is built around one interesting character (Ishigami the mathematician) and one neat plot twist (not to be revealed here). The series character ("Detective Galileo") is blandly reminiscent of "Boy Genius" Kyosuke Kamizu, the academic amateur who aids the police in Akimitsu Takagi's The Tattoo Mu...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Wow! This was an amazing book. The primary story line surrounds Yasuko Hanaoka, a divorced mother and Ishigami her next door neighbor and math teacher. Yasuko's abusive ex-husband tracks her and her daughter down and tries to extort them for money. Tragically, the evening ends in violence. Suddenly, Ishigami, Yasuko's quiet next door neighbor, whom she has rarely spoken with, shows up offering salvation and a way out for Yasuko and her daughter, Misato. If you just follow the obvious plot line o...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-crime-detection

38. THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X. (2008; Eng. trans. 2011). Keigo Higashino. ***1/2.
This was the first novel by this Japanese author to feature his series hero, Dr. Manabu Yukana, also known as Detective Galileo. Yukana is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Tokyo Imperial University, and seems to routinely help the Tokyo detectives with their more difficult cases. The author is a mega-seller in Japan, with both this series and others, plus a raft of films adapted from his novels and assorted TV...more 38. THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X. (2008; Eng. trans. 2011). Keigo Higashino. ***1/2.
This was the first novel by this Japanese author to feature his series hero, Dr. Manabu Yukana, also known as Detective Galileo. Yukana is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Tokyo Imperial University, and seems to routinely help the Tokyo detectives with their more difficult cases. The author is a mega-seller in Japan, with both this series and others, plus a raft of films adapted from his novels and assorted TV series. In my usual style, I read the second novel in this series first (“Salvation of a Saint” – see my previous blurb) before I knew about or read this one. I didn’t think all that highly of that novel, but decided to find this first installment to see if I was missing something. Turns out that this first novel was much better than the second, but still dragged. The plot had been used before, but don’t ask me where; I just know I came across the story before. The twist, of course, is that we now have the presence of Detective Galileo, who has to face off against another genius, this time a fellow graduate from the University, but from the mathematics department. Meet Mr. Ishigami, a high school teacher of math, and a graduate from the math department from University. He leads a singular and isolated life, split between his teaching duties and his studies at home. He has no social life. One day, a young woman, Yasuko Hanaoka, and her daughter, Misato, knock on his door and introduce themselves. They are his new neighbors, and it is customary for new neighbors to introduce themselves. Yasuko works in a local restaurant that specializes in the preparation of bento boxes for lunch. This is a new job for her. She was previously a hostess at a drinking club, but decided that it would be better for her daughter if she had a more conventional job. She has been divorced from her husband for about five years. That’s a relief, since towards the end of their marriage he had become physically abusive and had turned to drink. On top of that, he managed to take the money she earned from the club and spend it on booze and gambling. Over the last five years, she hadn’t seen him more than once, and that time he found her and demanded money. She managed to avoid further contact by making several moves of dwelling places and also moving away from her club job. Then one day he shows up at her apartment door. When he demands money from her, a physical struggle occurs and he begins to choke her. The daughter comes to the rescue by hitting him over the head and stunning him but he is not finally subdued until Yasuko wraps the electrical cord from her cooker around his neck and strangles him. Now what? She and her daughter have murdered a man, and they are in big trouble. Help comes in the form of Mr. Ishigami, the next-door neighbor, who has heard all the commotion through the wall. Being a mathematician, he manages to figure out a way that they can cover up the killing. But...there is Detective Galileo. The pace of the plot is slow, since the author chooses to go over each plot device several times, but many of the tricks are ingeneous. If you’d like to get into this series, it would be wise to start with this first novel. Recommended.

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Apr 29, 2011 Juliana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone, especially lovers of psychological suspense

Shelves: advance-reading-copy-or-galley, librarything-early-reviewers, 2011-reads, 2011-apr-reads, translated-into-english, japanese-literature, set-in-japan, reverse-dramatic-irony, award-winning, asian-literature, set-in-asia, east-asian-literature, set-in-east-asia, psychological-thriller-and-suspense, 0-reviewed, 4-stars, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form, 4-to-5-stars, challenge-2011-rrrc-a-to-z-heroes, challenge-2011-rrrc-a-to-z-heroines, challenge-2011-mine-regular-books, 2011-reads-my-favorites-of-the-year

Superbly crafted psychological suspense novel - simple, yet genius

This story was superbly crafted and a really wonderful, highly recommended read. The truth is I didn't actually like it very much at the beginning, however I quickly got pulled into the story and in the end could only admire the simple but genius quality of the plot.

There are essentially four main characters in this novel: Yasuko, the single-mother who commits the unplanned murder; Ishigami, a math teacher and her neighbor, who he...more Superbly crafted psychological suspense novel - simple, yet genius

This story was superbly crafted and a really wonderful, highly recommended read. The truth is I didn't actually like it very much at the beginning, however I quickly got pulled into the story and in the end could only admire the simple but genius quality of the plot.

There are essentially four main characters in this novel: Yasuko, the single-mother who commits the unplanned murder; Ishigami, a math teacher and her neighbor, who helps her cover it up; Kusanagi, the main detective investigating the case; and Yukawa, a physics professor who is friends with Kusanagi and often assists him on cases. Yukawa and Ishigami used to be friends when they were both university students, but had since lost touch.

For much of the beginning, Yasuko and Ishigami are the central of the book and the reason I wasn't getting wrapped up in the story was mainly because neither one of them really drew me in at first. While I sympathized with Yasuko, she appeared to me a somewhat boring character. Ishigami, on the other hand, seemed like he was probably very complex, but so placid and emotionless on the surface that I couldn't really get a feel for him. When Kusanagi and Yukawa become further integrated into the story, they were the ones whom I actually became most interested in and who really started to pull me in. The more I read, the more I ended up liking and understanding all four characters. The one who remained the weakest was our heroine, Yasuko, but Kusanagi, Ishigami, and Yukawa are wonderfully written, with the last two being the most complex and thoroughly developed/explored characters of the four.

The plot itself is nothing short of superb. Very skillfully crafted and just when you think you know what's going on and are ahead of characters x, y, and z, things take a surprising turn. There were also several cases of reverse dramatic irony (if that's an actual term - and if not, now it is!). What I loved most about the mystery was that it was as mystery stories should be: there are enough clues that the reader could actually figure things out, but the truth of the matter is that you're not going to (or at least I didn't) because it's so carefully interwoven and hidden.

Another thing that was absolutely fabulous - and also superb in a mystery/suspense - is that I truly did not know how the book was going to end. You have all of these opposing forces and teams - Yasuko and Ishigami, the accomplices; Kusanagi and Yukawa, the investigators; Yukawa and Ishigami, the math and science geniuses and reacquainted friends - and are somewhat confounded as to who you should be rooting for. So not only do you not know how the book is going to end, but you also are not sure how you even *want* it to end!

This was the first I had heard of this book and this author, but after finishing The Devotion of Suspect X, it is clear to see why it is an award-winning book and why Higashino is Japan's biggest bestselling novelist. I am already looking forward to reading more of his work.

This review is of an advanced copy format of the book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. (less)

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Mar 06, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OMG!!! I am on the list of winners for this book! woo woo!! :) so looking forward to reading it. Was reviewd on NPR last winter and it sounded great! Wasn't available at my library, and my backlog of to-read books was too large to justify buying it.... so this works out perfectly!
*******
did I have an interim review that disappeared? No?
I thought I had made comments about doubts I was having about the book - in the begining there was stilted and simplistic dialogue and I wasn't sure if it was the...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Kaion rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, mystery, world

A hard-working single mother, Yasuko is surprised by the implication when her boss points out that Yasuko’s otherwise unsociable neighbor Ishigama comes by especially to buy a boxed lunch from her every day. But when a typical visit by her violent ex-husband to hustle her for money ends in his death, she's positively shocked, if thankful, when the seemingly-ordinary high school math teacher not only immediately deduces the crime but also offers to help cover it up.

The Devotion of Suspect X is an...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Dhiraj Sharma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Devotion of Suspect X is a story with a killer twist towards the end.

The book cover calls the author the Japanese Steig Larrson.

The novel moves like a cat and mouse game played between Ishigami the maths teacher (Yasuko's neighbour) and his old college friend Yukawa the Physics scholar who is assisting the police in nabbing the murderer.

The police detective Kusanagi does not contribute much towards the investigation except whenever his pal Yukawa drops the hints as the story progresses.

The i...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Allan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: early, reviewer, book

The Devotion of Suspect X is a quick decent read which nevertheless left me with many unanswered questions, only some of which can be laid at the feet of the translator. [return][return]The “Suspect X” of the title is the brilliant mathematician Ishigami who has spent the last number of years teaching high-school math and spending his evenings working on arcane math problems. His secret “devotion” is to his neighbor Yasuko who lives next door with her daughter Misato. [return][return]Yasuko is b...more The Devotion of Suspect X is a quick decent read which nevertheless left me with many unanswered questions, only some of which can be laid at the feet of the translator. [return][return]The “Suspect X” of the title is the brilliant mathematician Ishigami who has spent the last number of years teaching high-school math and spending his evenings working on arcane math problems. His secret “devotion” is to his neighbor Yasuko who lives next door with her daughter Misato. [return][return]Yasuko is being harassed by her abusive ex-husband Togashi who, after stalking her, discovers where she now lives and shows up one night demanding money and threatening her. He is murdered and hidden away. [return][return]My first thought was that this could probably be characterized as justifiable homicide — but then there would be no story. Instead Yukawa seems to lose all the strength she displayed in dealing with her abusive husband and becomes the pawn of Ishigami, the neighbor who has heard the commotion and come to offer his assistance. She allows him to take care of removing the body, providing the alibi and leading the police on a wild goose chase with clues he has manufactured to confuse them.[return][return]However Kusanagi, the police detective assigned to the case is in the habit of bringing his more difficult problems to the attention of an old schoolmate, the brilliant physicist Yukawa. Yukawa knew Ishigami when they were at school together and uses this opportunity to get in touch again with his old friend. [return][return]The heart of the tale is the cat and mouse game being played between Ishigami and Yukawa.[return][return]There are some brilliant twists and turns revealed as the investigation continues, but they all seem to be shown through an obscuring veil which may be the fault of the rather pedestrian translation. [return][return]Nevertheless, there is plenty here to provide for a good read and I look forward to further translations of Keigo Higashino’s mysteries.(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Bookmarks Magazine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: may-june-2011

In this police procedural and detective novel, which the Washington Post described as a modern take on the “puzzle genre,” readers best pay attention to the details if they hope to solve the crime. A story of murder and cover-up that seeks to fit murder into mathematical principles, The Devotion of Suspect X creates a challenging mind game that provoked most critics. Still, despite the emotional heft provided by the former friendship between the physicist and math teacher, as well as the web of...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Buchdoktor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, asia, japan

Wer hätte gedacht, dass Ishigami, Mathelehrer und Judokämpfer, der Physikprofessor Yukawa und Kommissar Kosanagi sich seit ihrer Schulzeit kennen. Den begabten Mathematiker, der sein Leben mit unwilligen Oberstufenschülern verplempert, und den Physiker könnten gemeinsame Interessen verbinden. Physiker und Kommissar dagegen, die sich immer dann austauschen, wenn Yukawa sich gerade an einem komplizierten Fall die Zähne ausbeisst, verbindet eine ungewöhnlichere Beziehung.

Als Yasuko Hanaoka ihren ge...more Wer hätte gedacht, dass Ishigami, Mathelehrer und Judokämpfer, der Physikprofessor Yukawa und Kommissar Kosanagi sich seit ihrer Schulzeit kennen. Den begabten Mathematiker, der sein Leben mit unwilligen Oberstufenschülern verplempert, und den Physiker könnten gemeinsame Interessen verbinden. Physiker und Kommissar dagegen, die sich immer dann austauschen, wenn Yukawa sich gerade an einem komplizierten Fall die Zähne ausbeisst, verbindet eine ungewöhnlichere Beziehung.

Als Yasuko Hanaoka ihren gewalttätigen Ex-Mann umbringt, scheint für die Polizei zunächst klar, wer die Tat begangen hat und warum. Ishigami, mit dem Yasuko Wand an Wand wohnt, hat zu Yasukos Rettung mit ihr und ihrer Tochter Misato ein raffiniertes Alibi abgesprochen, das zunächst perfekt wirkt. Ishigami ist ein Mann, der nichts dem Zufall überlässt. Mit Kosanagi steht Yasuko, der ehemaligen Angestellten in einem Nachtclub, ein akribisch arbeitender Ermittler gegenüber. Wer wird den längeren Atem haben - das Dreiergespann, das mit dem Vertuschen der Tat lebenslang aneinander gekettet bleiben wird, oder der Ermittler, der auf der Suche nach Widersprüchen die Geschehnisse in allen Einzelheiten nachvollzieht? Unter der Fassade, die Yasuko seit ihrer Ehe mit dem gewalttätigen Jinji Togashi zu wahren gelernt hat, entfalten sich allmählich wie ein unterirdisch wachsendes Mycel die Beziehungen der Figuren. Wie in einem Rate-Krimi, in dem die Leser den Fall aufklären sollen, kommt es auf jedes Detail an. Zwischen dem Physiker und dem Mathematiker, der glaubt seine Nachbarin schützen zu müssen, entbrennt ein intellektueller Wettstreit, der bis zur Auflösung des Falls mehr als eine überraschende Wendung bereithält. Im brilliant nachempfundenen intellektuellen Wettkampf zweier Genies ringen auch Gefühl und Vernunft miteinander. Higashino unterhält mit seinem raffiniert gestrickten Fall auf mehreren Ebenen: von der Frage, ob in der klaustrophobischen Enge Japans ein perfekter Mord denkbar ist, über die eigenartige Persönlichkeit des für seinen Job so offensichtlich überqualifizierten Ishigami bis zu den schicksalhaften Verstrickungen zwischen den anderen beteiligten Figuren.

Ein raffiniertes Puzzle für Leser, die sich gern von akribischen Ermittlungen fesseln lassen. (less)

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May 26, 2013 Joyce rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, mystery

This came up on so many lists that I felt I had to read it. An interesting, intricate puzzle; a curious blend of emotions and intellect; a ending that left me wondering if justice would be done. The plot's a real tangle, and I do wonder if a reader who tries to solve mysteries before the end really could with the clues given. Luckily, I am not that person. This is an intriguing intellectual puzzle--the perfect crime and alibi--but it's really about the characters and the psychological portrait o...more

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May 05, 2013 Jean rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: english, japan, japanese-literature, mystery

I'm not sure whether to give this novel a 2 or 3 star rating. I really like the novel approach where you pretty much know who the perpetrators of the crime are but have to figure out the how and wonder whether they will get away with it.

In the two novels I've read in this series so far, the murders have had some extenuating circumstances that draw your sympathy towards to people being investigated and you are tempted to hope they get away with the perfect crime. However, in this installment, it'...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Anirban rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: award-winners, police-procedural, foriegn, favorites

Although the book has been hyped as a thriller, I found the thriller part pretty simple. Frankly speaking there are far better thriller available in the market. So, as far as the THRILLER part of the book goes, I would give it 3.5 stars out of 5.
Now comes the twist. There also happens to be a tragic layer in the book apart from the thriller part. And, that is what makes this book such a captivating read. While reading the last few pages, you cant help but feel sad for Ishigami. Specially when he...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Susan Tunis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Which is harder: devising an unsolvable problem, or solving that problem?”

Yasuko Hanaoka is a single mother just trying to get ahead. She’s finally working a more respectable job and raising her teenage daughter, Misato, as best she can. Her sleazy ex-husband, Togashi, is making that difficult. As much as she tries to distance herself, he keeps coming around, extorting money in order to go away. This time, however, the altercation becomes physical when Misato hits him. He attacks the girl, and...more “Which is harder: devising an unsolvable problem, or solving that problem?”

Yasuko Hanaoka is a single mother just trying to get ahead. She’s finally working a more respectable job and raising her teenage daughter, Misato, as best she can. Her sleazy ex-husband, Togashi, is making that difficult. As much as she tries to distance herself, he keeps coming around, extorting money in order to go away. This time, however, the altercation becomes physical when Misato hits him. He attacks the girl, and both mother and daughter wind up in a life-or-death struggle that finds Togashi strangled on the floor.

Panicked, the two are discussing Yasuko turning herself into the police when a knock comes at the door. It is Ishigami, the smitten teacher who lives next-door. It seems he *will* do anything for Yasuko—including move bodies. And so a plot is hatched. Ishigami is much more than a high school math teacher. At one time, he was a bona fide mathematical genius and it seems he’s still got a talent for logic and strategy. Will it help them all get away with murder?

Enter “Detective Galileo,” the nickname of physicist Manabu Yukawa. Yukawa earned his moniker helping out the police on occasional cases. He’s got Holmesian intellect and observational skills, though considerably better people skills than the famed detective. And, back in their college days, he and Ishigami were friends and rivals. While Yukawa is not officially on the case, his personal connection draws him in. But rather than working with Detective Kusanagi, for the first time he seems to be following his own agenda. Thus begins a high-stakes chess game between two brilliant men. Says the physicist:

“When an amateur attempts to conceal something, the more complex he makes his camouflage, the deeper the grave he digs for himself. But not so a genius. The genius does something far simpler, yet something no normal person would even dream of, the last thing a normal person would think of doing. And from this simplicity, immense complexity is created.”

I’m not generally a huge fan of police procedurals, but this one had a lot going for it. At the very top of the list is the plotting. The cat-and-mouse aspect to the investigation kept tension ratcheted—especially as readers knew exactly how the murder went down from the novel’s opening pages. But each of these men had surprises up their sleeves, and the dénouement was a thing of beauty. Also, this was largely a crime of self-defense (apparently not a big concept in the Japanese legal system, as it was never brought up once as a mitigating factor), and therefore the perpetrators were quite sympathetic. As a reader, at times it was hard to know who to root for—and that’s just interesting. This was definitely not a black and white crime novel.

Character development is a little trickier. I always have some trouble getting a feel for Japanese characters simply due to cultural differences. And whatever the culture, Ishigami is not your average Joe. I liked Yukawa quite a lot, but can’t say that I feel he’s a wildly unique creation. At least not yet. Author Keigo Higashino has had a second Detective Galileo mystery published in English, Salvation of a Saint. As I was reading, I thought to myself, This must not be the first novel in the series. But checking Wikipedia, it appears there were only a series of short stories featuring the character prior to this novel. Additionally, there’s a third novel in the series not yet released in America. Based on this introduction, I’d be very open to further investigations.(less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Aashis.v rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first thing is that I don't know Japanese and I read its translated version to English. It was worth the read and 300Rs I spent for it. Its an outstanding psychological detective story which blends with the culture of Japan.

But I had more expectations for it.
They called Author: Keigo Higashino the "Japanese 'Stieg Larrson'" and the novel an outstanding "thriller". The novel doesn't tighten your seat belts or doesn't give you a whodunnit feeling. But it really interests us with the mathematic...more

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Mar 06, 2013 LJ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary_post_1945, japan, male_author, mystery, mysterybookclub, police_procedural

First Sentence: At 7:35 A.M. Ishigami left his apartment as he did every weekday morning.

A woman separated from her brutal husband. A neighbor devoted to helping her. A policeman tasked with trying to solve a murder. A physicist asked to help his friend the policeman, and who knows the neighbor. These four elements combine into a game of cat and mouse.

My first thought was how much I wish they had included a map. My second thought was a wish for a cast of characters as I am not as familiar with J...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Kate Z rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Crime fiction is not my "thing" - I read this for a book club I'm involved with. This book was an easy enough read - I finished it in about 2 days - but it didn't especially warm me to the genre.

Apparently this writer is quite a well known Japanese crime fiction author. This book was translated into English and so I don't know if it is the genre (i.e. crime fiction is less about the writing and more about the plot twists and turns) or the translation but the writing, while fine and even, was not...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Perry Clark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Two bits to add to what I see in a rapid, cursory sweep through some of the recent reviews:

First, the editing of the English translation I read (first printing of first English edition) was occasionally a bit sloppy. More than once the reader encounters "then" where one should find "than". There are a few occasions in which a short phrase or word is simply missing, generally [of the] type one can experience by dropping the words in brackets here. And, punctuation errors pop up now and again, too...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Harsha Priolkar rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With a title like that how could I resist?!

I've just finished this book and I must confess to being in two minds about how much if indeed I liked it. Started out promisingly enough, but halfway through, when not much had happened other than the police running around in circles, I was beginning to get bored. It might also have something to do with this being a translation from Japanese...much as I love English, sometimes it can be limited. Also the style & language of the prose is rather cut...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Indiabookstore rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was forced to buy this book, by a friend, who had already read half of it and wanted to finish it. It was with a bit of apprehension that I started this book. But, what a roller coaster ride it was!

“The Japanese Stieg Larsson” is how the book has been popularized. This plays both to the book’s advantage as well as disadvantage. Stieg Larsson is an epic and automatically one expects a lot of out of this novel! Inevitable conclusions when the advertising has been such.

But, to have kept up to the...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Christopher rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I didn't live in Japan, I might not recognize (and be annoyed by) some of the cultural nuances that seem to make others decry this books slowish-boorish pace. Saying nothing of the loss of "depth," translating from Japanese to English (if any such depth exists).

This is a decent read for any Crime Fiction lover... but it's not the "extraordinary thriller" that the praise quotation on the back of the book leads you to believe.

The book is dry; underwhelmingly so. And full of detailed drivel th...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was really good, as mysteries go. I want to read Higashino's next in this series (Salvation of a Saint), so thought I start here. A woman kills the ex-husband who has been stalking her -- and this is not a spoiler, because you find this out in the first 30 pages -- and her next door neighbor, a mathematician named Ishigami with a secret crush on her, helps cover up the nature of the crime using logic. It turns out that the police are being helped by Yukawa, a physicist who is an old schoolm...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Rose Be rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: CSI, Mystery, & Math

Recommended to Rose by: Janet Reid's blog

Shelves: contemporary-author, mystery, world

When his neighbor Yasuko accidentally kills her abusive ex-husband, genius mathematician Ishigami helps her cover up the crime-- he has a bit of a crush. She just has to do exactly what he says, and he won't tell her why. But he didn't count on his old university rival and friend Yukawa (a genius physicist, natch) joining the investigation. Yukawa alone stands a chance of unravelling the web Ishigami's spun--unless Yasuko messes up-- but Ishigami's not done yet, and he just might get what he's a...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Cathal rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After Yasuko kills her lout of an ex husband in a fit of rage, her inscrutable maths genius neighbour Ishigami steps in and concocts an elaborate plan to help her escape retribution. A cat and mouse game follows as Detective Kusanagi tries to figure out the most mysterious case he's ever faced, and Ishigami and Yasuko try to evade capture.

The opening 40 pages or so, establishing Ishigami's fixation on Yasuko, are somewhat clunky and uninteresting, but the books gets much more interesting after t...more

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Jun 20, 2012 The-vault rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

By Keigo Higashino. Grade A

The Devotion of Suspect X is one of those mind boggling books that leave you gasping and struggling for air, and when it finally does end, you feel like a weak, unintelligent human because you couldn’t, even in your wildest dreams, predict the fabulous ending you just read.

Yasuko lives a quiet life, working in a Tokyo bento shop, a good mother to her only child. But when her ex-husband appears at her door without warning one day, her comfortable world is shattered. Whe...more By Keigo Higashino. Grade A

The Devotion of Suspect X is one of those mind boggling books that leave you gasping and struggling for air, and when it finally does end, you feel like a weak, unintelligent human because you couldn’t, even in your wildest dreams, predict the fabulous ending you just read.

Yasuko lives a quiet life, working in a Tokyo bento shop, a good mother to her only child. But when her ex-husband appears at her door without warning one day, her comfortable world is shattered. When Detective Kusanagi of the Tokyo Police tries to piece together the events of that day, he finds himself confronted by the most puzzling, mysterious circumstances he has ever investigated. Nothing quite makes sense…

Ishigami is just another man, amongst a sea of people, who leads an ordinary or rather a boring life, teaching Math to high school students and being a part time judo instructor as well. The only likable thing in his world is Mathematics; the thrill that comes along with finding a solution to an unthinkable problem is the fuel to his existence. And lately, also his neighbor – Yasuko, a single mother, who also happens to work as a waitress at a lunch shop, compelling Ishigami to go there everyday, just to take a look at her.
So when Yasuko accidentally kills her abusive ex-husband in a fight in her apartment, Ishigami comes to the rescue. He plants evidences, builds up fake alibis and even prepares dialogues for the mother and daughter, who out of desperation, have to trust this strange man.

As the story progresses, Detective Kusunagi and the entire police department uncovers every bit, which pulls them deeper into a spiral of confusion created by Ishigami for unsuspecting average brains. However, Yukawa, a brilliant physicist and a friend of the detective as well as an old classmate of Ishigami, sees through the complex plan and eventually, solves the mystery.

“Sometimes, all you had to do was exist in order to be someone's saviour.”

The characters are certainly very unique; unlike any other book. They are dynamic, perfectly shaped and complete. Ishigami is a little too emotionless, unbelievably so. At times, I was annoyed at Yasuko for being such a coward and not owning up to her mistakes, but in her place, I or anyone else would have preferred to keep quiet and NOT go to jail. By the end, Ishigami proves out to be remarkable human being and a mastermind; even though he lacks feelings and the desire to live.

This book is has a perfect pace and an amazing story, definitely worth a read.

Originally reviewed at : www.the-vault.co.cc (less)

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May 19, 2012 Puneet rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I chanced upon the book, as I was browsing through titles at a book store. And what captured my interest, was the caption mentioned on the front cover of the book " Japan's Steig Larsson". As I had read the Millenium trilogy, and had loved every bit of it, I decided to buy the book.
And I am happy that I bought the book. The book revolves around four central characters - Yasuko, Ishigami, Kusanagi, Manubu Yukawa.

Yasuko is the single mother who is central to the plot of the book, and the entire s...more I chanced upon the book, as I was browsing through titles at a book store. And what captured my interest, was the caption mentioned on the front cover of the book " Japan's Steig Larsson". As I had read the Millenium trilogy, and had loved every bit of it, I decided to buy the book.
And I am happy that I bought the book. The book revolves around four central characters - Yasuko, Ishigami, Kusanagi, Manubu Yukawa.

Yasuko is the single mother who is central to the plot of the book, and the entire story revolves around the murder she commits. Ishigami, is a mathemitician, who is love with Yasuko, and devises an elaborate problem-solution to cover the murder trail. The characters of Yasuko and Ishigami are well developed, and the author provides an insight to their insecurities, thoughts and hope in life.

Kusanagi is the detective who has been tasked with solving the murder of Yasuko's husband, whle Yukawa is a friend of Kusanagi, to whom Kusanagi turns for advise on tricky cases. While the characters of Kusanagi and Yukawa are not as well developed as those of Ishigamia and Yasuko, however as the book progresses, its clear that Yukawa is the counter foil to Ishigami, and the one who can find the correct solution to Ishigami's elaborate problem.

The plot has been devised as a mathematical problem, and is unique for a murder mystery, in the sense its not a typical who dunnit, as the murderer is known to reader within a few pages into the book. The charm of the book lies in solving the mathematical puzzle devised by Ishigami. Every clue in the book is well thought off, and the author has built an intricate web of misinformation, which keeps the reader guessing, till the end. And the twist at the end of the book, makes you marvel at the author's brilliance. Because no matter, how much you thibk you know, the twist at the end of the story, is something, not many readers would be able to guess.

All in all, its a really good read,and I look forward to read more of Keigo Higashino's work, as and when they get translated into English.(less)

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About Keigo Higashino

Keigo Higashino is one of the most popular and biggest selling fiction authors in Japan—as well known as James Patterson, Dean Koontz or Tom Clancy are in the USA.

Born in Osaka, he started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co.(presently DENSO). He won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, in 1985 for the novel Hōkago (After S...more

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“Sometimes, all you had to do was exist in order to be someone's saviour.” — 32 people liked it

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The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #1)

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