The Devotion of Suspect X: A Detective Galileo Novel (Detective Galileo Series, 1) Paperback – February 28, 2012

Keigo Higashino’s The Devotion of Suspect X completely flipped my expectations of a mystery novel. Unlike Agatha Christie, who keeps you guessing about the identity of the culprit until the very end, Higashino tells you upfront who the suspect is. And yet, the suspense doesn’t fade—instead, it only deepens. You’re left wondering how the investigation will play out, and that’s where the genius of this novel lies.From the start, I was hooked by how brilliantly the story unfolded. Ishigami, the math teacher at the center of it all, is far more than he seems. The way he manipulates not just the investigators but also the reader is pure genius. I found myself second-guessing every assumption I made, only to realize that Ishigami had been ten steps ahead the entire time. By the end, I was screaming internally, utterly caught off guard by the twists and turns.What really surprised me was how much I ended up sympathizing with Ishigami. His intellect and quiet devotion made it impossible not to root for him, even knowing what he’d done. I was torn between wanting justice and wanting him to succeed in his meticulous plans. Higashino crafted such a complex character that I couldn’t help but take his side, which left me with a mix of emotions long after I finished the book.If you’re looking for a mystery that’s not just about solving a crime but also about understanding the depths of human nature, The Devotion of Suspect X is a must-read. It’s one of those rare books that will keep you thinking, guessing, and feeling long after you’ve turned the last page.

A novel that is part psychological profile, part murder mystery, Keigo Higashino’sThe Devotion of Suspect X is a masterfully written novel. The novel, originallypublished in 2005 and translated into English in 2011, is a standout in the worldof mystery fiction, offering a plot that is both intellectually stimulating andemotionally resonant.We have three central characters: Ishigami,a brilliant but socially isolated mathematician; Yasuko Hanaoka, a single mothertrying to escape her abusive ex-husband; and Yukawa, a physicist and collegefriend of Ishigami, who becomes involved in the investigation of a murder. WhenYasuko's ex-husband, Togashi, shows up at her doorstep and threatens her, a violentconfrontation ensues, leading to his death. Ishigami, who is secretly in lovewith Yasuko, offers to help her cover up the crime, devising a seemingly foolproofplan to mislead the police. While the tone of the novel starts out as a Christie-like cozy, it rapidly turns into a dark noir.Higashino’s narrative is a fascinating explorationof logic and emotion, presenting a battle of wits between Ishigami and Yukawa.The novel’s brilliance lies in its ability to subvert the reader’s expectations;what appears to be a straightforward whodunit quickly evolves into a much deeperand more complex story. The tension between the characters is palpable, andHigashino skillfully explores themes of unrequited love, sacrifice, and themoral dilemmas faced by ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.The pacingof the novel is meticulous, with each revelation peeling back another layer of themystery, culminating in a shocking and tragic conclusion that lingers long afterthe final page. Higashino’s translated prose, though straightforward, is effective inconveying the inner turmoil of his characters. Overall, a very engaging. it will beinteresting on how this compares to the rest of the series.

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.