Book Review: The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

February 1, 2011

About:

“The Devotion of Suspect X” by award winning Japanese author Keigo Higashino (Wikipedia)is a fictional mystery book but not in the usually “who-dun-it” style. This charming novel focuses on the mind games played between the suspect and a police consultant – both brilliant mathematicians.

  • 298 pages
  • Publisher ‏ : Minotaur Books
  • Language ‏ : English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : 0312375069

The publisher has made available three (3) copies of “The Devotion of Suspect X” to be given out- enter at the end of the post.

Buy The Devotion of Suspect X from Amazon.com
My rating for The Devotion of Suspect X4
Buy The Devotion of Suspect X from Amazon.com*

More Books by Keigo Higashino *
More Books translated by Alexander O. Smith*
More Books translated by Elye J. Alexander*

Thoughts:

“The Devotion of Suspect X” by Keigo Higashino is a very clever mystery novel. The mystery is the way the investigation unfolds, layer by layer while the reader is privy to how the murder was done is a unique way to tell a story; it is also dangerous because the pitfalls to ruin the story are many. Actually one could say that this book, certainly a thinking person’s novel, is more of a psychological drama, a cat and mouse game, than a mystery.

The interaction between the characters is very interesting and the characters themselves are appealing as well. As we get to know Ishigami, we learn why he wastes his time teaching high-school students who don’t care and that he must pass. We learn about his strange devotion to Yasuko and keep wondering what made him do what he did – all the way to end.

Understanding Ishigami is the key to understanding this book.

Scattered throughout the books are complex philosophical questions and mathematical proofs. I found those interesting even though some were hard for me to grasp but somehow they helped the story move along. How Keigo Higashino achieved that might be the true mystery of the book.

A word of praise to the fine and fluent translation by Alexander O. Smith (Twitter), and Elye J. Alexander.

Synopsis:

A divorced single mother and former night club hostess , Yasuko Hanaoka, thought she finally escaped her ex-husband when he shows up on her door step. One thing leads to another and the ex-husband ends up dead. Ishigami, Yasuko’s neighbor who is a middle aged high school math teacher, hears the commotion and helps her get rid of the body.

When the unidentified body turns up, Detective Kusanagi turns up on Yasuko’s doorstep as part of his investigation. Yasuko however has an airtight alibi. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a brilliant physicist who gets a kick out of help the detective solve what seems to be unsolvable crimes. Yukawa is a college friend of Ishigami and is convinced he has something to do with the murder.

Buy The Devotion of Suspect X from Amazon.com*
More Books by Keigo Higashino *
More Books translated by Alexander O. Smith*
More Books translated by Elye J. Alexander*

Rules:

    • Contest is for one (1) new copy of “The Devotion of Suspect X”.
    • There will be THREE (3) WINNERS
    • Must be a US / Canada mailing Address
    • Ends Monday February 8, 2011
    • Winners will be chosen using Random.org
    • Winners will have 24 hours after my initial contact to write back their mailing address, otherwise alternate winners will be picked
      • indiereaderhouston@
      • rooked90@
      • monagarg@


Congratulations:

Zohar — Man of la Book
Dis­claimer: I got this book for free
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books

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This post is in the 62nd
Book Review Blog Carnival

Published at I’ll Never Forget The Day I Read A Book!
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Summary
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The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
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Product Name
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

Wrap Up

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

4 Comments

  • NatalieFebruary 1, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    This one sounds right up my alley! I entered.
    Thanks for stopping by!
    Natalie
    http://www.thebookinn.net

  • Michelle CunninghamFebruary 7, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    Sounds like an interesting book! I love a good mystery, and this one seems to have a good twist.

    Michlle
    cunninghamm@gmail.com

  • parrishJanuary 20, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Not eligible, but not a worry already have said book & mean to read it soon

  • parrishJanuary 20, 2012 at 10:52 am

    Not eligible but not a worry, as I have said book, purchased it after seeing it on another blog. It is languishing on my bookshelves, thanks for the reminder.

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