Keigo Higashino (東野 圭吾) 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 School) at age 27. Subsequently, he quit his job and started a career as a writer in Tokyo.
In 1999, he won the Mystery Writers of Japan Inc award for the novel Himitsu (The Secret), which was translated into English by Kerim Yasar and published by Vertical under the title of Naoko in 2004. In 2006, he won the 134th Naoki Prize for Yōgisha X no Kenshin. His novels had been nominated five times before winning with this novel.
The Devotion of Suspect X was the second highest selling book in all of Japan— fiction or nonfiction—the year it was published, with over 800,000 copies sold. It won the prestigious Naoki Prize for Best Novel— the Japanese equivalent of the National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize. Made into a motion picture in Japan, The Devotion of Suspect X spent 4 weeks at the top of the box office and was the third highest‐grossing film of the year.
Higashino’s novels have more movie and TV series adaptations than Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum, and as many as Michael Crichton.
Three murder cases remain unsolved, with investigators unable to find even slightest lead. The only things the victims have in common are the killing method and the fact that each of them had, in the past, been responsible for someone else's death. As the investigation progresses, it turns out that the bereaved families from those past cases are all staying at Hotel Cortesia Tokyo.
This was my first novel by Keigo Higashino, and I enjoyed a lot!
One of the highlights is the dynamic between Nitta, who is prudent and places great importance on building trust with the hotel, and Inspector Azusa who takes any means necessary to solve the case.
The novel focuses on the anguish of victims' families who, despite losing someone, are unable to accept the court's verdicts. Sentences are often felt reduced under the Juvenile Law or as a result of psychiatric evaluations. The book raises important questions about the Japanese judicial system.
The story explores not only the pain of victims' families but also complex inner struggles of tho who commit crimes.
Thad said, I did find myself thinking - is it really possible that all of these bereaved families would coincidentally be staying at the same super luxury hotel on Christmas Eve? Some other settings felt also unrealistic, but never mind, I still enjoyed it a lot.