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Detective Galileo #6

L'Équation de plein été

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Le physicien Yukawa entame pour des raisons professionnelles un séjour dans la station balnéaire de Hari-plage. Le soir de son arrivée, l’autre client de l’auberge, un ancien policier de Tokyo, disparaît. Son cadavre est retrouvé le lendemain sur des rochers en bord de mer. Kusanagi, l’ami policier de Yukawa, et sa collègue Utsumi, sont chargés de mener discrètement l’enquête, parallèlement à la police locale. En renouant avec le couple d’enquêteurs déjà aperçu dans Un café maison, Keigo Higashino livre une de ces intrigues subtiles et complexes dont il a le secret.

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

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About the author

Keigo Higashino

192 books8,214 followers
Associated Names:
* Keigo Higashino
* 東野 圭吾 (Japanese)
* 東野圭吾 (Traditional Chinese)
* ฮิงาชิโนะ เคโงะ (Thai)


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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,589 reviews
Profile Image for Liong.
323 reviews552 followers
November 29, 2023
This is the 9th book by Keigo Higashino to be translated into English.

Out of his entire Japanese books, 10 books have been made available in English.

Another of his new translated books, "The Final Curtain: A Mystery (The Kyoichiro Kaga Series, 4)," is scheduled for release in December 2023.

I am captivated by his writing style, which keeps readers guessing until the very end.

His stories are consistently fascinating and packed with unexpected twists, blending between science and uncertainty.

I try to avoid discussing his fantastic storytelling here.

I like to share what I learned from this book:

"Often, in order to find the answer, you need time to grow first. That's why we apply ourselves and learn as we go. " Advice from Professor Manabu Yukawa to Kyohei.
Profile Image for carol. .
1,755 reviews9,988 followers
November 30, 2018
Higashino is a popular Japanese author who writes mysteries emphasizing character and culture. Though by the time I reach halfway through the book, I'm fighting my usual urge to peek at the denouement, there is still something kind of restful about the story. (Besides, I've learned with Higashino that that's ultimately unsatisfying, due to the build of the relationships that make the resolution so hard-hitting). It is the clear prose? The exquisitely polite mannerisms of the characters? The emphasis on the scientific process? The utter lack of gun fights, car chases or people buried alive?

This book continues to use the crime-solving duo of Yukawa, the physicist, and Kusanagi, the Tokoyo police detective. Unlike Suspect X, Yukawa is the primary investigator in this case, being on the scene. An underwater mining company is holding an informational event in the small town of Hari Cove, a former tourist town that has been declining for years. Yukawa had been consulting on the project and was asked to be present to help address technical concerns. On the train to Hari Cove, he meets a gangly, awkward fifth-grader, Kyohei, on the way to his aunt and uncle's hotel for a vacation while his parents are busy setting up a new store. Yukawa decides to stay at the hotel and an interesting friendship is formed. Things become complicated when the only other guest is found dead at the bottom of a small cliff.

By far one of the most touching aspects of the story was the completely unsentimental way Yukawa befriends Kyohei. Yukawa continues with his cryptic math-teacher commentary, generally encouraging others to work out situations for themselves. However, in deference to his young friend's more limited experience, he explains more than usual:

"A wry smile came to Yukawa's lips. 'Well, I could tell you why Kusanagi called me, but it's a bit of a long story.... Of course, Kusanagi often has ulterior motives for the things he does. Actually, often isn't quite right. Always is the word I was looking for. He always has an ulterior motive.'"

The mystery is convoluted, and there is a wide variety of people who play a role in the situation (unfortunately, many names seem to start with 'S' in this book). There's a somewhat obvious (to the mystery reader) tack that the local detectives don't take. The story didn't take quite the course I expected with the environmental issue, leading me to wonder about its inclusion. I wonder if that had to do with differences in American environmental activism and Japanese? Regardless, Yukawa solves this in his own, somewhat morally ambiguous way.

I started and finished this in a day. It was both engrossing and sad, but rather less devastating than Suspect X. I'll definitely be looking for more of his works, as soon as they are translated into English. 

Three-and-a-half, rounding up.
Profile Image for Carol.
341 reviews1,217 followers
March 29, 2016
A Midsummer's Equation is the 3rd Higashino novel I've read in 2016. To say AME's not as strong as The Devotion of Suspect X and Salvation of a Saint is akin to pointing out that The Man Who Knew Too Much is not as great a Hitchcock flick as The Birds or Rear Window. AME remains superior to much of what is sold in the crime/detective/thriller category, is an enjoyable and accessible read, and here's why I recommend it:

[given the description on GR and the couple of dozen prior reviews, I'm omitting the obligatory plot summary]

Higashino's victims, widows, culprits, accomplices, striving police detectives, jockeying-for-credit police department reps are all fully human. Flawed. Virtuous. Dignified. Whether motivated by by fear, duty, or love, or intentionally obtuse, the reader relates to them. Even characters whom we meet in a single 3-page scene midway through AME are authentic. The reader knows their only role is in service to unveiling a tiny piece of the mystery of whodunit, yet Higashino includes enough framing conversation and details for readers to see minor characters as individuals, not conduits of intel.

The relationship between Yukawa, our physics professor, and a grade-school boy, Kyohei. The attention Yukawa gives to Kyohei reveals a side of him we haven't seen before. He talks to Kyohei as no one else in Kyohei's life does - as if his opinions and thoughts have import. He teaches him about why science matters, in a way that resonated with this undergrad English major better than many TED talks. The best passages in AME are those Yukawa and Kyohei share. Their final conversation will stick with me for some time, and is Higashino at his best.

The Japanese culture is a lead character (at least for this American reader). The interactions are so peaceful. So generally non-confrontational. The police don't threaten and run roughshod over citizens during the investigation, including a search of the hotel. The citizens don't view the police with suspicion (much).

What didn't work as well? All of the time devoted to the conference and debate over underwater exploration at Hari Cove. Too many detectives on two teams, so it was confusing from time to time who was meeting with whom, and who was in charge of the official investigation. Narumi lacks charisma, charm and isn't interesting. Various men are wowed by her, but it never made sense why. She will not join the pantheon of Higashino's most memorable female characters.

If you need a physical threat to your protagonist to drive your interest in a crime novel, this is not the book for you. If the mental exercise of figuring out what's going on, and what went on 15 years ago, is your payoff for reading detective novels, learning about the Japanese culture is a bonus, and Yukawa's occasional philosophical statements make you want to grab a pillow and cross-stitch them before you forget them, take a couple of days to enjoy A Midsummer's Equation.
Profile Image for آبتین گلکار.
Author 58 books1,687 followers
June 18, 2022
اگر بعد از «فداکاری مظنون ایکس» یا «رستگاری یک قدیسه» بخوانیدش، احتمالاً احساس می‌کنید که نسبت به آنها ضعیف‌تر است. با آن‌که شخصیت کارآگاه همچنان جذاب و تعلیق و هیجان داستان بسیار خوب است، پایانش قدری باورناپذیر بود به نظرم
Profile Image for Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ .
963 reviews836 followers
September 30, 2021
When I read The Devotion of Suspect X & Salvation of a Saint I was reminded of Chess or Shogi



With this title (the third Detective Galileo novel published in English) I am reminded more of a kaleidoscope;



Where there are a lot of repetitive and blurry images that eventually become clear when you get to the resolution of the book - the true centre.

There were a lot of issues that resonated with me as I live in a touristy part of New Zealand (back when we had tourists) and the trade offs that are involved with having tourists, having other businesses operating and really wanting to enjoy a tranquil unspoilt world. And we have had plenty of battles with mining companies too! Some of these issues are repeated maybe too much. Others (like the .)

A Higoshino read seems to always be a read that needs patience. But you will be rewarded.

I'm looking forward to reading Silent Parade next year.



https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
Profile Image for hans.
1,157 reviews152 followers
September 19, 2017
This was the first time I felt really close to Detective Galileo. He was there since the earliest chapter, involving indirectly with the case-- unlike the previous Keigo I read, Yukawa only appeared later in the middle of the investigation when Kusanagi and Utsumi came asking for advise. How I love Yukawa a lot to the level I don't want to finish reading this (and at some point I'm afraid to read further cause too afraid Kawahata might done something to him). His friendship to Kyohei in here so lovable that I myself suddenly love science too.

Surprises and past secrets-- the usual Keigo style. Puzzling mysteries, leaving me hanging and suspense at each chapter-- waiting for Yukawa or Kusanagi to open up to me. It was testing my patience at a point, but I love the thrill Keigo put in here. The twist and disclosure-- I'm actually stunned when Yukawa met Narumi and told her about what Kyohei did. And it was such a great teamwork of both Kusanagi and Utsumi revealing the past secret, seaching here and there just so the case won't ended up wrongly. I like the part when Kusanagi went to meet the Haruhi's owner. The owner hold the memories of half the characters in here, giving me the bigger picture and go "ahah! I never thought it would turn out like that!". You'll never know how love makes you go and do anything and everything. Sentimental, and heartwarming. But of course, you need to 'pay' for it.

You could guess who was the killer in the middle of the chapter, but on how it been revealed-- I was always in love with that part. Dramatic and intriguing. And honestly, this book has the best ending in any Keigo I have read. The meet up between Yukawa and Kyohei at the waiting room was somewhat gratifying.

"Every problem has a solution. But there's no guarantee that the solution will be found immediately. The same holds true in our lives. We encounter several problems to which the solutions are not immediately apparent in life. There is value to be had in worrying about those problems when you get to them. But never feel rushed. Often, in order to find the answer, you need time to grow first. That's why we apply ourselves, and learn as we go."

And I love how Kyohei gave me the second thought on Shigehiro at the end. This book would be in my favorite shelf for sure!
Profile Image for K.J. Charles.
Author 65 books12.1k followers
Read
March 29, 2021
I am glomming this author. Only two left. I have no self control.

This one is probably not his best--it's an intriguing mystery but a bit more discursive than his other work, and the mystery isn't quite as compelling. Equally, and because of, it's got more description than usual with a really strong sense of place. Still very good but not my favourite.
Profile Image for Apoorva.
166 reviews846 followers
November 30, 2018
The story begins with Manabu Yukawa, a physics professor, known as ‘Detective Galileo’ traveling to Hari Cove, a beautiful town with a rich seabed that the company wants to exploit for mining in order to find rare metals but there’s a protest from the locals and environmentalists, arguing that this would harm the oceanic life.

A man’s body is discovered by the ocean; the incident is dismissed as a suicide but on further investigation, it turns out to be carbon monoxide poisoning and the victim is found to be actually a former policeman working in Tokyo department.

This is a traditional whodunit murder mystery. The story revolves around a teenager Kyohei who meets Yukawa on the same train that’s going to Hari Cove, his cousin Narumi, who’s passionate about preserving the ocean and her parents who run a rundown resort and some other characters.

The story is set in this gorgeous town of Hari Cove that used to be a very famous tourist spot but it has been neglected and there isn’t much economic development. I loved reading about the descriptions of the town and its life, which was different than the usual urban setting of his previous books. So, the change of location was a breath of fresh air.

I really enjoyed the story and it kept me hooked till the end, but it doesn’t quite have that feel that his other books had. The role of Manabu Yukawa is kind of pushed in the background while the investigation is carried out by local policemen and police from Tokyo, as the local police show a little incompetency during the investigation.

On the other hand, we get to know about the professor’s eccentric personality and ideas as he’s right there from the start and I loved his interactions with Kyohei which shows a different side of him.

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t get to see him gather the clues and investigate but a considerable amount of his time is spent in teaching the kid some cool science stuff and helping him with his homework! While its’ fun to follow him along but it does not contribute much to the plot. I felt like there were some side characters that were redundant and dropping them would have absolutely no impact on the story.

There are too many people working on the investigation which is never a good thing as you know: too many cooks spoil the broth. They dig further to find the truth which leads the policemen to chase different clues that was a little dull to follow.

The ending wasn’t what I’d call mind-blowing as it was predictable but overall, I enjoyed the book immensely. If you want an unputdownable mystery, then go for it!
Profile Image for سـارا.
294 reviews229 followers
September 25, 2025
این مجموعه رو به نسبت جنایی‌هایی که خوندم و ژانر خودش امتیاز دادم.
Profile Image for Tim.
491 reviews837 followers
July 16, 2018
I have now finished all three books that are available in English of this series and I gave each of them four stars. That is a testament I think of the overall quality of these books as all three are all superb mysteries. Still even all at the same rating there has to be a favorite book in the series (even if only by a marginal point) and with a favorite also comes a least favorite. So where does this one rank?

Honestly, depending on the day this could be my favorite or least favorite in the series. It had some of my favorite moments throughout all these books, while I also found it the most frustrating. To help with this review, it’s time to bring back my old friends, pros and cons.

Pros:

This is the first book where I really feel we get to know Yukawa. He’s the main character of the series in the sense that he always comes up with the solution, but in all the previous books he has been a side character (I think he didn’t even show up for the first 1/3 of Salvation of a Saint). Here he takes center stage for most of the book. While he wasn’t devoid of a personality in the previous books, we get a much more fleshed out version of him in this one.

Kyohei. Kyohei is the type of character who typically annoys the hell out of me. A kid that our professor protagonist befriends, acts as something of an occasional assistant and who of course learns several valuable lessons on his summer vacation. Typically I see this type of character and am instantly annoyed… but here the situation seems believable and rather sweet. This book could practically be used in education classes as an example of how to engage younger people in discussions about science. As I mentioned before, we get to see a lot more of Yukawa’s personality in this one, and it is in part due to his wanting to teach Kyohei basic ideas of physics. Their relationship is well done and comes to a wonderful conclusion.

Plot. I always enjoy the plots to these books, but in this one we get a new spin. In all the previous books we know who did it from the start and had to figure out HOW the crime was committed. This is the first one that operates as a whodunit (though observant readers will catch on fast who it was). There are some excellent twists and turns in this one.

Setting. This is the first in the series to take place outside of Tokyo. The new setting is a nice change of pace as well as it throws a different dynamic to Yukawa’s investigations.

Cons:

Too much about the undersea mining. It is a subplot that goes nowhere. I appreciate that the author remains neutral on the topic and discusses pros and cons on both sides, but seriously, I’m here for a mystery not a political debate.

Too many characters. While I liked that it took place outside of Tokyo, did we really need a list of seemingly every police officer in this small town and plenty of chapters from their point of view (most of which just seem to be showing their bafflement at the crime)?

With these many characters comes several side-plots (most related to the undersea mining). Most of said side-plots go nowhere.

In conclusion: While I only listed three cons, I consider all of them fairly sizable. They would be enough to sink some reads that I’ve had… but not this one. The good far outweighs the bad. I love this series in general, but this one added so many wonderful things that had there been a bit of trimming from the negative aspects, I would have easily listed this as my favorite. As things stand it is still a solid 4/5 stars and highly recommended.
Profile Image for Ahtims.
1,673 reviews124 followers
May 1, 2016
After reading a couple of books by Higshino, I know what to expect, and this book was just upto expectations. If not for the cute kid and his homework issues and the way Yukawa dealt with him, it would have been a 3 star read for me.,
Hari Cove, a Japanese seaside village is the main setting here, where a retired Police Officer dies under mysterious circumstances, and where deep sea digging is about to start and enviornmentalists are protesting against it, and our clever Prof. Yukawa, aka Det. Galileo is called upon by the mining company as an expert in their armamentarium to show that sea digging wont affect the local flora and fauna. He checks in to a quaint inn with friendly hosts.
Yukawa soon diverts his attention to the death, and interesting facts are revealed layer by layer.
I love devouring Japanese books as the culture portrayed is quite exotic and strange to me.
Profile Image for Hirondelle (not getting notifications).
1,321 reviews353 followers
March 13, 2025
This is probably a mini binge, but I could not quite help myself. A new adventure for professor Yukawa, this time with a pre-teen almost sidekick, in sleepy seaside resort town where an environmental protest is ongoing and a mysterious death occurs. And like usual with Higashino, there is this addictive pace to the revelations, and the plot is twisty and surprising.

I liked this a lot, real rating is likely 3.5, but coming just after Salvation of a Saint it suffers in comparison - here the plot is interesting, but somewhat less believable, the open ending to some characters somewhat less satisfying, and maybe there is something a little contrived to the friendship between out "detective Galileo" and Kyohei, when when the book before we are told how much he does not like children.

Some kind of random notes:

- Utsumi is the hardest working fictional police ever. She is wonderful;

- OMG, the food, yes, yes;

- Yukawa does a couple of things I thought morally reprehensible from a western point of view, without much apparent contrition - getting Kyohei to steal those keys when there was a risk what he would find would compromise Kyohei's family and taking Narumi's photograph after she explicitly said no. And that is worked out within the plot as being for the best ;

- a common theme in Higashino's books is how outside, how hard the life of japanese homeless men (I think so far they are only men) are, how impossible things which seem basic are for those who fall through the cracks. I knew that, from other fiction and in abstract non fictionally, but I still got shocked at the lack of access to medical care described here - and I think he was just being matter of fact regarding investigation mechanics. If I am ever in danger of utopia-zing Japanese society, I will be sure to remember this.

Very good all round, even if not quite as wonderful as the first two books (but they were tough acts to follow). And help, I know binges and reading things in a row is bad for optimizing my appreciation of the books, but I am just eyeing the next books and wanting them...
Profile Image for ดินสอ สีไม้.
1,070 reviews178 followers
October 25, 2018
โอย .. จบดีจัง
ชีวิตมนุษย์ มันก็เป็นแบบนี้แหละ
บางที .. คำตอบของบางคำถามในชีวิต
เราก็ต้องใช้เวลาค่อยๆ ครุ่นคิด
และบางครั้ง คำตอบนั้นอาจทำให้เราปวดใจมากๆ
851 reviews158 followers
September 17, 2021
This was a disappointment compared to the other books by Higashino that I read. There were too many redundant plot elements-
1) 'Save Hari Cove' movement. I expected this to be pivotal to the murder mystery, but it was just there. Though, the description of the beach and underwater was mesmerizing.
2) Yukawa's science lessons to Kyohei. While learning the basic principles of science was fun, I don't see how it is relevant to the story.
3) The entire Japanese police force seemed to be working to solve the case of one apparent accidental death of an ex-police man. Is the crime rate so low in Japan, that they can afford this kind of manpower?
4) In the end, there are 3 characters thinking back on an event that had happened long ago. It was the same thing repeated thrice- it could have been presented in a better way.

I didn't like Narumi's character. The author probably wanted her character to be strong, but she came across as passive. Don't know how others in the book found her attractive.
There is no violence and gore in Higashino's books, but I found the psychopathic traits in some of the characters was disturbing. Even the regular characters are ready to commit murder with the slightest provocation.

I hope the other 2 books by Higashino, that in my TBR are better than this one.
Profile Image for Barbara K.
707 reviews198 followers
March 18, 2025
I was somewhat disappointed in this third entry in Keigo Higashino's series featuring "Detective Galileo". That's what they call Manabu Yukawa, a physicist who often helps his friend Detective Kusanagi to determine the "how" of a confusing case by using his scientific insights. The books place their emphasis on character, Japanese culture, and intricate plots, and I always come away from them with an increased understanding of contemporary Japanese life.

This book varies from the standard format in that it is Yukawa himself who is initially intrigued by a death in a resort village that has fallen on hard times now that everyone in Japan wants to vacation in Okinawa or Disneyland. A proposal to develop offshore resources has the town divided between those who see it as a godsend and those who are convinced it will destroy the beauty of the ocean, not to mention the local fishing economy. Yukawa is on site to provide expert testimony at an informational hearing on the proposal.

A guest at a local hotel is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, and although the local police are happy to write this off as an accident, Yukawa has his doubts. When it turns out that the dead guy is a retired Tokyo police detective named Tsukahara, his former boss demands a more thorough investigation and a task force is established.

It's at this point that the story began to lose me, because the addition of all those police from different districts added to an already crowded list of characters. There is the mother, father and adult daughter who run the hotel where Tsukahara, as well as Yukawa, was staying. On the train from Tokyo Yukawa had befriended a kid, Kyohei, who was being sent to visit his aunt and uncle, the innkeepers. On a whim Yukawa changes his reservation to their hotel. The daughter is involved with the local environmental group, and these activities add a few more characters, including representatives of the mining company with the proposal.

Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, Kusanagi and his protege Utsumi are pursuing multiple leads. To satisfy their boss (the one who wanted the deeper investigation) they are attempting to track down a man who Tsukahara had arrested for murder many years before. At the same time, at Yukara's request they are looking into the backgrounds of the family running the hotel. Both of these investigations introduce more new characters, and eventually my head was spinning.

It could be that I was confused because I listened rather than read, and with so many characters it was inevitable that there would be similarities in the sounds of the names I was trying to keep straight (my Japanese language skills being non-existent).

Even with that in mind, the plot seemed unnecessarily complex. The "who" was pretty obvious from the beginning (not unusual for this series), and we could rest assured that Yukawa had sorted out the "how" equally early. So the main question was the "why", which is where Kusanagi's efforts came in. But along the way Yukawa takes time to tutor Kyohei in math and science, and to engage in ecological discussions with the environmentalist daughter. Few of these activities had any bearing on the actual plot, so why include them when there was so much else going on?

The conclusion wrapped up all the loose ends, but with Yukawa in the role of judge and jury. His decision was understandable, but not necessarily comfortable.
Profile Image for Maru.
529 reviews77 followers
January 13, 2019
À thì tác giả ruột, nên vẫn chăm chỉ chi hầu bao. Rồi lại còn hẹn thằng em phải review cho nó, nên dù vẫn hơi hướng lười biếng từ năm cũ còn quẩn quanh thì tôi vẫn phải ngoi lên thế này đây.
Trong Phương trình Hạ chí, Yukawa đã trở lại. Nói thật thì tôi vẫn căm anh này từ hồi Phía sau nghi can X lắm, vì lẽ phải của anh mà tâm huyết của Ishigami đổ sông đổ bể. Nhưng thôi, cứ phải gác lại đã, vì series có anh còn dài, tức là tôi còn phải gặp anh nhiều.

Thừa nhận là khó có tác phẩm nào của Higashino Keigo có thể vượt qua được X, nhưng câu chuyện này quá dễ đoán. Chủ đề gia đình có yếu tố gây nhiễu là bảo vệ môi trường, không phải là chủ đề lạ, càng không phải chủ đề khó làm người ta thổn thức. Nhưng tác phẩm này không chỉ dễ đoán, mà còn có phần chưa rõ ràng. Senba là một phần quan trọng, rất quan trọng, câu chuyện của Senba cũng hay, cũng thú vị, nhưng câu chuyện chính thì bị bỏ quên, không có cái gì để chứng minh cho động cơ ngoài mấy chi tiết vô thưởng vô phạt.

Điểm tôi thích nhất ở Keigo là tâm lý nhân vật. Nhưng trong tác phẩm này tôi không thấy có nhân vật nào đáng để tôi suy tư. Chính ra cuộc chiến trong anh chàng Yukawa tôi còn thấy ly kỳ chông chênh hơn tuyến chính, vì cậu chàng cân nhắc về Kyohei mãi mới nói được.

Quanh đi quẩn lại, là fan thì vẫn mua được. Trinh thám cũng ổn. Duy mấy đứa như tôi, chờ đợi một câu hỏi hay, một chủ đề sâu sắc, thì nên chuẩn bị trước.
Được cái truyện này nhẹ nhàng. Cần chút gì đó yên bình tĩnh tại thì ổn.
Profile Image for Thanawat.
439 reviews
August 5, 2019
ซับซ้อนซ่อนเงื่อน ลากความตายและความสัมพันธ์ในอดีตอันซับซ้อนมาเกี่ยวข้องกันแบบจัดเต็ม

เปิดเรื่องด้วยความตายของ ‘ชายวัยเกษียณ’ ที่ดูเหมือนจะเกิดอุบัติเหตุพลัดตกจากที่สูงลงไปศีรษะกระแทกเสียชีวิตที่ริมหาด
ชายสูงวัยคนนั้นเป็นอดีตนายตำรวจใหญ่มือทอง แผนกสืบสวนคดีอาชญากรรม ที่มาร่วมงานสมนาเชิงวิชาการเกี่ยวกับผลกระทบที่จะมีต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมจากการค้นหาทรัพยากรทางทะเล

ดูเผินๆ เหมือนจะเป็นอุบัติเหตุ
แต่ทันทีที่ผลชันสูตรออก ความน่าระทึกมันก็บังเกิด
เพราะจากอุบัติเหตุกลายเป็นคดีฆาตกรรมไปเสียนี่
การสืบสวนแบบคู่ขนานของตำรวจกับ ‘อาจารย์กาลิเลโอ’ จึงเกิดขึ้น

เรื่องมันมาวุ่นเพราะคดีนี้ดันไปเกี่ยวของกับคดีฆาตกรรมในอดีตที่เกิดขึ้นในเมืองหลวง
ที่ตัวละครสำคัญๆ หลายตัวเคยมีอดีตร่วมเคยพัวพันกันนี่แหละ
เพราะการเดินทางมาที่โรงแรมแห่งนี้ของ ‘ชายวัยเกษียณ’ เป็นการมาที่มีจุดมุ่งหมายเพื่อปกป้องอะไรบางอย่าง
การตายของเขา จึงเกิดจากการฆาตกรรมที่มีจุดมุ่งหมายเพื่อปกป้องอะไรบางอย่างเช่นกัน

เนื้อเรื่องดำเนินตามตามสไตล์ Keigo
ตัวละครมีอดีตที่ไม่อยากให้ใครล่วงรู้
แรงจูงใจของการฆ่าในครั้งนี้ช่างละเอียดอ่อน
ส่วนวิธีการนี่ยิ่งแล้วใหญ่ เพราะมันใช้หลักการที่ simple มาก แต่กลับไม่มีทางเป็นไปได้เลยถ้าขาดเงื่อนไขสำคัญ

ตัวละครสำคัญที่ช่วยให้หนังสือเล่มนี้มันมีชีวิตชีวา มีสีสัน คือเด็กชายชั้นประถมนิสัยขวางโลกจอมแก่น ที่เป็นหลานเจ้าของโรงแรม ที่มาพักช่วงปิดเทอมกลางฤดูร้อนที่โรงแรมแห่งนี้
เด็กคนนี้ช่วยให้คนอ่านที่เคยติดตามหนังสือซีรี่ย์ 'กาลิเลโอ’ ของ Keigo ได้เห็น ‘ยุกาว่า’ ในอีกมุมหนึ่ง
เรียกได้ว่าทั้งสร้างสีสัน สร้างดราม่า และ มีส่วนสำคัญในการกำความลับในการไขคดีนี้

เนื้อเรื่องดำเนินมาด้วยความเร็วคงที่จนถึงประมาณครึ่งเล่ม
แทบจะคาดเดาไม่ได้เลยว่าใครเป็นคนฆ่า เพราะ Keigo พรางตัวฆาตกรไว้เนียนดีแท้
และพอรู้ว่าใครฆ่า ยิ่งงงในแรงจูงใจเข้าไปอีก
จนกระทั่ง Keigo มาเหยียบคันเร่งท้ายเล่ม ส่งผู้อ่านไปถึงตอนจบของเรื่อง พร้อมเฉลยทุกอย่างครบถ้วนแบบไม่ค้างคาใจ
Profile Image for Girish.
1,155 reviews260 followers
November 19, 2017
The 3rd book featuring Detective Galileo and Kusanagi is a pretty average fare. For one - the crime is neither compelling by motive nor ingenious in execution. And we have too many lucky breaks and backstories to distract from the mystery.

Professor Yukawa is in Hari Cove as an expert at a DESMAC hearing where the locals are voicing their concern for the cove in the face of proposed underwater drilling. He stays at a local inn run by a family with secrets and a visiting school boy who strikes a friendship with the professor. When one of the other guests disappears and is found at the bottom of the cliff the local police conclude it an accident. Till they discover the guest was an ex-policeman from Tokyo and they suspect foul play.

Without the interaction between the professor and the kid,the book seems just a very ordinary mystery with a lot of coincidences. Also, with the interaction, it is just a lot of science stuff. And that seems out of place largely. The investigation that leads to the back story is mostly boring. The act of the victims before their murder seems unnatural and too 'fictional'.

There was no wow factor which you have come to expect from Higashino books. Maybe unfair, but did not enjoy it as much as the earlier books.
Profile Image for i..
332 reviews37 followers
January 5, 2021
This is so far my favourite book by Keigo Higashino. Perhaps because of the location, a coastal town with wonderful views, or because of the characters a curious preteen and his family. The role Detective Galileo played seemed to be more compassionate than in other books as well.
The mystery in this novel is slowly unravelled and the reader will find it as intriguing and complex as in Higashino's previous novels.
It is all in all a very nice summer read.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Afi  (WhatAfiReads).
606 reviews428 followers
March 10, 2022
Keigo has a way of making your heart sway. His stories always hits something. And with all his books, when the title and the cover made sense? Gosh please, I get deeper into loving his works and especially his characters.

"Every problem has a solution. But there's no guarantee that the solution will be found immediately. The same holds true in our lives.

We encounter several problems to which the solutions are not immediately apparent in life. There is value to be had in worrying about those problems when you get to them. But never feel rushed. Often, in order to find the answer, you need time to grow first.

That's why we apply ourselves, and learn as we go."


Personal Ratings: 4.5🌟

Unlike both his previous works that I loved The Devotion of Suspect X and Salvation of a Saint, this one fell a bit short, but it was not any less good. It was not quite there but I still loved it anyways.

The overall vibe for this one was mellow and very atmospheric. Keigo took us to a place in Japan that I honestly felt like going now. It showed how he has a knack of writing places and characters and felt as you know all their lives. With this one, he didn't give us the clue of the murderer as early as his two works I've read but with Keigo, its suffice to say, everything matters in the book. What you felt like is just a filler scene, is actually not, which makes his works so very interesting.

I would say this still stays a 4.5 read for me because of Yukawa and solely for this man. The fact that its the closest and earliest he had been in a novel makes me feel so happy and reading about him, his interactions and his way of thinking is never boring. I loved his scenes and the fact we get him from the very first page and basically him carrying the weight of this book? I love it with my whole heart. Yukawa is frustrating and eccentric at best, but I loved his interactions with Kyohei and his teachings to him. Its just the cutest thing ever.

The case in here was not only sad but its one that can eat up on someone's conscience. It was a case that shows that sometimes, secrets are too big and that protecting someone is more important than not. Such a simple case but with detailed and complex understanding of the way the world works.

Keigo has sealed a place in my heart. His works and writings are just one that made me think about it from time to time. I love it! Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Ashish.
281 reviews49 followers
September 3, 2017
I do not get the hype behind Higashino's books. They are by all account good books, well written, and provide an interesting look into the contemporary Japanese culture as it is very well-weaved with the tradition whodunnit. However, I do not find anything path-breaking or spell-binding in them. I would rather read a Murakami book which does a better job at it.

The book is a pretty fast read, it does hold your attention a fair bit but could have been edited better to chop off a good 50-70 pages of it. It would have made it even more tight. For me, the resolution and conclusion of the book does not seem redeeming enough for reading a 500-odd page book. I had similar complains with "The devotion of suspect X" too. I might just read the third book of the trilogy, but only so that I get closure. I have kind of a weird OCD thing about that.

Higoshino has been called as "The Steig Larsson of Japan". I, for one, disagree with this moniker. Larsson's book are much more dark, gritty and hard hitting, and the books by Higoshino seem to be pretty much tame and does not have the oomph. The only resemblance is that they are both murder mysteries and are both translated from a foreign language into English to be available for a wider audience.
Profile Image for Emmy Hermina Nathasia.
530 reviews
January 8, 2018
I give this a 3.5. With a crime scene by the beach in a small town, this sent a different vibe than Higashino's previous books. It doesn't make it less interesting or slow, as people like to associate country's life to city life, rather it just gives this book a different vibe than the one one usually associate with Higashino. In the book, Higashino finally focused on Yukawa's role in 'investigating' a crime, rather than the opposite in previous books; where he assisted in solving crimes lead by fellow policemen. An interesting twist still, but not as surprising as his previous books.
Profile Image for Sharika.
358 reviews95 followers
May 8, 2021
বেশি এক্সপেকটেশন থাকা কোনো বই পড়ে যদি একদমই মনমতো না হয়, কেন যেন আর বিস্তারিত রিভিউ লিখতে মন চায় না😅 কিগো হিগাশিনোর দুইটা সেরা সেরা লিখা "Devotion Of Suspect X" আর "Salvation Of A Saint" পড়ে ফেলছি লাস্ট ইয়ারের শুরুতে। জানি না বেশি ভালো লেখা আগে পড়া থাকায় কি না, এটায় একদমই এক্সপেকটেশন পূরণ হয় নাই।

তার আগের লেখা পড়ে মনে হয়েছে একটু স্লো বিল্ড-আপ তার লেখার স্টাইল। সেটা নিয়ে আমার কোনো সমস্যা নেই, কারণ ধীরগতির বইও ধৈর্য নিয়ে পড়ার সাফল্যটা নির্ভর করে শেষ পর্যন্ত গিয়ে পুরো বই পড়বার অনুভূতি কেমন হলো তার উপর। আর এই জায়গাতেই সমস্যাটা হয়েছে। অনায়াসে দৈর্ঘ্য আরো পঞ্চাশ পাতা (হয়তো আরও) কম হতে পারতো বলে মনে হয়েছে। এমন অনেকগুলো জায়গা ছিলো যার কাহিনীর সাথে সংযোগ খুঁজে পাই নি কিংবা এতো বিস্তারিত লেখার অর্থ খুঁজে পাই নি। এবং এতোখানি এতো ধৈর্য নিয়ে পড়বার পর এই ধরণের সমাপ্তিটা অত্যন্ত অসন্তোষজনক ছিল। জানি না আর কি লিখবো🤦‍♀️

মাঝে মাঝে মনে হচ্ছে এই বছর কুফা লাগছে। গতো বছর ৮০% বই পড়ে এতো ভালো লাগছিলো। আর এবারে পাঁচ তারা বই হাতে গোণা ৫-৬ টা হবে, এখন পর্যন্ত পড়া ৩৬ টা বইয়ের মধ্যে।

বই শেষ করে এতো হতাশ লাগতেছে, এখন আর কিছুই পড়তে ইচ্ছা করতেছে না, মনে হচ্ছে যা পড়বো তাতেই হতাশ লাগবে।
Profile Image for Teck Wu.
329 reviews67 followers
September 29, 2021
I like it when all the pieces come neatly together. And the twist. Wowzers! But I guess I understood why the stars are not above 4: he revealed too much right before the finale. The bass dropped too soon.
Profile Image for Hạt Tiêu.
49 reviews85 followers
July 8, 2022
Có đoạn tim mình như thắt lại, có đoạn lại được mỉm
cười như được “thắp đèn trong tim”. Mọi thứ cảm giác rất vừa đủ (trinh thám, khoa học, tình yêu, tình thương, tội lỗi, đam mê và ám ảnh).
Profile Image for Shifad.
439 reviews31 followers
January 3, 2018
Reading Higashino thrillers have always been a ride and this book was a ride though less spine chilling.
The mastery of intricacies of the plot and the execution of murders are always the highlights of Higashino thrillers. To add spice to these factors, there are always ulterior motives.
This book have all these, however I found it bit lacking compared to his previous works. Salvation of saint was his best work and compared to that this book is lacking at many places. So if you guys are expecting another Salvation of a saint simile, just rein your hopes.
Saying that, this book is a decent thriller. The plot is executed well. The characters somehow manages to become endearing to us, which is a new thing from Higashino books !
This book has got a philosophical edge as it explores the contrite emotions of the human mind. At places it is also fun, on account of a child character in the book. This book also focuses on the topic of environmental degradation in the name of scientific advancement and I was betting my money on this line of thought to be the moot point of the story. However, this was not so. It is always personal. The plot is pretty straight forward and you will mostly figure it out towards the half of the story. The feeling of notoriety is dampened by the emotions of characters.
My rating for this book will be 3/5. It is a light read. So, if you are looking for a light mystery, I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Kumala Dee.
157 reviews13 followers
February 6, 2024
Meskipun buku ini memiliki 400an lebih halaman dengan berbagai detail, tapi sangat nyaman membacanya. Sepertinya dari semua seri Detektif Galileo buku ini juga yang paling heartwarming. Mungkin karena dalam buku ini, cerita yang ditonjolkan adalah tentang kisah sebuah keluarga.

Dalam buku ini pula si bapak Yukawa yang biasanya terkesan songong ini kesannya jadi lebih kalem dan mengayomi. Mungkin karena dia terkait dengan Kyohei yang masih anak sekolah dan Narumi yang agaknya punya sedikit ketertarikan sama sang fisikawan. Soalnya baru nemu di buku ini ada karakter yang dengan jelas mengungkapkan ketampanan Yukawa wkwkwk. Ya saya sebagai penggemar puas sih.

Dua detektif favoritku juga masih punya banyak porsi dan mereka tidak terlalu berantem itu bikin seneng aja sih.

Untuk kasusnya sendiri, walaupun sudah curiga dengan pelakunya, tapi aku nggak menyangka bahwa motifnya seperti itu. Dan benar-benar menyayangkan bagaimana pembunuhan itu dilakukan 🤧 walaupun banyak tak setuju dengan endingnya karena menurutku ya hukum harus ditegakkan tapi aku bisa mengerti kenapa orang-orang dewasa memutuskan untuk melakukan hal itu. Lagian kenapa dilakukan sih, padahal kalau mau komunikasi dan jujur hal-hal mengerikan nggak perlu terjadi. Hiks 🥲
Profile Image for Thị Lệ Gạo Đen.
197 reviews744 followers
August 25, 2021
3,75/5
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300 trang đầu đọc hết gần tuần, còn dính reading slump. 200 trang cuối đọc trong 1 buổi tối luôn.
Mình update review sau nhaaaa
Đi ngủ hoi gần 2h sáng rùi :((
Cơ mà sách bác Kei đọc xong cuốn nào cũng phải ngẩn người ra nhỉ. Huhu
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PHƯƠNG TRÌNH HẠ CHÍ – HIGASHINO KEIGO
300 trang đầu lê lết gần tuần, 200 trang cuối đọc xong trong một buổi tối, chính là Phương trình hạ chí.
Thực sự phải khen hai thứ của cuốn sách này: cái tên và cái bìa. Bìa kiểu thanh thoát đơn giản mà xinh xắn, mình rất thích kiểu bìa này. Còn cái tên: Phương trình hạ chí, mình thấy nó hay thiệt sự mặc dù đọc xong mình cũng không hẳn là hiểu cái tên ấy. Hạ chí, theo google thì là ngày nóng nhất của năm thì phải.
Cuốn sách này kể về câu chuyện của Narumi, cô gái trẻ vùng biển nguyện dành cả thanh xuân để bảo về vùng biển hẻo lánh quê hương mình khỏi sự khai thác của Desmec, một công ty khai thác tài nguyên biển. Bố mẹ cô là chủ nhà trọ Lục Nham Trang ở vùng này, nhưng làm ăn cũng không phát đạt lắm do sự flop của khu du lịch ở đây. Ngày nọ, nhà trọ Lục Nham Trang đón 2 vị khách, đều đến để tham dự hội thảo về khai thác tài nguyên biển của Desmec, nhưng sau một buổi hội thảo thì người ta phát hiện xác của một trong hai vị khách này tại 1 vách đá. Tại sao một người lạ đến thị trấn lại chết ở đây? Là tự sát hay bị giết? Phải làm sao mọi thứ mới sáng tỏ? Mọi người thử giải “Phương trình hạ chí” này xem thế nào nhé.
Quay lại với cái tên cuốn sách: Phương trình hạ chí. Để giải được một phương trình, cần phải biết tường tận tất cả các biến số. Các biến số của phương trình hạ chí phải rất vất vả mới có thể tìm ra, có thể đưa được ra ánh sáng. Anh cảnh sát hay quạo Kusanagi và nhà vật lý Yukawa (crush mới của mình…) đã không làm cho mình thất vọng. Ngày hạ chí – ngày mà tất cả mọi thứ được sáng tỏ cũng thật khiến người ta buồn phiền.
Cá nhân mình đọc cuốn này theo hai giai đoạn. Giai đoạn một gồm 300 trang đầu: lê lết, chán nản; mọi thứ đi quá chậm đến nỗi mình đã nghĩ tới việc DNF nó, mình đọc 300 trang này rất rất lâu. Nhưng đến giai đoạn hai là 200 trang tiếp theo thì mình chỉ mất một buổi tối để đọc, mọi thứ tiến triển nhanh hơn, cuốn hút hơn. Nên nếu bạn đọc phần đầu thấy nản thì cố gắng lên, biết đâu đoạn sau lại làm hài lòng bạn đó.
Sách của bác Kei thì luôn khiến người đọc ngẩn người ngẫm nghĩ một hồi lâu. Cuốn này cũng vậy, mình thẫn thờ ngay sau khi đọc xong nó, một lần nữa câu hỏi khi mình đọc xong Phía sau nghi can X lại hiện ra: Vì tình yêu, người ta có thể làm được những gì? Nhưng tình yêu trong cuốn này lại theo một hướng hoàn toàn khác so với bên X.
Ủa sao mình không thể viết gì về quyển này nữa thế, thôi kiểu gì mình cũng làm video nói về nó nên mình dừng review ở đây nha
Rate: 3,75/5, thiệt tình là hỗn độn quá. Vừa thích mà lại vừa lấn cấn không thể cho lên 4/5 được huhu…
Profile Image for Bella Azam.
645 reviews101 followers
August 18, 2022
Yknow i reviewed this last monday and the network error wiped my almost 500 words of review. Damn you goodreads now i have to form another review ☠️☠️. Edit 25/7/22: Im still salty the review got deleted when i already wrote so many 😩😩

Keigo Higashino never disappoint. And this book is the proof for that. I love this book, I love the scientific experiments and the physics, the vivid imagery of Hari Cove, the theories, the mystery (the past and present entwined), the love that wasnt meant to be, the way the book was carried strongly by Manabu Yukawa. I was fully immersed in the story from start to finish.

The average pacing sets the book in this sort of laidback tone, quite chill in my opinion as it was set in a seaside town. I always like book that sets in island, countryside, places far from civilization. Thats what makes me like this book even more. Its a sweltering summer break with the high tension between the villagers and the company who wants to scavenge the seabed in Hari Cove.

Unexpectedly, an old retired policeman was found dead on the beach in what initially thought was an accident turned out to be a murder have completely changed the whole situation. The twisted mysteries, the plot reveals, the backstories of the people involved, the tragic past, they were mindblowing and sad.

our beloved Detective Galileo was present, actively investigating the case that happened at the island related to the inn he was staying in. I love this a lot since I got to see him in action, his friendship/mentor to Kyohei the young boy whom is the nephew of the couple who run the guest inn. Their bond, the conversations and the respect they have for each other.

The ending left me sad, its a difficult ending to digest but I understand why they were left that way. I think its enough to not delve more into the trauma and the heartbreaks left by the past and let the present be. It makes sense for it that way so everyone can move forward with their life.
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