A one of its kind plot and book from the Japanese author

THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X is a distinctive book—a murder mystery, and not quite. It begins faithfully enough; with a murder and an investigation (as they should). But The Devotion of Suspect X conveniently leaves that format behind within five pages leaving a reader wondering, “What then?” Inspired by the ‘puzzle genre’ of detective fiction, right from the start the book is less about ‘what’ and more about the ‘how’. For those uninitiated into the world of the puzzle genre, it is an integral part of detective fiction, first introduced in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1847). The premise of this genre is simple enough; a body is discovered in a closed room minus apparent exits. Thereby leading to the main puzzle; how did the murderer get in and out? The other characteristic of this genre—a reader is introduced to the actors as they enter a stage. In the case of this particular book, readers meet the protagonists while they are still backstage; rehearsing their alibis, putting on costumes and getting into the skin of their characters. This style too Personis a departure from the usual staple of Poirots and Dalglieshes. The story revolves around Yasuko Hanaoka, a divorced, single mother trying to create a better life for her school-going daughter, Misato, after escaping the clutches of an abusive former husband Togashi. Her seemingly calm world shatters when one day Togashi shows up at her work place to follow her home and tries to extort money. An altercation ensues that leaves Togashi dead on Hanaoka’s apartment floor. That is when Yasuko’s neighbour, Ishigami—a middle-aged, high school mathematics teacher and a genius—offers his help. Ishigami, a borderline sociopath, is infatuated with Hanaoka. Thus, the good professor not only disposes off the body but plots an elaborate web to cover up the murder, complete with an iron-clad alibi. When Togashi’s body allegedly washes up and is identified, Detective Kusanagi is brought into the case. He suspects Yasuko almost immediately. However, Kusanagi is unable to find any holes in Yasuko’s alibi. As his doubts trouble him, he goes to an old friend and classmate, Dr Manabu Yukawa, who is also a former college mate of Ishigami. Following leads Yukawa meets Ishigami and is convinced that his old friend had a hand in the murder. A battle of wits begins as the two geniuses try to outsmart each other. While one adds layers to web of deceit, the other tries to peel each layer off. Can Ishigami, and thereby Hanaoka, get away with murder—therein lies the mystery. The book is a homage to good-old sleuthing style based on mathematical deduction, logic, and often, chess! Its regular, day-to-day, honest- to-god prose is often a tad too matter-of-fact. As a reader one is not (almost) allowed to attach emotionally to any one of the characters— apart from the master-plotter, Ishigami, who frankly, stands out. The high school mathematics teacher is the most well-drawn-out character and is treated affectionately by the author. His quiet and deep obsession with his neighbour is outlined with a uncharacteristic tenderness. The ruthlessly pragmatic yet romantic sociopath, Ishigami will, in all probabilities, remain in the collective memory of the readers. Personally, it was the dry prose of the book which was a welcome change. With increasing number of thriller-crime novellas putting too much of an emphasis on building ‘drama’ and eventually climaxing into something absurd, the end of this particular book came as a surprise—simply because it is so commonplace and thereby, probable. Though the beginning may leave a reader wondering about the great reviews that the book has received thus far, if one can sustain interest despite the slow start, his or her devotion, too, will be rewarded at the end. The Devotion of Suspect X is the second Higashino book to be translated into English. Allegedly, there are several more translations in the pipeline. For those who are fond of their detective fiction, this must be on their reading list, simply because it is so very different.