Title: Salvation of a Saint
Author: Keigo Higashino
First published October 1, 2008
330 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780312600686 (ISBN10: 0312600682)
Rating: 3.99
Overview
Keigo Higashino, the bestselling writer from Japan, returns with another mind-boggling case for Detective Galileo. In his latest book, Salvation of a Saint, Manabu Yukawa is faced with an impossible murder case.
Yoshitaka, a man on the verge of leaving his wife, is poisoned by arsenic-laced coffee and dies. His wife, Ayane, is the prime suspect, but she was miles away when the crime occurred.
The lead detective, Tokyo Police Detective Kusanagi, is smitten with Ayane and refuses to believe she could be guilty. However, his assistant, Kaoru Utsumi, is convinced of her guilt.
As the facts of the case clash with Utsumi’s instincts, she turns to Professor Yukawa for help. But even the brilliant detective is stumped by this case.
Will he be able to solve the impossible murder and catch the real killer? Filled with twists and turns, Salvation of a Saint is a beautifully plotted crime novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
About the Author
Keigo Higashino is a renowned Japanese fiction author whose popularity rivals that of James Patterson, Dean Koontz, and Tom Clancy in the USA. He was born in Osaka and started writing novels while still working as an engineer at Nippon Denso Co. (now DENSO).
At the age of 27, he won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, which is awarded annually to the finest mystery work, for his novel “After School,” after which he quit his job and started a writing career in Tokyo.
In 1999, Higashino won the Mystery Writers of Japan Inc award for his novel “The Secret,” which was later translated into English and published by Vertical under the title “Naoko” in 2004. His novel “The Devotion of Suspect X” won the 134th Naoki Prize in 2006 after being nominated five times.
“The Devotion of Suspect X” sold over 800,000 copies and was the second-highest selling book in Japan, regardless of genre, in the year it was published. It won the prestigious Naoki Prize for Best Novel, which is considered the Japanese equivalent of the National Book Award and the Man Booker Prize.
The novel was later adapted into a film that spent four weeks at the top of the box office and was the third highest-grossing film of the year in Japan.
Higashino’s novels have been adapted into more movie and TV series than Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum and are on par with Michael Crichton’s adaptations.
Editoral Review
Salvation of a Saint, written by Keigo Higashino, is a beautifully crafted, intricately woven mystery novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. Higashino is a prolific author of crime fiction in Japan, and has won numerous awards for his works.
Originally published in Japan in 2008, Salvation of a Saint was later translated into English by Alexander O. Smith and released in the United States in 2012.
The novel is set in modern-day Tokyo, and centers around a murder investigation. Yoshitaka Mashiba, a successful businessman, is found dead in his home one morning, and all evidence points to his wife, Ayane.
However, Ayane has a perfect alibi – she was out of town visiting her parents at the time of the murder. Detective Kusanagi and his assistant, Utsumi, are left to solve the case, and the deeper they delve into the investigation, the more complex it becomes.
Higashino’s writing is precise and elegant, and he has a knack for building tension throughout the story. The plot is well-structured and intricately woven, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
The characters are fleshed out and believable, each with their own flaws and motivations. Higashino masterfully weaves together different threads of the story, providing just enough clues to keep the reader guessing, but not enough to give away the ending.
One of the strengths of Salvation of a Saint is the attention to detail. Higashino explores Japanese society and culture in great depth, from the dynamics of relationships to the intricacies of business dealings.
The novel also deals with the theme of gender roles, with Ayane’s character challenging traditional Japanese gender norms. Higashino presents a nuanced view of Japanese society, never falling into stereotypes or oversimplifications.
If there is one weakness to the novel, it is the pacing. At times, the investigation moves forward too slowly, dragging on a bit too long for the reader’s patience.
However, this is a minor quibble, and is more than made up for by the excellent writing and intriguing plot. Overall, Salvation of a Saint is a must-read for fans of crime fiction.
Higashino’s deft touch and attention to detail set this novel apart from others in the genre. The novel will especially appeal to readers interested in Japanese culture and society.
I give Salvation of a Saint a solid four out of five stars.
