SALVATION OF A SAINT

Got it in good condition. Nice book , worth it

This lockdown is not doing anything good for my mood. With a toddler who likes to go out, it's a bigger mood dampener than not being able to even visit my parents. But like always, books come to my rescue. Never the one to underestimate the power of a good book, I bought my next read, Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino before I went into an abyss and read it in under 24 hours, my best since I had my daughter. Reading this book was a satisfying experience, one which brought me back from the edge and will keep me on track for the next week at least, or however many days before I let the reader in me get the better of me. With a cup of coffee by his side, businessman Yoshitaka Mashiba is found dead at his residence by his wife Ayane Mita's apprentice Hiromi Wakayama. Detective Kusanagi with his team reaches the crime scene and finds that the wife had left to visit her parents the day before and Hiromi happened to come to check on Yoshitaka because he didn’t answer his phone. What he gathers from her is that she unlocked the gate from outside since Ayane left her a key before leaving, just in case some work arises. Ayane reaches the next day and immediately asks to see the place where her husband was found dead but doesn’t stay in the house. She reveals that she left because Yoshitaka wanted a divorce and she wanted some time away from him to process their decision. Meanwhile, the forensics find that it was a poison that killed the businessman. With Kusanagi suspecting Hiromi and Utsumi, his junior suspecting Ayane, the investigating team takes different routes to find clues. A seemingly tricky case becomes even more complex as the criminal remains elusive despite only one major suspect. It is then that Utsumi decides to take help from university physics professor Manabu Yuwaka, a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, or Detective Galileo, as he is famously known amongst the circles. The more the investigators delve into the crime, the more they find dead ends. From Yoshitaka’s life plan to his past, Ayane’s calm exterior to her easy acceptance of her broken marriage, and Hiromi’s over-concern for the Mashibas, everything is put under scrutiny to find any lead that might help them nail the murderer. Ever since I began reading books, I have always read at a breakneck speed. All through the day after school and deep into the night under the moonlight (because my mother was extremely strict about my reading timings) I was always eager to read at the earliest and then crib about not having anything to read next. Those were the days when books were a luxury, they still are, and owning them was all I would want. Also, reading. Although I wasn't able to buy as many books as I'd have wanted back then, it never stopped me from reading whatever I could lay my hands on, including my mother's Hindi magazines. Things have changed now, my daughter has become my mother, and she doesn't let me read as much as I want. LOL. So whenever I get some time off her, I read with the speed of a Formula 1 driver driving towards the finish line. But why am I telling you all this? Because here, with this particular book, I decided to start taking things slow, as slow as I could, making both myself and my toddler happy. By slow I mean reading each and every word and taking in everything and not skipping the "He Said/She said" and tedious environmental descriptions and stuff like that. And I was surprised to find that this slow reading was a blessing in disguise. For starters, the book lasted a little more than 24 hours (HaHa) including night time when I had to keep aside the kindle reluctantly. I was a satisfied reader when I finally read the last line because I was, for the first time in many years, able to read without rushing. Having said all this, I also admit that I found the book slow in itself. Its tediously defined plot, transpiring the aspects of the death of the character and the subsequent revelation of truth kept the pace slow, the complete story wrapping up in under 10 days assuming there was no specific timeline. While the plot was thick with investigations, the truth, however, was kept mostly under wraps until 80% of the book was done with, but one might be able to guess some aspects. The main mystery of how the murder had happened kept me on tenterhooks. The detectives kept trying all possible methods to zero in on The One and everything had been meticulously described. Nothing was left to the imagination and I liked that because, in the case of howdunit, it is essential to eliminate all other possibilities before revealing the answer. The characters were limited, barring a few, mostly all had important parts to play. Though I didn't find them as deep as I'd have wanted, especially the ones which were of great importance. No reliable back story, no strong character built up. Compared to the kind of details the author gave in terms of the mystery, it's sad to see the characters not meeting the mark but also relieved that it would probably have been all messed up had the characters had their own subplots. The author brews a sedated coffee here, to be enjoyed sip by sip before reaching the point of no return. Subtle humor, cultural explanations, and even a hint of romance are what this novel brings along under the stress of the big reveal. With nothing gory about this murder mystery, people favoring high-speed drama might have to be more perseverant to reach the end. Have you read this book? I would love to know your views, do share in the comments below.

Reading this book was like the unravelling of an exquisite experience. The plot is complex, the characters unusual, a blend of psychological and philosophical elements that provide layers to the story. For lovers of murder mysteries and whodunits, this is the perfect read. Highly recommended.

Very well written and with so many twists and turns. Makes the book unputdownable. Keigo Higashino has written an exceptionally good thriller novel. Beautiful.

What sets this novel apart is its shift from a traditional “whodunit” to a “howdunit.” The author keeps readers hooked not by hiding the identity of the murderer, but by challenging them to figure out how the murder was committed under seemingly impossible circumstances. The narrative is intelligent, subtle, and laced with psychological tension. As Yukawa unravels the puzzle, readers are treated to an intricately plotted tale where every clue matters and no detail is wasted. However, some may find the romantic subplot involving Kusanagi can feel underdeveloped. While the logical solution to the crime is brilliant, the emotional conclusion may feel less satisfying for those seeking a more traditional, character-driven finale. Despite these minor critiques, the novel’s precision and thought-provoking premise make it a standout in the genre. Fans of slow-burn mysteries and clever plots will find this book both satisfying and haunting. Rating:- 4/5

“Salvation of a Saint” is a mystery that unfortunately didn’t live up to its potential. While the plot is intriguing, it felt unnecessarily stretched out, making it seem like a significant time investment for the payoff. The writing style is decent, but the book lacks depth in key areas. The descriptions of the scenes and Japanese culture are minimal, which could have added richness to the story, and the character sketching is quite shallow. Overall, it’s not a terrible book, but it definitely could have been more concise and impactful.

This is one of the best engrossing, intriguing and thriller mysteries I ever came across. You get a little hint as who would be the killer, yet I was expecting someone else to be the culprit and the journey till the end was just fabulous. I couldn't ask for more. The things I certainly admired are the theories Yukawa had had to present, logical n deep thinking behind, friendly tussle and sporty banter between Utsumi and Kusanagi, woman intuition of Utsumi which was often beyond Kusanagi's straight forward thinking. Overall it was a fun how they both handled their parts in case, of course, with more or less control in the physicist hand. I had a little doubt about methodology used by killer as that might have has risked someone else's life too, how can one be that sure? Overlooking that part the book is gem..

Really enjoyable how it was done as opposed to who did it

Maybe it's me, but I can't get over my fascination with this author and with the intriguing way he unravels his plots. You start out thinking his detectives will solve a certain type of puzzle, but then you end up discovering that it's a totally different kind of puzzle and that the tale is so much more complicated than it looked at the beginning. So Higashino deflects your attention every time and he does it so masterfully that you're taken in without even noticing. And I couldn't love it more!

The style quiet similar to 'The Devotion of Suspect X'. If you like that one, you definitely should try this one too.

Ich bin ja wirklich zurückhaltend, was die Verwendung des Adjektivs "perfekt" angeht. Aber in diesem Fall ist das beinahe schon untertrieben! Flawless, impeccable, coolly elegant - all das trifft es auch. Ich bin wirklich begeistert! Keigo Higashino zeigt hier mal wieder auf die japanische Art, wie man den guten alten Krimi gründlich aufmöbeln kann. Besonders gefallen hat mir, dass das Buch sozusagen "indirekt" anfängt. Man bekommt zu Beginn einen Streit mit. Und fast in der nächsten Szene wird auch schon die Leiche gefunden. Von da an rätselt man mit Kommissar Kusanagi - es muss doch die Ehefrau gewesen sein, oder? Aber sie war doch mehrere hundert Kilometer entfernt?? Wieder einmal ist es Professor Yukawa, der seinem alten Kumpel auf die Sprünge hilft. Allerdings wird er erst auf Drängen der cleveren Polizistin Utsumi hinzugezogen! Diese Frau hat mir übrigens auch sehr gut gefallen, weil sie z.B. viel eher als Kusanagi seine Gefühle für die Hauptverdächtige durchschaut... Das Buch setzt sich zusammen wie ein Puzzle, beinahe quälend langsam, Beweisstück für Beweisstück. Man sitzt auf der Kante des Sessels und mag nicht mehr aufhören mit lesen. Aber es handelt sich eben um keine blutrünstige Spannung, sondern um beinahe lupenreinen Intellekt. Gerade das ist für mich das Faszinosum an Keigo Higashino! Ich finde auch, dass sich die englische Sprache sehr anbietet für eine Übersetzung aus dem Japanischen. Ich habe kein einziges Wort nachschlagen müssen. Das Englische ist dem Japanischen scheinbar näher als das Deutsche - es hat ebenso einen Hang zur nüchternen Sachlichkeit, und zur distanzierten Höflichkeit. Es hat auf mich fast nicht wie eine Übersetzung gewirkt. Ich kann das Buch wieder mal wärmstens empfehlen - sowohl an Krimi-Fans, als auch an Liebhaber japanischer Literatur.

This book has the two essential ingredients of a first rate mystery: a terrific puzzle and fair play, i.e. the puzzle is solved as a result of persistent effort and brilliant deduction rather than by dint of the author tossing in some last minute surprises or coincidences. And if a mystery that revolves around bottled water, coffee grounds, and a kettle could keep me riveted for the duration, you can also be sure that the characters are well-developed and that the writing is superb. This was an immensely satisfying read, prompting me to now order its predecessor, The Devotion of Suspect X.