AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: The Devotion of Suspect X (Prof Galileo #1) by Keigo Higashino

 

Publication Date: February 1, 2011 Format: Audio Genre:  Mystery Narrators: David Pittu

Publisher: Macmillan Audio Length: 9 hours 2 min Buy: Kindle | Audio

Synopsis

Yasuko Hanaoka is a divorced, single mother who thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband Togashi. When he shows up one day to extort money from her, threatening both her and her teenaged daughter Misato, the situation quickly escalates into violence and Togashi ends up dead on her apartment floor. Overhearing the commotion, Yasuko’s next door neighbor, middle-aged high school mathematics teacher Ishigami, offers his help, disposing not only of the body but plotting the cover-up step-by-step. When the body turns up and is identified, Detective Kusanagi draws the case and Yasuko comes under suspicion. Kusanagi is unable to find any obvious holes in Yasuko’s manufactured alibi and yet is still sure that there’s something wrong. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a physicist and college friend who frequently consults with the police. Yukawa, known to the police by the nickname Professor Galileo, went to college with Ishigami. After meeting up with him again, Yukawa is convinced that Ishigami had something to do with the murder. What ensues is a high level battle of wits, as Ishigami tries to protect Yasuko by outmaneuvering and outthinking Yukawa, who faces his most clever and determined opponent yet.

Review: 

I saw a review of one of the books in this series and was intrigued that they compare it to Steig Larson's books.  I had to give it a go.  Apparently this is actually the 3rd book in the series but only 4 of these books have been translated into English and this is the 1st in the English series. 

I was a bit confused by all the names at first but quickly caught on as to who was who.  I found everything that happened so believable and was cheering for them not to be found out throughout the whole book.  Toward the end the book takes a bit of a turn and I was shocked by what was uncovered but after it is explained I wasn't surprised. The end however did take me by surprise until I remembered that this is not a book set in America but in Japan where action, honor and ancestry have a way of playing into people's actions. 

I was completely immersed in the story and really began to like the quirky character of Dr. Yukawa and his friend Detective Kusanagi. I am excited to read more in this series. 

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