The Devotion of Suspect X

This one was a surprise: started off in a fairly pedestrian manner and ooooo so Japanese rigid structural framework both for the story and for the characters that seem so shallow. after the murder and the coverup the book kicks into another gear with the arrival of Yukawa the physicist and layers start peeling off Ishigami. Things get even more interesting with the arrival of the hopeful Kudo and even more of the characters are revealed. As it all falls apart the book hits a brilliant twist in the end. It started as a 3 star moves into 4star and ends on a higher note.

If you do not like Japanese movies don't bother. this book mimics the outward lack of personality in the characters, framed in stilted polite conversation and averted gazes, but the book's brilliance is how those shreds of conversation, those involuntary eye movements can betray such passion to sacrifice so much for so little in return.