The book came recommended from a friend who really liked it. Having never read a crime/thriller novel written from a Japanese perspective before, I was extremely curious as to what it would bring to the table.
A single mother Yasuko, along with her daughter, unwittingly murder Yasuko's ex-husband, while defending themselves from him. Shell shocked and at their wits' end on what to do, they are saved by the intervention of their neighbour Ishigami, who had surmised the situation quickly after hearing the ongoing commotion. Seemingly infatuated with Yasuko, Ishigami prevents Yasuko from turning herself in and offers his help to cover the crime up. A genius mathematician, he concocts a seemingly airtight plan with potential to hoodwink even the most skilled investigator. But, he finds himself pitted against his former classmate Yukawa, a physics professor and a genius of similar stature who joins the police in their investigation. Thus, begins a fascinating game of chess between the two titans of the intellect as they pit their wits against each other in a bid to come out victorious.
The Devotion of Suspect X is a refreshing departure from the traditional and highly popular "whodunit" scheme of writing mysteries, where the identity of the murderer is kept a secret till the very end. Here, it is handed to us on a silver platter right in the first chapter itself. Despite having an inkling about this, I was still surprised, thinking what the rest of the book would contain as the mystery was seemingly solved! But then the author takes us on a whirlwind ride of police investigations and intellectual battles and the real mystery of "how the crime was done" gradually takes shape. The question "Which is harder: devising an unsolvable problem, or solving that problem" suits this plot to a tee.
There is a great tension in the story, an edge of the seat stuff which keeps one hooked. The story is like a labyrinth of clues and subtle hints, and keeps you constantly guessing. You feel you got one thread only to be proved wrong in the subsequent chapters. This sort of imagination is where I think the author really outdid himself. Also, you have an unfamiliar feeling where you constantly feel yourself rooting for both sides at different points of the story. The conclusion of the novel is mind-blowing and distressing in equal measures, which I was definitely not expecting.
There are some things which missed the trick in my opinion. The middle part of the book didn't flow so well and was flat at times where nothing much seemed to be happening. Also, the translation stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb and was baffling at times in its ineptitude. It spoiled some of the book for me. Maybe, it read quite well in the original Japanese version but experiencing that will take some time and a lot more Japanese lessons! Also, the tone of the novel was depressing throughout, which I didn't really like.
Overall, it was a highly entertaining novel. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
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