SALVATION OF A SAINT

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.

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.

Got it in good condition. Nice book , worth it

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 yet another gripping murder mystery by the Japanese Writer, Keigo Higashino. A smart, young businessman dies at his home when his wife goes to visit her parents on a particular weekend. Somebody poisons him in his coffee. There are only two suspects. His wife and his secret lover. Who among them does it is pretty clear from the beginning but how it's done is a trail that Detective Kusanagi and his juniors struggle to find. When Detective Kusanagi's emotions start blinding his logic, his scientist friend, Yukawa, lovingly called as Professor Galileo, steps in. With a blend of his scientific logic and Kusanagi's years of experience alongwith a junior's strong womanly intuition, they solve the case brilliantly. Keigo Higashino books are different. Unlike other murder mysteries that keeps you gripped to find who did it, Keigo Higashino books give away that piece of information yet holds on the reader's curiosity till the end. Even after revealing the culprit in the first few pages, the author brilliantly holds in reader's attention till the end. Only a crafty writer with an acumen in human psychology can do that. It's a one go read. You won't put it down till you are finished reading it.

“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..