Author : Keigo Higashino
Publisher : Little, Brown Book Group
Publication Year : 2013
Pages : 384
Source : Blogadda Book Review Program
Rating : 4.2/5
When a man is discovered dead by poisoning in his empty home his beautiful wife, Ayane, immediately falls under suspicion. All clues point to Ayane being the logical suspect, but how could she have committed the crime when she was hundreds of miles away? As Tokyo police detective Kusanagi tries to unpick a seemingly unrelated sequence of events he finds himself falling for Ayane. When his judgement becomes dangerously clouded his assistant must call on an old friend for help; it will take a genius to unravel the most spectacular web of deceit they have ever faced. Salvation of a Saint is a magnificently complex and page-turning thriller starring international crime fiction’s most enigmatic sleuth.This is essential reading for all fans of exceptional crime fiction.
I have never agreed more with a blurb on any of
the books till I completed “Salvation of a Saint”! Before I write my opinion of
it, a special thanks to Blogadda for introducing me to “Keigo Higashino” and
his work. Had it not been your platform, I would have missed reading such a
talent!
The story begins on a note where a husband and
wife are deciding to part ways because the wife is unable to bear a child for
him. Later in the wife’s absence, the husband is poisoned at his own house and
the body is discovered by his paramour. This brings in the two investigators of
Tokyo Police Department – Kusanagi and his newly appointed assistant Utsumi. They
are at wits end searching for the evidence against the wife who is the only
suspect with a motive, but was miles away when the murder took place. The
problem worsens when Utsumi finds that Kusanagi’s investigation is prejudiced
by his affection for the suspected widow. She turns to Yukawa, the physicist
friend of the investigators who with his exceptional deductive skills help
solve the secret behind this perfect crime.
I am a huge fan of mystery and crime. Probably,
because I love the way such novels leash my ever fidgety mind and tempt me to
deduce the mystery by means of my own basis. “Salvation of a Saint” has been a
unique reading experience. And why not! Of the many crime novels that I have
read, this one sets itself apart right from the start.
Call it a limitation of my exposure
to better novels, but I haven't read such a murder mystery yet. Within first
three chapters of the novel, you know who the culprit is. Regardless of this, “Salvation
of a Saint” will engage you till the very last page. It will keep you wondering of the method of crime.
And this is the beauty of this novel. I am fascinated by the intelligent
methods of the author. He has crafted the plot brilliantly. I must say, after
Sherlock Holmes, it is only this novel that has made me gape at the way the
plot unfolds inspite of exposing the criminal.
Keigo Higashino has kept the story
simple with a minimum number of characters. This certainly helps a reader to engross
well in the plot rather than keeping a track of who is involved where. However,
the simplicity comes with a strong foundation and research on the theme he is
writing about. There are some gaps that appear here and there, but are not so weighty
as to affect a reader’s interest. You will end up curiously flipping pages with
pace for the methods of crime.
One hitch that I came across is the dragging
of investigation that has resulted in some additional pages to the novel. At
some point, a reader will feel that the story is looping around the same point
unnecessarily. It makes me curios if it is author’s trick for bulging up novel’s
size. Elimination of that part and cutting down some 75 pages from the story
would have done no harm to the supremacy of the author’s way of shaping the
plot.
Ignoring
this small glitch, “Salvation of a Saint” is an excellent read. It is delight
for mystery lover. Anyone who misses reading this is sure to regret!
This review is a part of Book Reviews Program by Blogadda