Rated of 5
by Patricia B. (San Jose, CA) Salvation of Saint - Keigo Higashino
This was a quick easy read. However I felt that the killer's identity was pretty easy to figure out, however, it was harder to figure out how the crime was committed.
It was interesting to see how the detectives went about looking for evidence to indict or disprove who the killer is. Detectives Kusangi had made up his mind who he thought the killer was and was searching for a way to disprove Detective Utsumi's view of the person who was guilty. She is a new recruit and pretty clever for someone so new of the force. Of course the clever physics professor was the hero as he was able to figure out the with the help of Dective Utsemi.
The friction between Kusangi and professor Yukawa was a little off putting to me. Thought it detracted from the story.
Foreign detective stories seem to be "in" at the present time. For those who like to read mysteries should give it a try.
Rated of 5
by Paula W. (Winfield, IL) Coffee, Tea, or Milk?
This is the first book I've read by a Japanese author. So, to clear the air, I'd like to say that I had difficulty keeping track of the Japanese names---never exactly sure who were male and who were female. So this was more of a challenge to follow than I normally have. So that was one "star" down. The plot---murder, adultery, "the perfect crime"---and coffee---was interesting enough for me to persevere. I was glad I did---the ending made it all worthwhile. Reading a "police procedural" novel from Japan was a novel (!) experience. The characters--once I figured out who they were---were not very carefully described. (Perhaps this is one in a series where the reader would be expected to know the "back story" on the main dectectives already. I don't know.) But , as wise ones suggested to me( when I bogged down in reading the great Russian novels)----if you read this, write down the names (and gender!) and function of the characters and keep referring to it till you know who's who. I would have enjoyed the book more if I had done this. I would recommend this to mystery-lovers who would like to try "something different."
Rated of 5
by Kathleen B. (Las Vegas, NV) ANOTHER HIGASHINO WINNER
Last year Keigo Higashino's THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X was my favorite book of the year. I was so pleased to receive a copy from Book Browse of SALVATION OF A SAINT, ARC. This is an intelligent and suspenseful mystery. I love the difference in the detective style of Japanese detectives as shown in this novel. This was about a troubled marriage ending with the poisoning death of the husband. The main suspect being his wife with an air-tight alibi. The conundrum is how was the crime committed? The fascination with the book lies in watching the detectives work. I enjoyed this book and I think you will too, especially if you are mystery fan.
Rated of 5
by Dell P. (Dallas, TX) Salvation of a Saint
This who-done-it quickly became who-cares. While there is a certain intelligence throughout, the plot is more tedious than taut. True salvation here is in tighter editing. The reader is so exhausted by the redundancy of the plot that the finely-drawn characters get lost. Ditto for the intriguing juxtaposition of ancient Japanese culture and modern, fast Tokyo---bogged down by excessive and repititive plot. Tension between Ayane, Hiromi, and the ghost of Junko builds well. However, this is not enough to carry a weak and rather naive story. Dynamics between the police and professor were way overdone. Overall, as an avid reader of this genre, I am underwhelmed. More tepid than chilling.
Rated of 5
by Carm D. (Omaha, NE) Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino
This was very well written, the crime and how it was solved was really excellent. I knew who the murderer was from the beginning, which took some of the fun out for me. I like to find out "who done it" right along with the detectives. It was fun that this was not an American or British detective/mystery novel. The differences in perspective and lifestyles were interesting to think about. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it highly.
Rated of 5
by Patricia S. (Trevett, ME) Hooked from the beginning
I really enjoyed the latest book from Keigo Higashino, but not quite as much as The Devotion of Suspect X because it took a longer to get to the conclusion. He kept me guessing throughout the book as he looked at each suspect in a different light with different clues. I kept waiting for something momentous to occur to help with finding the guilty suspect. Higashino was like a scientist as he dissected the case with help from the detectives, including a woman new to the force, yet it took a physics professor to come up with the guilty party. An intellectual mystery.
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by Patricia B. (San Jose, CA) 
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by Paula W. (Winfield, IL) 
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by Kathleen B. (Las Vegas, NV) 
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by Dell P. (Dallas, TX) 
