The Devotion of Suspect X

By: Keigo Higashino, Alexander O. Smith Translated by

Narrated by: David Pittu

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Yasuko Hanaoka is a divorced, single mother who thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband Togashi. When he shows up one day to extort money from her, threatening both her and her teenaged daughter Misato, the situation quickly escalates into violence and Togashi ends up dead on her apartment floor. Overhearing the commotion, Yasuko’s next door neighbor, middle-aged high school mathematics teacher Ishigami, offers his help, disposing not only of the body but plotting the cover-up step-by-step. When the body turns up and is identified, Detective Kusanagi draws the case and Yasuko comes under suspicion. Kusanagi is unable to find any obvious holes in Yasuko’s manufactured alibi and yet is still sure that there’s something wrong. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a physicist and college friend who frequently consults with the police. Yukawa, known to the police by the nickname Professor Galileo, went to college with Ishigami. After meeting up with him again, Yukawa is convinced that Ishigami had something to do with the murder. What ensues is a high level battle of wits, as Ishigami tries to protect Yasuko by outmaneuvering and outthinking Yukawa, who faces his most clever and determined opponent yet.

©2005 Keigo Higashino (P)2010 Macmillan Audio. A Macmillan Audiobook from Minotaur Books

Still thinking about this book

A book I am still thinking about a week after finishing--is certainly worth 5-stars in my rating system. This book has a brainy plot that slowly and methodically reveals the depth of "devotion."

intriguing plot

You won't fall asleep listening to this book! Beautifully narrated with a most intriguing plot and well drawn characters. Highly recommended

Really torn!

I liked the story. HATED the ending!!! was torn between giving it 3 or 4 stars.
Decided to give it 3 as the ending in my opinion ruins an otherwise great story. Overall I gave it 4 as the story was kind of good and narration 5 as it was absolutely brilliant. During the book I was looking up the sequels in the "series" but after the disappointing and annoying ending I have given up on this author and will be requesting a refund! So disappointed!!!

Great book

Very much enjoyed this book. Would recommend it for anybody who likes some unpredictability in their stories

Can the Human Heart Be Pragmatic?

If Rene Descartes wrote a modern-day murder mystery it would probably read something like this. But, while Descartes had a lifetime to prove his mathematic and philosophical theories, time is ticking down for brilliant mathematician Suspect X...and there are some variables he cannot guarantee.

For me, this one fell into the category of *Pleasant Surprises*. It languished in my library while I read and listened to books that were supposed to be blockbusters. In hindsight, it would have been a better use of time than listening to that big "first novel for adults" from a famous author. Devotion of Suspect X is a well-written, original concept that defies even the best of the armchair gumshoes' abilities; it demands your interest, then keeps your mind spinning for days after you've finished. Not only does it leave you trying to re-trace some of the events, look for what you missed, it also leaves you pondering the capacity of human nature and determination--*quantifying and qualifying*.
"Sometimes a person just needs to exist to be someone's personal savior."

The narrator read each character in the same manner; being unfamiliar with Japanese names (or ignorance of), I was pulled a little out of the story at times determining which character was speaking until I got with the flow. Nothing I would fault the author or narrator with--just a note to pay attention closely if you have a tendancy to listen only halfway (sometimes) while you multi-task. This is one of those stories that picks up speed, then really picks up speed. If it were a movie, it would build to an unsuspected climax -- and the screen would abruptly go black. Powerful and surprising.

I was transported!

A friend recently told me she considers a movie "award worthy" when it transport her from one place to another, not only in revealing life in a different location, but also "transporting" her to a different view point. This book did both! It is set in modern day Japan, which was a revealation! Call me naive, but I didn't imagine Japan had a homeless problem... Don't stop reading! This book is not a commentary on homelessnes, or any kind of social issue. It is a great murder mystery, but you know who the murderer is from the very beginning. Twists and turns that caught me by surprise. The only thing I didn't like was the ending, but the fact that I didn't like the ending is probably a commentary on my morals...

Infatuation gone bad

If you could sum up The Devotion of Suspect X in three words, what would they be?

Sad, betrayal, complex.

What other book might you compare The Devotion of Suspect X to and why?

It was totally original for me.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Manabu Yukawa drops in on Ishigami for the first time.

If you could rename The Devotion of Suspect X, what would you call it?

Devotion and Despair

Any additional comments?

If I had known how sad this book would make me feel I probably wouldn't have read it. However, I'm glad that I did.

Great story

My first 10 minutes into the story I said to myself another wasted credit...I didn't know where the story was going. There wasn't anything to hang onto...but, then the story took off and what a ride I couldn't stop listening. You know taking my MP3 everywhere stealing a few minutes here and there, hating that I have to shut it down to take care of business. I loved the plot, the characters and the ending...big surprise I didn't see it coming.

Excellent, crisp, surprising twists and turns

The first thing to say about this novel is that the narration was pitch perfect, capturing nuance of each personality and each conversation. This is a battle of wits involving three individuals, with a woman and daughter caught in the middle. The ending is surprising and well-done. Well worth the credit, and all the more if you like Japanese culture and/or the mild references to physics and mathematics.

Great story

This book has a great story line and a couple of twists I didn't see coming. It is a good listen. I had a little trouble following all the Japanese names and locations for a little while but eventually got them figured out.