Invisible Helix

A new Higashino that will meet the expectations of his many fans, and then some. As is typical of Higashino’s unique police procedurals, the story goes both deep–into the past of its leading characters—and broad—Japan today, for example, where we learn about Japanese culture, such as the world of hostess clubs. The story begins with the discovery of a young man’s body in Tokyo bay; a bit of research reveals he is quite the loser who lives off his girlfriend while continuing to abuse her. But by the time the detectives locate their apartment, she’s skipped town. A likely suspect? Yes, but with an airtight alibi. Which draws Detective Kusanagi to “Detective Galileo,” a scientific genius and old friend, and the star of Higashino’s most well-known work The Devotion of Suspect X. In Galileo’s hands, connections are illuminated, the trauma of the past is brought to the forefront, and we learn the startling connections that link our characters. Brilliantly plotted and wonderfully rich in characterization.