THE DEVOTION OF
SUSPECT X
BOOK REVIEW
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Details of the Book
Title:
The Devotion of Suspect X
Author:
Keigo Higashino
Originally
Published in Japanese as Yogisha X No
Kenshin by Bingeishunju Ltd (2005)
English
Editions: First published in the United States
in 2011 by Minotaur Books and First published in Great Britain in 2011 by Little,
Brown
Translated
from Japanese by Alexander O Smith and Elye J Alexander
ISBN 978-1-4087-0325-0
Pages:
374
Price:
Rs. 350
Genre:
Fiction (Soft Boiled Detective Novel)
I feel that a good novel should have four
attributes:
1. PAGE TURNING QUALITY (PTQ)
As EM Forster enunciates in his seminal work Aspects of a Novel (1927) a novel
tells a story and the story must be built around suspense – the question
of “what happens next?”
By definition: A story is a narrative of events
arranged in their time sequence. Thus, in a novel there must be a
“clock” which moves the story forward in time, and, more importantly, there
must be suspense (what happens next) which engages the reader and urges the
reader to keep reading the book till the very end. Yes, a novel must have Page
Turning Quality (PTQ) and it is the two factors, pace and suspense,
which impart PTQ to a novel.
The
Devotion of Suspect X is an
exciting novel with a fast-moving story and terrific suspense that gives it
great Page Turning Quality (PTQ). This novel is a compelling yet easy read and
the moment you start reading, the story is instantly engaging and never lets
your attention slack. This book is real page-turner and is so engrossing that
once you start reading it is simply “unputdownable”. The Devotion of Suspect
X is a fascinating book and the writing has a riveting quality that induces
you to read the novel in one sitting.
2. UNITY OF EFFECT
It was Edgar Allan Poe who emphasised that
every author must strive to achieve “unity of effect” while writing a
work of fiction. By the word “effect” he meant “emotional response”. The author
must decide what effect he wants to create in the reader’s emotional response
and then he must employ his creative powers to achieve that particular effect.
While reading this book I recalled, in my mind’s
eye, the inimitable short story Lamb
to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl. Just like Roald Dahl does while
narrating his story, Keigo Higashino, by his skilful craftsmanship, succeeds
in creating the emotional effect of “suspense” in the mind of the reader.
The author focuses on the main plot and keeps his attention on the core
storyline. He ensures that the plot twists and turns and keeps you captivated
till the very end. He adheres to the unity of effect principle and avoids
meandering into subplots (a temptation many writers succumb to).
By realizing the “unity of effect” principle, Keigo
Higashino succeeds in creating and maintaining suspense throughout the novel
and it is this suspense that makes you read this book to the very end – yes, The
Devotion of Suspect X is a superbly crafted suspense novel.
3. ENDING
A strong ending leaves an “aftertaste” in the mind
of the reader and this gives a novel an air of permanence and you remember the
book for a long time. While PTQ will make you read the book and Unity of Effect
will make you enjoy the book, it is the Ending that makes you remember the book
– the first two attributes will make a book a “good” book but is the ending
which will make it a “memorable” book – yes, it is the ending which
distinguishes an ordinary book from a remarkable book.
The most impressive aspect of The Devotion of
Suspect X is the brilliant “O. Henry Ending” which leaves you
stunned and dumbfounded. The skilful way in which the author transforms the
underlying suspense into unexpected out-of-the-blue surprise is
indeed brilliant.
4. A SENSE OF VALUES
In his masterpiece Aspects of a Novel EM Forster defines a story as “a narrative of
events arranged in their time sequence”. The basis of a novel is a story – the
narration of events in the order they happened. But that alone is not enough –
storytelling alone can never produce a great novel. Forster adds that a good
novel must include a sense of value in the story.
In The
Devotion of Suspect X , Keigo
Higashino explores the famous mathematical conundrum, the P = NP Problem (also
known as the P versus NP problem) which is generally considered unsolved till
today. Simply stated, the P = NP Problem asks whether it is it easier to
“solve” a problem than “verify” the correctness of someone else’s solution.
Which is easier: To “solve” a problem
yourself or to “verify” the correctness of someone else’s solution to that
problem.
Two of the principal protagonists, a
mathematician and a physicist, have an intellectual duel and play a cat and
mouse game, based on the P versus NP Problem, to find out whether it’s more
difficult to think of the solution to a problem yourself or to ascertain if
someone else’s answer to the same problem is correct.
And as the mystery is unravelled the
answer to the P = NP Problem becomes evident, at least from the author’s point
of view. The blurb says that the author
is an Engineer and Keigo Higashino certainly demonstrates his analytical skills
in plotting this crime thriller.
To sum up, The Devotion of Suspect X
is a brilliant novel – it has terrific suspense which produces first-rate Page
Turning Quality, unity of effect which engages the reader and makes it
engrossing and unputdownable, a remarkable ending which stuns you and a meaty
plot with analytical substance which imparts a sense of value.
This is not a hard boiled detective thriller nor is
it a whodunit murder mystery. In fact, the author describes the murder in
graphic detail right at the beginning of the novel and tells the reader why and
how the crime is committed. As the story unfolds the “all-knowing” reader is
given a grandstand view as he watches the riveting cloak and dagger action,
observing the cat and mouse game as the detectives carry out their
investigation and the protagonists try to outwit them. As red herrings emerge
and the story livens up, the reader is kept in suspense till the very end
wondering whether the detectives will be able to solve the case and catch the
murderer or will the murderer be able outsmart the sleuths and escape
scot-free. And suddenly, out-of-the-blue, you have a brilliant “O. Henry
Ending” which imparts a fantastic sting in the tail. All these attributes makes
this novel an extraordinary suspense thriller.
The
Devotion of Suspect X is
the best detective story I have read in recent times. I commend and recommend this
book. You will enjoy reading this novel. Do get a copy of The Devotion of
Suspect X. It is certainly worth having a copy of this book in your
bookcase.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram
Karve 2012
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this book
review.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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review?
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About Vikram
Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram
Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT
Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune,
Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories
about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie
Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes
and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short
stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food,
travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting,
teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of
professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many
years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram Karve has taught at a University
as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes
most of his time to creative writing. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his
family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking
creative thoughts.
Vikram
Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.in
© vikram karve., all rights
reserved.
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