The Devotion of Suspect X is probably the go-to Japanese crime fiction book here in the West, but did you know that it has been outsold in Japan by another of author Keigo Higashino’s books? That book is Journey Under the Midnight Sun and this 539-pager has landed with a THUD on the welcome mat here at CFL HQ. What do you think of the cover? Is that Michael Jackson?

Most likely not, for this is a book that begins in Osaka in 1973, when a man’s body is found in an abandoned building. Detective Sasagaki is handed the case, and he spends many, many years trying to solve it. First, there is the son of the victim, a man described as dark and taciturn. But then there is the daughter of the main suspect. Over two decades it becomes clear to Sasagaki that the solution might just revolve around the connection between these two characters. We requested an interview with the author, but apparently he doesn’t give them. That only seems to add an extra air of mystery to the book, which will be reviewed here on Crime Fiction Lover.

The Times has called Higashino ‘The Japanese Stieg Larsson’ – perhaps more due to his popularity than writing style – and both this book and The Devotion of Suspect X have been made into films in Japan. The paperback is released 8 October with a retail price of £13.99.

Have a look at nagaisayonara‘s top five Japanese crime novels here, and pre-order your copy of Journey Under the Midnight Sun here – it’s currently just £7.99 on Amazon. We’ve also reviewed Keigo Higashino’s book Malice.