Cover of Under The Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino, featuring the text Under The Midnight Sun By Keigo Higashino

Under The Midnight Sun By Keigo Higashino Book Review

Under the Midnight Sun is a Japanese mystery novel written by Keigo Higashino. It was published in August 1999 and became a bestseller. As of December 2010, the book has sold over two million copies.

 

Now, here’s my review of the book.

 

Plot

A body was found in an abandoned building in the western Japanese city of Osaka. The local police and Detective Sasagaki were called in to investigate. Every suspect is investigated, and everyone known to the victim is tested. But the case is never solved.

 

In the meantime, when the main suspect dies, the case also slows down. But Sasagaki still has doubts.

 

Time went on, and twenty years passed one by one. All this time, Detective Sasagaki wanted to find only one answer – what really happened that day?

 

The story comes to Tokyo. Sasagaki does not stop the investigation. The cat-and-mouse game continues. Did this detective finally get the answer? Did Sasagaki find out what happened that day? All the questions are answered until the last page of the book. 

 

My Review

How interesting can a book be? Keigo Higashino will blow your mind in ways you can’t even imagine. It is undoubtedly a masterclass.

 

One thing I have noticed is that Japanese writers have some excellent skills. They have an incomparable ability to transform even the most ordinary scene from our everyday lives into something magical. As they beautifully visualize simple images, there is something deeply sad but powerfully meaningful. Few other writers are able to create such extraordinary surreal images as Japanese writers.

 

I became a fan of Higashino after reading “Devotion of Suspect X.” Converting a sprawling plot spanning two decades into a great thriller is a daunting task. Towards the end, dramatic mysteries unfold with one twist after another.

 

Honestly, Keigo Higashino is a master of this thriller genre. Even the tiniest details are put together in a way that only Higashino can. Keigo Higashino’s books combine twists, intelligent characterization, and depth of writing to leave readers speechless.

 

Price

Kindle – $12.99

 

Hardcover – $24.99

 

Paperback – $18.32

 

Personal Rating

7.5/10. The period in which the novel is set depicts some ups and downs within Japan. This book is a must-read to understand how terrible the situation in Japan was at that time.

 

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