7.5/10
Detective novels are not a genre I often delve into. I prefer comics like Detective Conan or Sherlock Holmes films. The last detective series I read might be Alfred Hitchcock's Three Investigators. I picked up this book after watching a film titled "Jaane Jaan," rumored to be adapted from a novel by Keigo Higashino, and found the movie intriguing.
Although the title includes the word "saint," the novel doesn't have a religious tone. Instead, it is set in modern Japan and incorporates quite a bit of Physics terminology since the main character is a physicist.
The story revolves around a man found dead from consuming poisoned coffee. The man's wife emerges as the primary suspect after her husband's decision to end their relationship.
However, a significant problem arises: on the day of the murder, the woman was thousands of kilometers away from the crime scene. As Detectives Kusanagi and Utsumi Kaoru investigate, they hold contrasting views on the real perpetrator. Utsumi feels that Kusanagi is too empathetic towards the victim's wife, clouding his judgment.
The resolution of this case is unexpected. Through a thorough investigation and brilliant speculation by the main character Yukawa, an unusual murder trick is unraveled. Though bizarre, it makes sense and requires extraordinary effort, which can only be fueled by the energy of love.
I enjoyed reading this book, opening up a new and engaging reading avenue that encourages thinking and careful speculation. Objectivity is emphasized in this novel, as one character develops sympathy for the suspect. It feels different from reading comics. In the novel, the plot is clearer, and the depiction of situations is more vivid, as if participating in the investigation.