Review: Malice by Keigo Higashino

Malice by Keigo Higashino

Publisher: Little Brown UK

Release date: 9 October 2014

Rating: ****

Back cover blurb: Acclaimed bestselling novelist Kunihiko Hidaka is brutally murdered in his home on the night before he's planning to leave Japan and relocate to Vancouver. His body is found in his office, in a locked room, within his locked house, by his wife and his best friend, both of whom have rock solid alibis. Or so it seems. Police Detective Kyochiro Kaga recognizes Hidaka's best friend from years ago when they were both teachers. Kaga went on to join the police force while Nonoguchi became a full-time writer, though with not nearly the success of his friend Hidaka. When Kaga suspects something is a little bit off with Nonoguchi's statement, he investigates further, ultimately executing a search warrant on Nonoguchi's apartment. There he finds evidence that shows that the two writers' relationship was very different than they claimed... 

There is something about Japanese fiction that I absolutely adore, add in a sprinkle of crime/detective novel, and you have a fan for life.

Keigo Higashino is one of Japan's most successful and well-read authors and it's not difficult to see why.

Malice is a novel that could actually appeal to any reader, not just fans of Crime and/or Japanese fiction.

Having said that Crime fans particularly will adore this novel, Keigo's is a fresh approach to the familiar world of the crime novel. The writing is clever and intricate and will keep you guessing until the very last chapters.

If you are looking for a 'quick' read, then you might be disappointed, as with most translations it requires concentration, but it is worth taking the extra time in my opinion.

Malice opens with Osamu Nonoguchi seeing off his best friend's emigration to Canada, but something is not right and Nonoguchi returns later that evening to find that his friend, best selling author Kunihiko Hidaka has been brutally murdered.

Detective Kaga is soon on the case and is certain he has a suspect, but is unsure of the killer's motive. What follows is a complex tale of mystery, intrigue and at times confusion, with Kaga under pressure to bring the killer to justice. 

Malice will keep you engrossed as a reader until the bitter end and yearning to read more by Higashino.

Malice is available to buy online and from all good book shops.

    Thank you to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.