I just couldn't connect with this. The writing style didn't appeal to me, and the frequent time changes were a little confusing. I did enjoy the different Japanese police investigative techniques, but that wasn't enough to make this very enjoyable for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love this authors writing style in this series — and how he approaches a murder mystery. — his writing style feels refreshing — I love the deductive and investigative process of the main police characters and how even when they suspect someone , they are thorough to connect all the threads to prove it. Lots of twists in this book , I find this author and Japanese murder mystery in general tend to have more depth to the plot and the reason for murder than western murder mystery. Also, this book shows a lot of Japanese way of thinking, view of society and keeping harmony with others —even when they are a murderer. Although this is book 4 in the series — it definitely could be read as a stand alone . Loved It ! Recommended!

Four and one-half stars

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

When Yuriko Tajima came to Sendai, she went to work for Yasuyo Miyamoto, who owned a bar and restaurant. The two women became friends, but Yuriko was reticent when it came to discussing the family she’d left behind. After several years, Yuriko became ill; her condition worsened and she passed away.

Yasuyo managed to track down Yuriko’s son, Kyoichiro Kaga, a Tokyo Police detective. He came to Sendai to collect Yuriko’s belongings and her ashes, but he found no answers for his many questions.

In Tokyo, Kaga’s cousin, Detective Shuhei Matsumiya, and his partner, Detective Sakagami, investigate the strangulation murder of Michiko Oshitani, who lived in Sendai and, as far as anyone could determine, had no connection to Tokyo. But this murder is the second strangulation murder.

Could a serial killer be working in Tokyo? And what is the connection between the victims?

============

Although this is the fourth book in the author’s Kyoichiro Kaga series, there is sufficient backstory for readers new to the series and the book works as a standalone.

The story, told from multiple points of view, moves between past and present as the complex plot slowly reveals its surprises and the unfolding narrative of this police procedural keeps readers guessing as it twists and turns.

Well-defined, nuanced characters, the police work, and the mystery of how everything connects all work together to keep the pages turning. Readers who enjoy police procedurals and mysteries will find much to appreciate here, but the revelations in the denouement are likely to surprise many readers.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheFinalCurtain #NetGalley

thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance reader copy of The Final Curtain, by my favorite author, Keigo Higashino. 

i have mixed feelings after reading this book. family matters, essential points in this book, make me sad and touched, especially for Kaga. the previous book in the Kaga series, A Death in Tokyo, tells a bit of the story of Kaga and his father. while this book tells from the point of view of Kaga's mother and at the same time, uncovers the whole past of Kaga's family.

in the book A Death in Tokyo, the story of kaga's family and his father slightly "helped" the case kaga was investigating. however, in the final curtain, the mother is directly related to the case he is investigating.

the final curtain begins with the story of kaga's mother leaving him and her father until she dies of illness. kaga takes care of his mother's funeral with many questions in mind. he suddenly got a call when his mother died without ever knowing how his mother lived so far. he searched the mother's room and belongings to find out.

on the other hand, kaga's cousin, matsumiya, investigates a case of the death of a woman who was murdered in the apartment of a man who was also found dead far from his apartment. matsumiya finds strange evidence in the apartment, which turns out to be related to kaga's mother.

of course, while reading this book, I couldn't stop being fascinated with kaga. i can not bare with his sexy brain and his composure when facing suspects who are good at acting. when investigating his mother's past, he also does not seem to harbor anger because his mother left him and his father. kaga's family problems here really make me salute Kaga even more. especially in the ending, i suddenly need to give this fictional character a pat on his head.

this book has not too many plot twists, and the characters' relationships are predictable. but still, i can't guess the fundamental reason the perpetrator committed the murder. this time, the perpetrator's motive touched me. the love of father and daughter until the end of their lives makes one choose to sacrifice. making sacrifices for things they shouldn't have to go through if only everyone in the marriage knows their responsibilities.

I didn't realize when I requested an Advance Reader's Copy of "The Final Curtain" that it was the fourth book in a series. In fact, I didn't realize it until I'd finished the book! So I'd say it could be read as a stand-alone. The author also has included a cast of characters at the front of the book, where they work if they are police officers or their part in the story if they're not. I found this quite helpful.

Two people have been murdered in Tokyo and the crimes seem to Detective Matsumiya to be related. His superiors are skeptical.

Matsumiya's cousin, a police officer named Kaga, is a principal character in the story as well. Kaga's mother disappeared when he was a little boy and he has always wondered what happened to her. The two Tokyo murders turn out to have a connection to Kaga. Will he finally find out why his mother left him?

"The Final Curtain" is an intricately plotted murder mystery with multifaceted characters. It is compelling, and I kept reading and reading. This book was originally written in Japanese. Kudos to Giles Murray for his translation.

I recommend "The Final Curtain," although if you're like me, you'd rather start with the first book in the series, "Malice."

After reading a previous Keigo Higashino book, I was thrilled to be able to read The Final Curtain. I enjoyed the last two books of this series set in Japan and primarily Tokyo, a former home city. The mystery is solid with a variety of twists, turns, surprises and brilliant problem-solving clues.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I requested this book from Net Galley not knowing that it was the final book in a series of 4. Initially, I wasn't going to finish it but the story was so compelling that I kept reading. It is also very long, but worth it in the end, to learn the entire story, because I really had no idea what to expect. I also struggled really with keeping all the characters straight, probably because many of the names sounded alike to me. I really did enjoy the story and all the twists and turns that came along with the investigation of one murdered woman in Japan. The story was very in-depth and complicated with many characters connected in more was than one. That was definitely one of the things I liked about the book because I was intrigued as to how it would turn out, and had no predictions as to the outcome while reading. I definitely recommend this book (and probably the three before this one!) because the story was very detailed and intricate with many fascinating characters and a complex plot. Thank you so much for the ARC! I will definitely read more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of The Final Curtain in exchange for my review.

I read this book without realizing that it was the final book in a series. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the story more had I read the earlier books in the series, but I found this one easy to read and enjoyable.

There are many characters in this story, but the reader is able to keep track of who’s who because they are sufficiently flushed out and relatable. I was interested in the story of Detective Kaga‘s mother, and in the investigation into who murdered Michiko Oshitani and the second unknown victim.

At this stage, it would be odd to go back and read the earlier books in the series, but I would be interested in reading other works by this author. I recommend this book and perhaps the earlier books in the series to those who enjoy mysteries with some interesting cultural components thrown in for good measure.

Many thanks to both Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Final Curtain, by Keigo Higashino. Expected publication December 12, 2023. (Previously published in 2013.)

The Final Curtain begins with a woman named Michiko Oshitani found dead many miles from home. She's been strangled to death and left in a bare apartment that's not hers and has been rented under a false name. This leads to a curious chain of connections.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but I spent much of The Final Curtain feeling confused. There were lots of characters and they had Japanese names that I couldn't keep track of. Added to that, the book bounced around in different periods of time and many different points of view of the different crimes. Added to that, it wasn't clear to me when time periods had changed so I found myself reading about old murders, thinking they were new murders.

I liked Detective Kaga a lot. (I also liked that his name was short and easy to remember!) The storyline was interesting, although I'm sure it would have made more sense and been smoother in Japanese. I felt it was a bit choppy in the translation.

Still, The Final Curtain was an absorbing police procedural mystery, even if the ending (which is also the end of the series), turned out to be open-ended.

This is a mystery/police procedural. I did not realize it was part of a series but it worked for me as a stand-alone. I think those who enjoy a well crafted mystery would like this book. It is more of a slow burn than a thriller. The writing style was just not for me, There was too much dialogue and too many characters to keep track of.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

Ten years after he collected the ashes of the mother who abandoned him as a child, Detective Kaga gets involved in a case that may finally give him answers about her later life and death.

This series by Higashino has a classic feel, with emphasis on the details of police work and the steps of the investigation, but characterizations are not neglected. Detective Kaga gains some insights into his past as well as a potential development in his personal life. Other characters who are explored include a friend of Kaga’s mother and a theater director at the heart of the case who is hiding her own painful secrets.

A good choice for anyone who enjoys traditional mysteries, especially in an international setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

This has been my least favorite of the Detective Kaga novels. I think this is primarily due to two reasons:

- The dual investigation, starting with Matsumiya and staying with him until Kaga comes in later. While the two often work together, now they're stationed at separate police stations. Which means Matsumiya can't invite Kaga in until the case merges with the Nihonbashi district, and Kaga are officially invited into the case.

- The open ending. While the truth is found, it remains unclear if the perpetrator will be caught, or if they will all remain in a sense of limbo, knowing yet hiding from the reality.

Despite this, Keigo Higashino remains one of my "must-read" authors, and The Final Curtain was very enjoyable.

I had not read any of Higashino's books before but this was a fascinating look at suspicious murders that plague the town (Tokyo) and confound the police. Two people, unknown to each other are discovered strangled and there are few clues to go on. Because many years separate events, it is difficult to piece together how they are connected but of course the police are relentless and dedicated to finding whomever is responsible. I do enjoy police procedurals so this was a good look at the detectives and their persistent pursuit of justice!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

When the body of Michiko Oshitani was found in an apartment that wasn't hers, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police investigates. Detective Matsumiya and his team need to find out more about the woman and who the apartment was rented to. They find the renter, Matsuyo Koshikawa, who is missing and becomes the prime suspect. In their search they find a friend of the victim, an actress and director, Hiromi Asai and the women had just recently met up again. But as clues become scarce and then a connection with Detective Kaga of the Nihonbashi precinct is brought to light, Matsumiya and Kaga begin to work together to solve the murders.
An intricate mystery that dates back to Kaga's mother, grammar school associations and bridges of Nihonbashi, are all tied together that finally reveal secrets that had led to murder.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-galley of "The Final Curtin".

Keigo Higashino’s novel is a well plotted mystery that includes character development as well as detailed narration.
I enjoyed reading a story that takes place in Japan and gives the reader insight into the Japanese police department and society.
Thank you for emailing me this most entertaining novel.

If you can get through the numerous characters and their full Japanese names, this murder mystery set in contemporary Japan is a real gem. The plot actually thickens -- gets better written and more interesting -- as you move through the novel, and as you slowly unwind the mystery along with the many police detectives and their sources. The murders are an odd lot, I won't give away the plot points but suffice to say they pull you in immediately, and seem to be centered on an actress/theater producer who has a lot of things to hide. The police are quite capable and slowly begin to piece together what happened and solve the case. I liked the motley collection of characters and their various issues, and the focus on the deductive powers and how the detectives worked together.

A woman is murdered in Tokyo, miles from home, in a barren apartment to which she has no apparent connection. In the same neighborhood, a homeless man is found burned to death in a tent. Both deaths are linked, and there's a third person somehow involved: the mother of detective Kyoichiro Kaga, the tie hinted at in the quiet prologue that sketches her sad life and Kaga's absence from it. THE FINAL CURTAIN is deliberately paced, with Higashino's language even more unadorned than usual in this translation. While it's not as effective as earlier Kaga books like NEWCOMER or Higashino's masterpiece THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, it still boasts the same intricate plotting that builds to a devastating emotional crescendo. If this is indeed the end of the series, Kaga bows out on a fine note.

This was a really good murder mystery that centers around the disappearance and death of Detective Kaga’s mother. All the twists and turns that Keigo Higashino has in this story makes you want to keep going and find the pieces to these cases. The pacing was a little slow for me, but overall I did enjoy it. I liked how the reader has to keep guessing to the bitter end. Thank you Keigo Higashino, NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

******COMING DECEMBER 12, 2023**********
Keigo Higashino's final book in the Detective Kaga series is one of the very best murder mysteries you will read this year! I love his intricately woven mystery plot with multiple victims and suspects, interspersed with well-fleshed characters---old and new. I particularly enjoy the history bits about Japan and the differences in our cultures.
Detective Kaga is investigating the death of a female with no apparent ties to the community in which she was found. His mother's decades old death seems to have a connection---and the chase for answers is on. Though the pace is not fast, all of the details ---large and small--- blend together to lead the reader toward the reveal. I loved this atmospheric police procedural.

A big thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress #Minotaur Books for the ARC of this novel, sent at my request to honestly review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am delighted to share this excellent read with friends and followers. #TheFinalCurtain #NetGalley

I loved The Final Curtain! So many mysteries layered atop one another, with fake identities abounding. An excellent straight mystery, no thriller tropes.
I'm sad that this is the end for Higashino's series featuring Kaga, but what a way to conclude.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.