A great police procedural. Full of twists and turns and an easy read to jump into if you haven't read any other of the Detective Galileo books.

Thanks for the arc, Netgalley!!
amazing amazing amazing, truly. Keigo always amazed me! Will never stop reading his writing.

A clever blend of mystery, and human drama. The characters are complex with many layers and struggles, and I enjoyed the plot. This translation was very good and I will be seeking more of this author’s work.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

MY VERDICT: A corpse in Tokyo Bay unveils Detective Galileo’s most personal case yet: a skillful weaving of murder’s surface simplicity into profound revelations about family bonds.

Invisible Helix (透明な螺旋) is volume 10 in the original Japanese series, but alas English speaking publishers once again have decided to translate only a few, so that’s volume 5 for us. And the books are not available in any other European language either. So so sad.
Anyway, it was neat getting to meet Galileo again in Invisible Helix, even though they hardly ever call him that in this book – possibly a translator’s choice? The two other books in that series I read were not translated by Giles Murray.

Invisible Helix is is a slow mystery on family ties and relationships, with focus on characters and their lives, leading to a murder, and then to identifying who did it and why.
In fact, we don’t meet Professor Yukawa, aka Detective Galileo, until 26% of the book, and for a while he remains mysterious, preferring to do his own investigations on his own without too much collaboration with his friend Chief Inspector Kusagani.

As in other books with him, there’s some type of competition between them, a rather kind one, all in the service of finding what happened, even though sometimes the police department has a hard time understanding the doings of Yukawa’s smart mind.
And we meet again Kusagani’s assistant, the female Detective Sergeant Kaoru Utsumi.

Socially speaking, there were interesting details on orphanages, on flower shops, and on hostess clubs.
And I didn’t know that in some edges of Tokyo, people turn their property into some type of farm to bring down their annual property taxes, for instance planting chestnut trees, that don’t require much work (cf. chapter 11).

I had guessed some connections between the Prologue and the rest of the plot, but the final twist totally took me by surprise, as is often the case with Higashino: you are almost at the end of the book, you feel almost disappointed that the case was too easy, and then everything ends up ultimately different from what you thought!
And it was definitely much more personal that I would have ever guessed.
So this was a satisfying novel by Higashino, but not the best to start with if you want to discover this author.

If you're searching for a crime thriller that grips you from the first page and doesn't let go, "Invisible Helix" is the novel for you. When homicide detectives investigate a plausible murder: a man floating in Tokyo Bay, shot in the back, they think it will be open and shut. The victim, Ryota Uetsuji was physically abusive to his live-in girlfriend, Sonoka Shimauchi who reported him missing about a week prior to the discovery. Though she has an alibi, she cannot be found when they later try to question her. Add to that, they discover that she is on the run with children’s book author, Mae Matunaga.

A lot here doesn’t make sense to Chief Inspector Kusanagi, so he pays a visit to his friend, Physics Professor Manabu Yukawa, who often consults the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

One of the book's strengths lies in its storytelling. Every detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant, serves the larger mystery. The author crafts a world where lies are rampant, truth is elusive, and nothing is as it appears. Even the layered backstory, including family history, kept me hooked until the last revelation.

I thought "Invisible Helix" was a superb stand-alone novel, but I discovered that it is the fifth installment in the “Detective Galileo Series”. Detective Galileo is Professor Manabu Yukawa, though he plays only a supporting character in this novel. Heads up: We learn a surprise about him, too.

"Invisible Helix" is such a page-turner that fans of intricate crime thrillers are sure to enjoy it. I hope to read more translated works by author Keigo Higashino.

This is the third of Higashino's books I've read, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I've always appreciated the sort of "non-police detective" character and the way they approach problems, and Professor Galileo is no exception. I think having read a couple of the series previously also allowed me to focus more on the intricacies of the story and less on who the characters are, and that made the experience even more enjoyable. If you like mysteries that are unusual and a bit cerebral, I think you'll enjoy this series.

This story started with a single mother, whose partner died suddenly and she is unable to work, with the infant. She drops off the child at an orphanage with a hand made doll.
50 yrs later, we met Sonoka Shimarchi, whose mother just passed away from a brain hemorrhage. Sometime later, she meets a man, Ryota Uetsuji, a video producer, when he has her make some floral arrangements for a video that he is producing. They begin dating, and he moves in with her.
When Sonoka returns from a girls trip, Ryota is missing so she files a police report. A few days later, his body is found floating in Tokyo Bay with a bullet in his back. However, Sonoka is nowhere to be found.
This was my first Japanese police procedural and it was quite a puzzle to unravel. The author dropped many clues, described the characters and possible motives, and wove their links into the story as he revealed a slew of long buried secrets. Keeping in mind the meaning of the double helix which refers to DNA, made this mystery even more complex and interesting.
This was a pretty fast read, and I liked reading about the ways that the Japanese police investigated the murder. The conclusion was a surprise and I thought that the twist was unique.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving my opinions voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

My first Japanese mystery! A fast-paced book that seemed predictable at times but still threw me for a loop. Running to libby to check out the earlier books in the series.

3.5 stars

Keigo Higashino is a Japanese novelist best known for his mystery books. One of Higashino's most popular characters is Professor Manabu Yukawa, a physicist called 'Detective Galileo' because he helps the police solve crimes. In this 5th book in the Detective Galileo series, the murder of a video producer is investigated. The book works fine as a standalone.

In the novel's prologue, a single mother whose partner suddenly dies has no money and is unable to work with an infant to take care of. So the young mother leaves the baby girl at an orphanage with a handcrafted doll. Half a century later we meet twentysomething Sonoka Shimauchi, whose mother Chizuko, a former orphanage employee, just passed away from a brain hemorrhage. Sonoka is comforted by her mother's best friend Nae Matsunaga, a children's book author who's known Sonoka since she was a child.

Some time afterwards, Sonoka - a design school student who works in a flower shop - meets video producer Ryota Uetsuji, who needs floral arrangements for a video shoot. Sonoka and Uetsuji begin dating and the video producer eventually moves in with Sonoka. Sonoka and Uetsuji have been living together for about a year when Sonoka returns from a weekend trip with a friend to find Uetsuji missing. Sonoka makes a police report, and a few days later Uetsuji is found floating in Tokyo Bay, dead from a bullet in the back.

Chief Inspector Kusanagi leads the investigation into Uetsuji's murder, assisted by Detective Sergeant Kaoru Utsumi and the homicide team. Kusanagi and Utsumi try to question Sonoka, but she's taken time off from work and can't be found. When the detectives attempt to interview Sonoka's family friend Nae Matsunaga, Nae is unreachable, having told her editor she's off on a trip.

The Chief Inspector concludes Sonaka and Nae are on the run together, and when Kusanagi looks into Nae's background, he discovers the writer once consulted Detective Galileo regarding a children's book about a monopole. This draws Yukawa into the case. The rest of the book toggles back and forth between the homicide investigation and Sonoka's flight, including flashbacks to Sonoka's past. Sonoka is a prime suspect for Uetsuji's homicide, but she has an ironclad alibi.

Kusanagi and Yukawa talk to people acquainted with Sonoka, such as Mr. Tamura - Sonoka's landlord; Mrs. Aoyama - Sonoka's employer at the flower shop; and Hidemi Negishi - owner/mama-san of the hostess club VOWM, who offered Sonoka a job. The detectives also speak with Uetsuji's colleagues and acquaintances, who universally disliked and avoided the video producer. Persons of interest emerge, but the plot is like a puzzle, with one surprising revelation after another. Many of the disclosures come from Detective Galileo, who keeps his cards close to his chest until he's ready to make the big reveal.

We get a glimpse at the private lives of the investigators in this book, which adds a personal touch to the story. Chief Inspector Kusanagi, for instance, is an aficionado of hostess clubs, and a regular patron of VOWM. And Professor Yukawa has moved in with his elderly parents to assist in the care of his mother, who has dementia.

Higashino's mystery novels tend to be cerebral and twisty, and this book is a fine example of his hallmark style.

Thanks to Netgalley, Keigo Higashino , and Minotaur Books for a copy of the novel.

This mystery is a Japanese police procedural. This is my second Higashino novel, and it's a good mystery. It has a few turns that are a little too convenient, but they don't detract from the overall story.

just a very simple mystery... i didn't predict the outcome but i wasn't gagged by any means. overall enjoyable tho!

I've enjoyed Higashino's Detective Kaga series and was interested in this new one. I kept waiting for Kaga to show up and duh this is a completely different series. Detective "Galileo" is the brilliant puzzle solver in Invisible Helix, #5 in that series (that have been translated to date).

The style is taut, direct, not a lot of fluff. A man's body is found in the Bay. He's been shot. The girlfriend's on the run. There are connections that don't make sense (until they do). Professor Manabu Yukawa "Galileo" to the rescue.

Some of the dialogue feels stilted, abrupt, sometimes even corny. My sense is that some subtleties don't translate well.

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital ARC.

Keigo Higashino’s THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, the first in his Detective Galileo series, belongs in the conversation about the best mystery novels of this century. The subsequent books, written with the author’s customary elegance, offer both engaging puzzles and idiosyncratic portraits of contemporary Japan. In this outing, a young man’s body washes ashore and suspicion falls on the girlfriend who reported him missing—only she has an unbreakable alibi. The investigation unexpectedly draws in the physics professor known as Detective Galileo, who has assisted the police before, but this time he seems mysteriously reluctant to aid their inquiries. HELIX relies more on coincidence that the previous books, making the mystery element less satisfying. But there are other pleasures, like the insights into the culture of Tokyo’s hostess clubs. A 3.5 rating rounded up to 4 because of Higashino’s masterly control.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This was my first Detective Galileo book that I have read by Higashino, but I can tell you it will not be my last. I am excited to dive back into Higashino books and to see what else this author will write for us. I found that this mystery/crime book was written differently from others that I have read, and I think that is because the way the author wrote this book was more about telling the story of why the crime happened, giving us readers clues throughout the book, setting up the plot more so and not focusing on the actual crime itself. I liked that we got to understand what the detectives are looking at and who, but more so the story of why it happened, what the characters are doing throughout the book and why.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book, and how the author showed a little bit of Japanese lifestyles, and how they handle police work. I found that the plot was not fast paced but not slow-paced, however a good mix of both of them. You will not see a lot of action in this book but the way that the author induces you to the characters and you learn their stories more, you will find that you didn’t even do the action in the book. I found the characters to be interesting and I loved the relationship between Galileo and Physics Manabu Yukawa was beautifully done to show us how two friends from grade school have a great friendship. I also loved how Yukawa handled situations that came up when his friend would talk to him about the case.

This book is about crime, the work that the detectives do and the story of the victims and their loved ones. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a good mystery novel, with great detective work and an interesting plot. This book does cover topics like domestic violence, adoption, and leaving your child at an orphanage. The author handled these topics in a respectful way.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

I was beyond excited to get an ARC for Keigo Higashinos latest book. A masterful author, he writes mysteries that are unparalleled. Since I first discovered his work several years ago, he quickly became a favorite of mine and I’ve tried to read all of his books.

The way he threads the story together keeps you interested and engaged throughout the book. The characters are detailed and interesting, and the setting pops out at you. If I ever get to visit Japan, I am sure I will be reminded of Kusanagi’s adventures. I also love discovering Japanese culture as I read these books.

In this book Kusanagi has been promoted and is overseeing the murder and missing persons investigation from the office, while Kaoru does the legwork.

The brilliant scientist Yukawa makes an appearance about a third of the way through the book, when it is discovered that he has a connection to one of the missing persons. Yukawa and Kusanagi are old friends, and Kusanagi often relies on Yukawa’s genius when facing a difficult case.

In some ways I didn’t like this book as much due to the lack of interaction between Yukawa and Kusanagi, but the author made up for it in the fascinating details of the characters and emotional plot twists that left me teary eyed. In the end, I was happy. Another fabulous work of art by Keigo Higashino.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First published in Japan in 2021; published in translation by Minotaur Books on December 17, 2024

As American crime fiction once did, Japanese crime novels focus on mysteries that must be solved. Modern American crime novelists tend to focus on the elements of a thriller — fistfights, shootouts, chases — with less attention paid to unraveling a mystery. When American writers try to incorporate detection into their thrillers, they too often make a botch of it by favoring sensational reveals over credible puzzles.

Keigo Higashino has become one of crime fiction’s best mystery writers. His books move quickly but they aren’t action novels. Higashino writes traditional mysteries, planting clues that the reader will see in a different light after investigators piece them together.

Invisible Helix begins with a desperate mother who leaves her baby and a handmade doll at the gate of an orphanage. The baby’s father died during Hidemi Negishi’s pregnancy. Without the father’s income, Hidemi felt she had no choice but to give up the child.

In the present, Sonoka Shimauchi works in a flower shop. Her mother, Chizuko Shimauchi, was raised in the orphanage that later employed her. Chizuko raised Sonoka as a single mother. Chizuko met her best friend, children’s book author Nae Matsunaga, while working at the orphanage.

After Chizuko dies, Ryota Uetsuji comes to the flower shop to order floral arrangements for videos he’s shooting. Ryota begins to woo Sonoka and soon they are living together. When Ryota notices that Sonoka always sleeps next to a handmade doll, Sonoka explains that it belonged to her mother. If the doll seems like a Dickensian plot device, never expect the obvious from Higashino.

Things seem to be going well for Sonoka until Ryota begins to abuse her. When Ryota’s body is recovered from Tokyo Bay with a bullet hole in its back, Sonoka becomes the chief suspect. Sonoka promptly disappears with the help of a friend who knows that the police are coming for her. Sonoka’s disappearance hours before the police want to question her contributes to suspicion that she is a murderer.

The investigation of Ryota’s death falls to Chief Inspector Kusanagi, the co-protagonist of this series. He is assisted by his old friend, Professor Manabu Yukawa, whose ability to piece clues together until they form a solution earned him the nickname “Professor Galileo.”

One of Ryota’s most recent outgoing cellphone calls was to Hidemi Negishi, mama-san of a hostess bar known as VOWM. Kusanagi is assigned to interview Hidemi because he is “an aficionado of hostess clubs.” He brings Yukawa, who quickly discerns the true origin of the club’s name. A working knowledge of both Chinese and Japanese is required to figure it out. Fortunately for those of us who lack that knowledge, Yukawa explains how the odd name is relevant to the story.

As is customary in these books, Yukawa solves the mystery of Sonoka’s disappearance and of her husband’s murder in his own way, even if he has to go behind Kusanagi’s back to assure that his own version of justice is done. Yukawa even solves a mystery that changes his life, one that is tangentially related to the murder investigation. Maybe that’s a bit much, but the plot is otherwise nice and tidy, as a reader might expect of Japanese crime fiction.

Events unfold in ways that are different from those the reader will likely imagine. Higashino skillfully inspires erroneous conclusions about the identities of and relationships between key characters. The reader won’t learn the truth until the plot has twisted multiple times. Paragraph by paragraph, Higashino constructs the clever plot that his fans have come to expect.

Hostess clubs are an aspect of Japanese life that tend to fascinate Americans. The “Darwinian world of nightlife” in Japan isn’t explored in much depth, but it adds atmosphere to the story. The ending is in some respects a little sad, a bit touching, but the story is never marred by melodrama.

RECOMMENDED

Another one of Higashino-sensei's must-read if you're a fan of the Galileo series. My overall review is a 3.8/5 star. It's nothing to be considered a page-turner, nor was it a bad read to be considered a complete skip. My criticism was mainly on the writing towards the second half of the book, where it had great potential for more significant plot twists and details. The storytelling for each character's back story seemed a bit too straightforward for my liking. For context, my favorite books from him are Journey under the midnight sun, and Namiya.
I enjoyed learning more about professor Yukawa's upbringing, his deep bond with detetctive Kusanagi, and also the typical family-oriented theme from all of sensei's novels.
Pardon me for a simpleminded review. It's been quite some time since I've last constructed a somewhat decent paragraph.
I'm definitely looking forward to perhaps rewatching the Galileo series while waiting for some new content.
This year I've read: Newcomer, A death in Tokyo, The final curtain, and Invisble Helix. It's a good Keigo book to end the year with, reaching my goal of 20 books for 2024. I'm excited to read more of sensei's books in 2025 alongside other Japanese novels ;)
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an advanced ebook, I'm eternally grateful <3

I hadn't read any Detective Galileo mysteries before, so I think I might have enjoyed this one more if I had a bit more background on the characters. I still read through without stopping as the mystery held my interest though.

The body of a murdered man has been found, shot in the back. His abused girlfriend has gone missing, but the man is such a universally unliked character that there are a host of others who might have killed him. The brilliant Physicist Manabu Yukawa assists detectives Kusanagi and Utsumi in their investigation, connecting the complex threads and people involved, including eventually himself.

We don't really get to know any of the characters in depth, just sort of superficial overviews of several women who have faced unfortunate circumstances along with various investigators working on the case.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this one, along with all the unexpected connections that came together. I don't know that I'd call it cozy but it was sort of a low-stress version of a thriller except for the glimpses of domestic violence. The story held my interest fairly well; it started slowly but gathered steam as it went.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for this book to review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Keigo Higashino for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Invisible Helix coming out December 17, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a few books by this author. I really love Japanese police procedural and murder mystery books. I thought it was really good. I enjoyed the story and characters. There were some serious topics, so it’s not quite like a cozy mystery. There were some things that I didn’t enjoy as much. I wanted more of a murder mystery. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Japanese stories!