The body of Ryota Uetsuji was found floating in Tokyo Bay, and his girlfriend Sonoka is a suspect, but Sonoka was away in Kyoto at the time of the death and has an alibi.

The themes of adoption and finding one's family years later is prevalent. The themes in Sonoka's story of adoption are also threaded into the story of a police consultant, the brilliant physicist Yukawa. Misguided and misinformed individuals also make mistaken assumptions in this compelling story of family connections.

I enjoyed the storyline and the easy way of writing by Higashino that made this detective novel enjoyable and also suspenseful. Another excellent book and the fifth in the Detective Galileo series.

Unfortunately I did not get a chance to finish readi g this book. I will now have to purchase it. What I did read I really enjoyed.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Keigo Higashino’s latest installment in the Detective Galileo series, Invisible Helix, is a masterful blend of mystery, science, and human emotion. Known for his intricate plots and deep character development, Higashino does not disappoint in this fifth book featuring the beloved physicist-detective, Manabu Yukawa, also known as Detective Galileo.

The story kicks off with the discovery of a young man’s body floating in Tokyo Bay. What initially appears to be a straightforward case soon unravels into a complex web of hidden histories and impossible crimes. 

Higashino excels in creating multi-dimensional characters. Detective Galileo remains a fascinating protagonist, combining scientific rigor with a deep sense of justice. The supporting characters, from the determined police officers to the enigmatic suspects, are well-developed and add depth to the narrative.

Invisible Helix explores themes of memory, identity, and the impact of the past on the present. Higashino’s background in engineering and physics shines through in the scientific elements of the plot, making the story intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

Higashino’s writing is crisp and engaging, with a perfect balance of dialogue and description. The pacing is impeccable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats while allowing for moments of introspection and character development.

Invisible Helix is a compelling read that will satisfy both long-time fans of Detective Galileo and newcomers to the series. Higashino’s ability to weave complex scientific concepts into a gripping mystery is unparalleled, making this book a standout in the genre. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotionally rich detective story.

This is the second book I've read by Keigo Higashino, and I enjoyed it as much as the first (The Final Curtain). Detective Kusanagi works to find the killer of a man washed up on a shore in Tokyo. He hits a dead end until he decides to consult with an old professor friend who seemingly has a very tenuous connection to the case. There are secrets and twists along the way, and although we are let in on the possible killer fairly early on, certain aspects of the case turn out to be surprising. I wasn't a hundred percent satisfied with the ending, but perhaps there will be another installment. Recommended.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for the ARC.

This is the second police procedural by Higashino that I have read, and whereas the whodunnit aspect is not as intricate as in other nationalities, the inclusion of Japanese culture and personality makes for an intriguing experience.

The body of a young man who was the boyfriend of a woman named Sonoka Shimauchi is discovered floating in the bay. Though she filed missing persons reports with the police, when they late look to question he she's disappeared along with an older woman who writes children's books and is a family friend. On top of that, the investigation brings out another potential suspect in the form of someone Detectives Kusanagi knows personally. And even further complicating things, "Detective Galileo" acts a bit at odds with helping the investigation, especially when it comes up that he may have a connection to one of the people of interest.
Another engrossing, enjoyable mystery from Higashino. As has happened before, the killer is revealed way before the end of the book, yet the true motivations and mechanics of what led to and how the murder was committed isn't fully fleshed out until the latter chapters of the novel. Early on I correctly who the killer would be, though it took awhile to figure out who that actually was. And there certainly were a couple of extra twists towards the end, one of which I definitely didn't see coming.

cultural-heritage, due-diligence, mystery-fiction, surprises, suspense, crime-thriller, abusive-spouse, Japan, detective, determination, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-history, law-enforcement, procedural, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, missing-persons, secrets, lies, murder-investigation, unpleasant-victims*****

The helix represents the insane complexity of the tale as well as the role of DNA in digging for the truth. There's an orphanage, a devoted mother, several abusive men, a woman who has risen in status, a body washed up on the shore, Tokyo Municipal PD Homicide Division, and a professor of physics who has assisted in solving several cases. Unravelling the truth takes time and perseverance. Another excellent exercise in logic and more.
Thanks to translator Giles Murray for turning the Japanese into English.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Pub Date Dec 17, 2024
#DetectiveGalileoBk5 #Procedural #Japan

This is the third mystery I've read by Keigo Higashino and it's my favorite. This book has it all: orphans and orphanages, sudden deaths and murder, generous mother figures, and enough plot twists to make me reel. All of this is set in Japan, mostly in Tokyo.

Main character Detective Kusanagi needs help with a murder. He consults a friend he's relied upon before: physicist Manabu Yukawa, nicknamed Detective Galileo. Sure enough, he helps to lead the detective in the right direction. And yet, Kusanagi has the feeling his friend is holding something back. What on earth could it be?

"Invisible Helix" moves quickly and has a very satisfying ending. No cliffhangers here! Author Keigo Higashino develops unusual, interesting plots and his stories are page-turners. "Invisible Helix" is the fifth book of the Detective Galileo series. I wish I'd read them in order, but I unknowingly read Book 3 first, not knowing it was part of a series. So, I can say from experience that they do stand alone well.

The intricate plot, combined with Galileo’s sharp mind and the emotional depth of the characters, kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s a compelling, intellectually stimulating mystery that feels both fresh and deeply engaging.

Invisible Helix is a story of domestic abuse and, ultimately, murder. There is so much more to this story than that one sentence. The mystery is, who committed that murder?

It’s a story of several families and their interrelationships. The story is extremely well developed; the author excels at keeping the multitudes of details, clues, hints, and innuendos from becoming confusing. I hated to see it end. I especially enjoyed how all the strings were tied up at the end with a very satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to Mr Higashino and St Martins Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Invisible Helix. I enjoyed it immensely.

I continue to be a big fan of the Detective Galileo series and was excited when this book was translated into English and available to read. This is a multi-generational story and did not end up the way I thought it would. You learn more about different family relationships and the backstories of some of the characters, but it would also be fine to read as a stand alone.

The book is written with narrative and time shifts, but it's never confusing or hard to follow. What seems like a straightforward situation - a murder of a man who is then dumped in the river - is revealed to be increasingly more complicated with ties to the past (including Galileo's past). It all ties together beautifully and while I was able to guess the nature of the solution, there was an additional twist that I did not predict.

Invisible Helix was a good detective story with a lot of false leads and suspicious characters. I enjoyed the unraveling of the mysterious backgrounds of the suspects as well as the glimpse into crime solving in Japan.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Invisible Helix.

I've been reading this series for several years and look forward when a new book comes out.

This is a no-frills, easy to understand, straight to the point mystery with no drama or silly twists.

Invisible Helix is also the most personal mystery featuring Professor Galileo as he's dealing with ailing parents, reconnecting with his birth mother, and a case that demonstrates the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

I enjoy novels, especially mysteries with just the right amount of character development (not easy to do) but learning more about the professor's background is insightful, explaining his personality and behaviors.

I do agree with reviewer(s) that the English translation is cringeworthy.

Some phrases and dialogue made me laugh and roll my eyes. No one in the US talks like this!

Of the 11 books I've read by Keigo Higashino, this felt the most simple and straightforward, but as always it was an enjoyable read :) While most of his books have a strong focus on the characters, Invisible Helix is definitely centered around the characters' relationships over the mystery/crime itself. Any of the other books in the Detective Galileo series might be better to start with for someone looking for a more complex mystery, but this book fits in well with the rest of the series!

As usual, Higashino presents a cast of characters with unexpected relationships to each other. This one was a quick snappy read (flowed well) and also humanized Yukawa in a way that many of the other Higashino books don’t.

As a Higashino fan I recommend it.

Higashino never disappoints with his mysteries. This one is fantastic in that we get so much more about Yukawa here. More of his background, family, and childhood and it all weaves easily into the characters found in Invisible Helix. There's something to be said for how Higashino delivers the information necessary for any reader to 'figure out' what happened. But, with all great mysteries, the mystery itself is only a part of the novel.

This is well worth your read if you've enjoyed previous Detective Galileo novels. I would suggest one would want to have read the earlier ones, though, as much of the narrative here is discovering who Detective Galileo is, right along with him.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review of this book.

This was my first book by Mr. Higashino. Although I finished this book in 2 sittings, I really struggled to relate to any of the characters. I love Japan, but perhaps its Japan's small island size, but the perspectives seem so small to my American sensibilities. I wanted to love this book but I have to say it was just ok. However, if you enjoy Japanese thrillers, police dramas and TV shows, then I would think this would be a very enjoyable book. For me, this book was 3.5 stars.

Another winner from Keigo Higashino! Fantastic characters, languid pacing, part mystery, part police procedural. A fast paced story

This was my 13th book by Keigo Higashino! I would have to say it’s a fast read like pretty much all of his books, and pretty good overall. Some of the stories confused me at first, but it all came together (with some twists!) in the end.

Notable lines:

“However, you need to be aware of something. Telling the whole truth will only make things worse for everybody.”

"I just wondered if it's going to work out. Life's tough. Most people don't have the luxury of only doing the work they want to do."

“The truth is, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Decades have passed. Since then, I’ve met all sorts of people all living life in different ways. Now I can see what a fool I was back then. No one can live their life alone. It’s thanks to many other people that I am the person who I am today . . . “

[Blurb goes here]

I'm a big fan of Keigo Higashino. I have read all of his Detective Kyochiro Kaga and Detective Galileo (Manabu Yukawa) novels (the English-translated ones).

This new novel gives us a deeper glimpse into Professor Manabu Yukawa's past, making it a great read.

Keigo Higashino always gives 'life' to his characters through robust backstories that carefully unravel their deepest secrets and motivations.

In this story, Detective Kusanagi, Manabu Yukawa's best friend (if you could call their relationship 'friendship'), finds the body of Ryota Uetsuji, who washed ashore in Tokyo Bay; he was shot in the back. His live-in girlfriend, Sonoka, reported him missing days before.

As the story progresses, Detective Kusanagi contacts his friend. There's something that Yukawa can do to help with the investigation, but the Professor refuses in principle. Still, something odd happens: someone seems to be helping the suspects avoid the police. "Could it be Yukawa?" Kusanagi wonders.

While I enjoyed the novel to no end, I was a bit dissatisfied with it for two reasons:

1. I knew who the culprit was, some 30% into the story.
2. This is the first time the famous Detective Galileo seems to "guess" who's behind the murder.

Still, this is Keigo Higashino, and every one of his novels is well worth your time.

Thank you for the advanced copy!