His hero is an insightful detective whose disarmingly awkward charm helps him uncover the truth. Higashino's writing is emotionally charged and intellectually rewarding. –Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Classic yet inventive...
Newcomer will appeal most to fans of classic detective stories by the likes of Agatha Christie and Georges Simenon. Higashino's intricate plotting and a vivid setting come together in an absorbing mystery that will leave readers guessing until the very end. –
Bookreporter Kaga, a modern day Poirot, thinks even further outside the box than his Belgian predecessor, to the great delight of mystery aficionados –
Bookpage Delightful... Fans of classic whodunits should introduce themselves to this newcomer immediately. –
Shelf Awareness Exotic, original... highly recommended. –
Japan Times Newcomer is a cerebral puzzler's delight that, like Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries, offers a thought-provoking take on the tension between modernity and traditional culture and leaves a trail of mended relationships in its wake. –
Booklist
Rewarding... [readers] will appreciate Higashino's graceful prose and willingness to push the limits of the genre. –
Library Journal Clever and charming. –
The Sunday Times (London)