Silent Parade

Realistic characters and beguiling descriptions of Japanese culture, food, and drinks in the fourth “Detective Gallileo” title (after A Midsummer’s Equation) illustrate why Higashino is one of Japan’s most popular authors. Detective Kusanagi of the Tokyo Homicide Division worked on two murder cases, 20 years apart. The suspect in both cases was Kanichi Hasunuma, but he was not convicted due to lack of evidence. The outraged friends and family of the latest victim, Saori Namiki, decide to avenge her murder during a massive annual parade. Their ironclad alibis challenge Kusanagi, who calls in his old friend, physics professor Manabu Yukawa, aka Detective Galileo. Galileo’s eccentric theories mesh with Kusanagi’s more traditional methods and are spot-on. Kusanagi’s compassion, particularly for those who suffer when the guilty go free, is palpable. Subtle humor adds levity to a roller coaster of emotion.