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Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino, Alexander O. Smith
20 reviews
lilifane's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow. I'm kind of speechless.
Loved this, easy 5 stars, my ideal type of mystery-thriller.
I was skeptical during the first half because it was kind of slow, and I was convinced I knew where it was going. There is no action in the book btw, it's just police investigations, interviewing suspects, checking alibis. Which I love, but it might not appeal to everyone. I also didn't care for the characters that much at first and was rather removed from the story. But I loved the premise and I had a theory early on so I was intrigued enough to keep reading. And although the plot was slow/quiet, the reading went by very quickly. This is a very readable book.
What made it a 5 star was the last 50 pages or so. I went through all kinds of emotions then. I suddenly was attached to the characters and felt a lot of feelings. And then the author got me in the end. Ah, I was on the right path, but I didn't think about it enough. (This is not a whodunit, by the way, it's more like a howdunit.)
Now I want to read more in this series (especially since I'm now emotionally attached to the detectives) but... why aren't the first books translated yet?!?!? I mean, I guess you can read them out of order, which I will probably do... but my completionist brain is suffering.
Loved this, easy 5 stars, my ideal type of mystery-thriller.
I was skeptical during the first half because it was kind of slow, and I was convinced I knew where it was going. There is no action in the book btw, it's just police investigations, interviewing suspects, checking alibis. Which I love, but it might not appeal to everyone. I also didn't care for the characters that much at first and was rather removed from the story. But I loved the premise and I had a theory early on so I was intrigued enough to keep reading. And although the plot was slow/quiet, the reading went by very quickly. This is a very readable book.
What made it a 5 star was the last 50 pages or so. I went through all kinds of emotions then. I suddenly was attached to the characters and felt a lot of feelings. And then the author got me in the end. Ah, I was on the right path, but I didn't think about it enough. (This is not a whodunit, by the way, it's more like a howdunit.)
Now I want to read more in this series (especially since I'm now emotionally attached to the detectives) but... why aren't the first books translated yet?!?!? I mean, I guess you can read them out of order, which I will probably do... but my completionist brain is suffering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Death
Minor: Violence
maissi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
fathimaroshni's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I knew how it would end but didn't know what would happen till the end and God, when I came to know it, I gasped!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
atalea's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Stalking
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt
mordshunger's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The "genius" Detective Galileo tells his friend "You overestimate my value. I haven't found out anything. It's all conjecture." - and he is telling the truth. He doesn't add any value or enjoyment to the book. He doesn't find out anything in particular. Everything he states as logical conclusion and fact is a conjecture so painfully thin, so sexist, so dumb and flat that it doesn't hold any water.
Women are weak and feeble creatures who could never kill a man because he is ten centimetres taller than them. If they had help, it must've been a man - no reason for this, it could have been another woman, but the possibility is never considered.
Badminton is an exhausting sport that would surely prevent a teenage girl from going to the cinema after. Laughable. The girl looks skinny, therefore she cannot possibly have enough stamina for a day like that.
Everyone in this book sucks.
Kudo for example: Who tells anyone that their wife died by stating that they are single now? Also he knew that his wife had cancer for a year and didn't tell her? He straight up says she might have died not knowing what she had. What a twat.
Who in their right mind would marry a man who talks about his late wife like that?
Kusanagi is a bumbling idiot, seemingly surprised by everything and doesn't know how to keep a poker face. He's lucky that doesn't matter, because everyone else is just as stupid.
Everyone gets pestered about their alibis again and again and nobody ever gets legal counsel or stops cooperating. The mother never talks
to her daughter about how she feels after the murder. They seem to have no relationship at all.
Every thought anyone has at any time is spelt out. You have no room left to be a tiny bit clever, everything is clear as day. This author must think of you as a daft idiot.
The promised "killer twist" can be spotted from a mile away, and even if you don't, it's not worth suffering through this for it.
Reviews kept raving about the ending, so I stuck it out. Don't be like me.
The ending was flat and inane.
Women are weak and feeble creatures who could never kill a man because he is ten centimetres taller than them. If they had help, it must've been a man - no reason for this, it could have been another woman, but the possibility is never considered.
Badminton is an exhausting sport that would surely prevent a teenage girl from going to the cinema after. Laughable. The girl looks skinny, therefore she cannot possibly have enough stamina for a day like that.
Everyone in this book sucks.
Kudo for example: Who tells anyone that their wife died by stating that they are single now? Also he knew that his wife had cancer for a year and didn't tell her? He straight up says she might have died not knowing what she had. What a twat.
Who in their right mind would marry a man who talks about his late wife like that?
Kusanagi is a bumbling idiot, seemingly surprised by everything and doesn't know how to keep a poker face. He's lucky that doesn't matter, because everyone else is just as stupid.
Everyone gets pestered about their alibis again and again and nobody ever gets legal counsel or stops cooperating. The mother never talks
to her daughter about how she feels after the murder. They seem to have no relationship at all.
Every thought anyone has at any time is spelt out. You have no room left to be a tiny bit clever, everything is clear as day. This author must think of you as a daft idiot.
The promised "killer twist" can be spotted from a mile away, and even if you don't, it's not worth suffering through this for it.
Reviews kept raving about the ending, so I stuck it out. Don't be like me.
The ending was flat and inane.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
hesticht's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
atamano's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
jhbandcats's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Update: reread this ten months later and I'm still bowled over by this book.
Wow. Gradual buildup to a walloping ending. A contemporary Tokyo mystery about friendship, loyalty, and obsession, this story starts with a sad tale of domestic abuse. Divorced Yasuko and her teenage daughter are horrified when the abusive ex-husband shows up, claiming to want to get back together (but looking for money, too). They thought they’d successfully hidden their tracks - Yasuko is in a new job and a new apartment, the daughter in a new school - but somehow he found them and now he’ll never leave them alone. The ex taunts them, reveling in his power over them, things get violent, and next-door neighbor Ishigami, hearing the ruckus, comes to offer help.
With Ishigami’s assistance the body is disposed of. The police suspect Yasuko but her alibi is pretty tight. The lead investigator enlists the help of his genius friend Yukawa, who had gone to school and greatly admired the equally brilliant Ishigami. Yukawa begins to suspect Ishigami’s involvement. It’s clear someone is hiding something.
The author deftly creates such sympathetic characters that you want the criminals to escape punishment and the investigators to solve the murder. The plot is far more complicated than it first appears, and, as indicated above, the ending is both shocking and wrenching.
Highly recommended. In fact, I just found out this was made into a movie so I’m going to watch it. There’s no way it’ll be as good as the book, though.
Wow. Gradual buildup to a walloping ending. A contemporary Tokyo mystery about friendship, loyalty, and obsession, this story starts with a sad tale of domestic abuse. Divorced Yasuko and her teenage daughter are horrified when the abusive ex-husband shows up, claiming to want to get back together (but looking for money, too). They thought they’d successfully hidden their tracks - Yasuko is in a new job and a new apartment, the daughter in a new school - but somehow he found them and now he’ll never leave them alone. The ex taunts them, reveling in his power over them, things get violent, and next-door neighbor Ishigami, hearing the ruckus, comes to offer help.
With Ishigami’s assistance the body is disposed of. The police suspect Yasuko but her alibi is pretty tight. The lead investigator enlists the help of his genius friend Yukawa, who had gone to school and greatly admired the equally brilliant Ishigami. Yukawa begins to suspect Ishigami’s involvement. It’s clear someone is hiding something.
The author deftly creates such sympathetic characters that you want the criminals to escape punishment and the investigators to solve the murder. The plot is far more complicated than it first appears, and, as indicated above, the ending is both shocking and wrenching.
Highly recommended. In fact, I just found out this was made into a movie so I’m going to watch it. There’s no way it’ll be as good as the book, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, and Stalking
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect for fans of Columbo! This is a howdunnit of the highest calibre. After murdering her abusive husband with the help of her daughter, Yasuko fears for her and her daughters lives. Unbeknownst to her, the crime was witnessed by her next door neighbour Ishigami, a genius maths teacher who happens to be in love with Yasuko, who offers to cover up the crime and help her escape the police.
This is a great thriller mystery. Yasuko’s paranoia is palpable, and her relationship with Ishigami becoming more strained, yet more intimate, really sells the fear and dread. Ishigami and detective Galileo are old friends, and have similar personalities. There were certain aspects that left me really sad, and the ending was so tragic. It’s a game of cat and mouse that had me hooked!
This is a great thriller mystery. Yasuko’s paranoia is palpable, and her relationship with Ishigami becoming more strained, yet more intimate, really sells the fear and dread. Ishigami and detective Galileo are old friends, and have similar personalities. There were certain aspects that left me really sad, and the ending was so tragic. It’s a game of cat and mouse that had me hooked!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Gore, and Death
jourdanicus's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This one is definitely a bit out of my wheelhouse but I'm glad to have read it. I heard it recommended on the Currently Reading podcast and was sold by their presentation of it. The first two chapters caught my attention immediately, but I did feel like most of the middle of the book dragged. Maybe that was just me (or maybe a translation issue?) because I've heard another reader say the first two chapters were actually harder for them to get through and then they loved the rest of the book. The twist(s) at the end were worth the price of admission in my opinion. The plot was paced well enough that I was almost able to put the pieces together myself by the end, which I love in a mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
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