Reviews

The Final Curtain by Keigo Higashino

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mg_in_md_'s review against another edition

4.0

I have read several books by this author previously, including another in the Detective Kaga series, and really enjoyed the pacing of the stories. These mysteries tend to be quiet and contemplative, even when dealing with murder. This one was no exception; I found it to be another well-crafted, complex mystery.

This is the fourth book in the series to have been translated into English but is the tenth book in the series in the original Japanese. I have found it easy to read the English translations out of order, as they read well as stand-alone novels. I hope that more are planned because I've found Kaga to be an interesting character and that the crimes he investigates to be incredibly engaging from start to finish. Some of the elements associated with the primary case in this book are unsavory, so this is a little gritty in spots.

In this installment, the reader learns more about Detective Kaga's background and how the disappearance of his mother many years ago has shaped the man he is today. As the story unfolds, there appears to be ties between the modern day murder being investigated and Kaga. Though he is not the lead detective officially, he is key to solving the crime and shaping the trajectory of the investigation. Clues are revealed meticulously and a careful, deliberate read is a must. The pacing was pitch-perfect and held my attention from the first page to the last.

Many thanks to Minotaur for a chance to read this NetGalley edition before its U.S. December 2023 publication date.

jwsg's review against another edition

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dark emotional fast-paced

4.5

I love Higashino's Detective Kaga series and it's a little sad that this is the final book in the series. As always, what makes the Detective Kaga series stand out is not just how Kaga untangles the different threads, and pieces together the various details and clues to solve the mystery. The murders in Higashino's novels often have roots that run back decades and part of the pleasure of his books is unpacking the intricate histories and back stories of the characters and their connections with the murder victim(s).

Here, a murder case that Kaga's cousin, Matsumiya, is investigating is somehow intertwined with the mystery of Kaga's mother, who left the family when Kaga was just a child. There are some familiar tropes here from Higashino's earlier books - a homeless man who is killed (The Devotion of Suspect X), the Nihonbashi bridges (A Death in Tokyo) - which were fun to spot.

beth_books_123's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

I'm so sad this series is over - 4*

I don't think this book was as great as previous ones but I still loved it. I'm going to miss Detective Kaga deeply. I definitely think I'm going to read more of Higashino's novels.