Malice - Book review

My list of favorite authors went up by one ever since I read “Devotion of suspect X” by Keigo Higashino. If at all there was an investigative thriller with such an exquisitely simple premise, I would be really surprised if it would be a shade on the book mentioned. Such was the mastery of the author that, had it been a poker game, he played with all his cards turned upfront and yet won the bet!! “Malice” his other novel may not be in the same category of “Devotion”, yet it stands out on its own merits. And yes, in this book also, the murder happens within twenty pages and the killer is identified in the next score of pages. Yet the book which is over 200 pages long, almost never lags in its pace and seldom loses its hold on the reader, keeping them hooked till the end.

One similarity between both the books being, the relatively lesser mention about local culture, cuisine or setup, but for the names of the characters. It not just makes the theme universal, but also easier to follow. I would really doubt had it been the case if we read the original version in Japanese. But full credit to the person who translated, Alexander Smith. If there is ever a case for a remake being better than the original, this effort should win the cake. Such is the fluency with which he has translated the book that nowhere it feels disjointed or forced. If the book succeeds in English, a good portion of the credit goes to the translator as well. Another unique feature that’s noticeable on both the novels where the straightforwardness of the situation and the simplicity of the investigative portions. Unlike Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle, who often introduce a totally different background or reason, un-identifiable to the reader, as the motive, both the novels, take the reader along with the investigation, with the process of questioning being as if we ourselves are asking those questions.

In this book, especially, while halfway through the investigation, when the killer writes his first confession, I was confused. Why should he stick on to the mental abuse and blackmail by the deceased, when he could’ve simply used a pseudonym and published his stories. Somehow it didn’t stick as a plausible reason for motive. Though not exactly that angle, the policeman has his own reason for not believing the story and the end reveals the spectacular. Just wanted to highlight that, such is the straight forwardness of the story that, when the police stumbles, we would feel so, for we would be piggybacking that character, tailing the investigative quest. May be this is the singularly main reason for the attractiveness of the novel. It goes to such an extent that when the grand reveal happens, the author gives a pat on the back to himself in the form of the character, acknowledging the credibility of the scene and the uniqueness of the twist. This happens on both the novels, but goes easy on the eye, for by that time, the reader is totally hooked into the investigation, accompanying the police on their quest.

The story is about that of a wannabe writer/school teacher, who kills his well-established author friend and gets caught by the police, despite his clever ploy of deception. Since all these happens within first 40 pages, it’s hardly a spoiler. The police, despite having caught the killer, plods on for a motive. The do identify a quick reason when they discover that the killer was a ghost writer for the deceased. The best part about the act being, the killer giving his own written testimony. Somehow, not satisfied, despite having such iron clad proofs, the inspector plods on and on. Would anyone bother to solve a problem already having an answer? When the final reveal happens it justifies those repeated attempts to dig deeper by the police.

Gils verdict – I relished the book from start to finish. Such was the mastery of the story that, it’s nothing but a well told tale of lies, with inbuilt set of lies. There are so many changes in our perception and by the end, one can’t help but feel wondering on the concept of truth in itself. Can anyone have so much hatred within to destroy themselves to achieve their means? MALICE is MAjorly LIES told with incredible honesty.