The Devotion of Suspect X, by Keigo Higashino

A deftly conceived and executed novel, The Devotion of Suspect X is a puzzling treat for any mystery fan. Higashino cleverly inverts the classic whodunit structure by revealing the "who" at the book's beginning, allowing the reader to focus on the complexities of how and why. He grounds the story in the perspectives of both the perpetrators and investigators, playing any possible sympathies against each other. On its face this is a straightforward procedural, but Higashino's methodical style and sleight of hand make it truly engrossing. And his moral and intellectual probing, while subtle, reaches a feverish high by the novel's conclusion.