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A Midsummer's Equation: A Detective Galileo Mystery    by Keigo Higashino Amazon.com order for
Midsummer's Equation
by Keigo Higashino
Order:  USA  Can
Minotaur, 2016 (2016)
Hardcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Keigo Higashino's A Midsummer's Equation (translated by Alexander O. Smith) is a most unusual and thought provoking mystery set in Japan and featuring physicist Manabu Yukawa, dubbed Detective Galileo for previous times he helped the police. It's yet another twisty case with a very surprising solution, written by 'the most widely read author in Japan'.

The action mainly occurs in once popular resort town Hari Cove, which is holding a town meeting on a planned underwater-mining operation. The town could certainly use the increased business the mineral mining would bring but environmentalists are concerned about the impact. The night after the meeting is held, a retired Tokyo police detective is found dead at the base of cliffs. Did he fall off the seawall or was he pushed? And why was he in town in the first place?

While in the area to consult with the mining company, Manabu Yukawa stays at the Green Rock Inn. There, Narumi helps her parents run the inn and is also an activist working against the mining operation. We also meet her smart younger cousin Kyohei, who is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle by his parents to free their time for work. I enjoyed the mentoring relationship between Yukawa and Kyohei just as much as the mystery itself.

Said mystery is very well done and the sort where you want to re-read the story to fully take in and appreciate what has happened. I highly recommend it to you.

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