A Midsummer's Equation

A Midsummer's Equation by Keigo Higashino was an intriguing read. More ambitious than the previous entries in the Detective Galileo series for its huge cast of characters, it also features Yukawa visiting a small town on the coast. Therefore, a task force involving the local police, prefectural detectives, and Tokyo detectives Kusanagi and Utsumi are working to solve the murder of a retired detective from Tokyo in the town of Hari Cove. In addition, several other characters, including a 5th grader and possible suspects in the case have short chapters showing their perspective on events in the novel. In some cases, it felt a little excessive, although the use of Kyohei, the 5th grader, was humorous and included a number of important clues to the mystery. We will never forget Yukawa lecturing this child about science or helping him with his summer homework, either. Overall, this is yet another Detective Galileo mystery in which the detectives must search deeper in the past of those involved in a murder to close the case. In this novel, things are not so cut and dried, and there is a deeper meaning to many of Yukawa's interactions with Narumi, Kyohei and others. The largest flaw was perhaps never divulging a more plausible motive for one of the characters heavily involved in the case. It would probably have been even more effective if fewer characters received their short chapters detailing their actions...Of course, we were glad to see the author avoided one of the easier endings possible for a heart-wrenching tale such as this one...