TOKYO: Japanese mystery novelist Keigo Higashino, whose bestselling books captivated readers across Asia and beyond, has died at the age of 68, his publisher announced on Monday.
Publisher Kodansha said Higashino died of colon cancer in the early hours of July 23. A statement posted on the author’s official X account said his body of work would total 106 books, including his final novel, Eternal Memory, due for release on August 5.
Higashino made his literary debut with After School in 1985 and went on to write more than 100 novels, many of which were translated into over 40 countries and territories. His works, including The Devotion of Suspect X, Malice and The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, were also adapted into films and television series.
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Before becoming a full-time writer, Higashino worked as an engineer. He earned acclaim for blending detective fiction with science, psychological insight and emotional storytelling. According to Kodansha, his books have sold more than 100 million copies in Japan.
Tributes poured in from readers and fellow writers across Japan, China and South Korea, where his novels enjoyed immense popularity.
Former novelist and politician Naoki Hyakuta described Higashino as a “truly talented writer”, while social media users shared how his books had shaped their lives and inspired a love of reading.
In China, where his novels consistently ranked among the country’s most popular translated fiction, his death quickly became one of the top trending topics on social media.
