Keigo Higashino, author of 'The Devotion of Suspect X', dies at 68

Keigo Higashino, author of 'The Devotion of Suspect X', died at age 68 from colon cancer on July 23, 2026, according to publisher Kodansha.

Higashino wrote over 100 books, from his 1985 debut 'After School' to his latest 'Eternal Memory' scheduled for release on Aug 5, 2026.

His works merge science and detective fiction with observations on human nature, and have been translated into over 40 countries and adapted for film and TV, including the 'Galileo' series.

In Japan, his books have topped 100 million copies in domestic circulation; in China, 'The Miracles of the Namiya General Store' sold over 10 million copies within four years.

His death prompted widespread grief across Asia, trending on China's Weibo and drawing tributes from authors in South Korea and elsewhere.