The Transparent Labyrinth (Hardcover) - Detective Galileo Series 10

Author Keigo Higashino · Publisher Bukda · Publication Date 2026-07-22 · ISBN 9791170614043

Book Introduction

***** Over 16 million copies sold in the series
***** Original work for the Netflix series 『Galileo』
***** #1 overall on Tohan

The latest installment in the Galileo series
where Yukawa's secret is revealed for the first time

· An author whose name is a genre in itself
Keigo Higashino's representative series

『Transparent Spiral』, a full-length novel by Keigo Higashino, “the author who represents Japan today,” “the most beloved mystery writer in East Asia,” and “the Japanese genre fiction writer most favored by Koreans,” has been published by the comprehensive publishing brand Bukda. Debuting with 『After School』 in 1985, Keigo Higashino has published numerous bestsellers starting with 『The Secret』, followed by 『The Devotion of Suspect X』, 『Journey Under the Midnight Sun』, 『Miracles of the Namiya General Store』, 『The Guardian of the Camphor Tree』, and 『The Imaginary Crime』, establishing an unrivaled position. Over 40 years, the author has published over 100 works, actively working across various genres including full-fledged mysteries, human dramas, sci-fi, thrillers, and social mysteries. His works have been adapted into various films, dramas, and games, and in Korea, 『Journey Under the Midnight Sun』, 『The Devotion of Suspect X』, and 『The Wandering Blade』 have been made into films.
Among them, 'Galileo' can be called the author's representative series in terms of topicality, completeness, and sales. 16% (16 million copies) of his "cumulative sales of 100 million copies" come from this series. Furthermore, in a reader popularity survey held to commemorate Keigo Higashino's 40th anniversary as an author in 2025, the third work in the series, 『The Devotion of Suspect X』, took first place, and a total of four works, including 『Midsummer's Equation』 (13th), 『Salvation of a Saint』 (15th), and 『Detective Galileo』 (19th), were selected in the Best 20. 『Transparent Spiral』, the tenth work in this series, which was first serialized in Japan in 1996 and celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, topped the Tohan overall bestseller list immediately upon its publication in Japan in 2021 and ranked highly on various bookstore bestseller lists, proving its enduring popularity. 『Transparent Spiral』, which reveals for the first time the secret of the protagonist Manabu Yukawa, which has been shrouded in mystery until now, marks a new turning point in the Galileo series.

· The secret a genius physicist has kept hidden his entire life
“Manabu Yukawa, I absolve you of your sins!”

The body of a man with a gunshot wound to his back floats to the surface of the sea off Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo. As his identity is confirmed, the woman he lived with, who had reported him missing, disappears. Detectives Kusanagi and Utsumi, who take on the case, unexpectedly discover Yukawa's name during their investigation. Kusanagi visits his old friend to ask for help, but Yukawa flatly refuses. However, as Yukawa escorts Kusanagi out, he suddenly says he will cooperate with the investigation in a different way. Later, Utsumi, who visits the crime scene with Yukawa, senses that this physicist is hiding something. Yet, the investigation makes little progress, and the police repeatedly miss clues. Eventually, Yukawa decides to reveal the secret he has kept for a long time himself….

Yukawa frowned, turned his head towards the sea, and then spoke in a heavy voice.
“How many years has it been since we knew each other? Ten years… or even longer?”
“I was in my twenties then.”
Yukawa nodded.
“I see. I was going to tell Kusanagi, but he wouldn't be angry if I told you first. After all, you said you came today as Kusanagi's proxy.” (Page 291)

What truth has Yukawa been holding onto alone for so long? What connection does it have to this case? Why did he get involved in the case himself? Regarding 『Transparent Spiral』, the author said, “It's a work that cannot be explained in a single sentence. I have finally unraveled a story that only the author had kept for a long time. Galileo fans will surely be surprised, and Higashino fans will be even more surprised.” The truth revealed when two completely different incidents overlap by chance. Can this be explained by science alone?

· A stable detective, cool but not cynical
A work that finally discovers the human 'Manabu Yukawa'

The absolute role of the protagonist Manabu Yukawa, who focuses on ‘how’ to solve impregnable mysteries rather than the motive or background of the incident, is crucial to the fervent popularity of the Galileo series. Yukawa, a university professor and physicist rather than a police officer or detective, is reluctantly involved in cases at the request of his university classmate, Detective Kusanagi. Although he must solve problems based on reports and circumstances rather than on-site investigations, he consistently solves difficult riddles with his unique coolness and brilliance. Despite his picky and stubborn personality and seeming lack of interest in the motive or conclusion of a crime, he readily lends a hand if he deems it necessary.
While retaining the structure and strengths of previous works, 『Transparent Spiral』 delves deeply into the human side of Manabu Yukawa by revealing his past and secrets. Yukawa's line in the novel, "You know nothing about me," might be what the author wanted to tell the readers. Kim Sun-young, the translator of this work into Korean, stated, "What we have seen until now might have been the long adolescence of a genius physicist," and added that 『Transparent Spiral』 has a unique presence as "a work that finally discovered the human 'Manabu Yukawa'." Manabu Yukawa has steadfastly maintained his perspective and logic for a long time. We are confident that this book will deepen readers' affection for him.

· First special project in the series
Includes the short story "Overlap"
The special short story "Overlap" is also not to be missed. 『Transparent Spiral』 is the first in the Galileo series to combine a full-length novel with a short story. It depicts the story after the major incident encountered in 『Transparent Spiral』. It will be a special gift for all readers who are reluctant to close the book just yet.

· Enthusiastic tributes from Japanese readers

***** A work that only Keigo Higashino could write.
***** It contains the secret of the human Galileo, and more.
***** Could it really be read this smoothly?
***** I never thought I would shed tears while reading the Galileo series.
***** It contains the maturity of a full-length novel and the sharpness of a short story.
***** In the end, I realized it could only be Manabu Yukawa.
***** Galileo revived in the 'house where I died long ago'.



Inside the Book

I don't know where or how I walked. When I came to my senses, I was on a train. I looked out at the dark outside through the window and thought, why am I going to Tokyo?
--- p.18

A detailed examination of the body revealed a crucial fact. There was a wound on the back that appeared to be a bullet hole. An autopsy found a bullet in the body. Since he was shot from behind, suicide was unlikely, and it was determined that the body was shot by someone.
--- p.39

Maki Okatani put her smartphone back in her pocket and looked at Kaoru, saying, "Hey, maybe Sonoka ran away?"
"Ran away? From whom?"
Maki Okatani leaned in close. "I mean, from her boyfriend."
"What do you mean?"
"Sonoka, she was probably being beaten by her boyfriend. Dating violence, you know."
--- p.67

Kusanagi opened the last page of the picture book. His profile looked clearly uninterested. But the moment he turned his gaze to the page, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Did Mr. Asahi read this reference material?" Kusanagi asked, his voice tinged with tension.
--- p.94

Surprised by the unexpected words, Kusanagi stared straight at his old friend's face.
"How are you going to cooperate?"
"I'll tell you later. It was good to see you. Get home safely." With that, Yukawa abruptly turned his back.
"No, wait a minute. Hey, Yukawa!"
Yukawa must have heard Kusanagi calling, but he neither stopped nor looked back, disappearing towards the elevator.
--- p.115

After checking the photos on his smartphone, Manager Aoyama's reaction was markedly different from last time. His eyes sparkled, and he nodded vigorously.
"This is the person. No doubt about it. She wasn't dressed up this much that day, but I thought she was a stylish person for her age."
--- p.155

The dim room lit up. Someone must have turned on the light switch. It was still daytime, but it felt as if blackout curtains were drawn.
The living room area with the reception set was visible. There was also a dining table further inside.
Kusanagi quickly scanned the room, looking for signs of people. But within the visible range on the screen, he found none.
--- p.211

"Yukawa, you..."
He stopped himself from asking what he was hiding. He knew he wouldn't answer. Instead, he told him to look up.
"What you said earlier, it wasn't a lie, was it? That you wouldn't obstruct the investigation."
"I promise. And I didn't betray you either."
--- p.235

It was truly amusing. Of course, he wasn't scoffing at Yukawa's deduction. It was just funny that a secret kept for decades could be unraveled so easily when a brilliant mind tackled it. The long years of carefully guarded secrecy felt foolish.
--- p.246

Table of Contents

Transparent Spiral

Special Short Story: Overlap

Translator's Afterword