Keigo Higashino, a prominent Japanese author renowned for his best-selling mystery novels, died on July 23 at the age of 68 due to colorectal cancer, his publisher Kodansha announced on Monday. Over a prolific career, Higashino wrote more than 100 books, which sold approximately 109 million copies in Japan alone and were translated into multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Korean, and French. His works have been published in 41 countries and territories worldwide.

Born on February 4, 1958, in Osaka, Higashino initially disliked reading as a child. He graduated from Osaka Prefecture University with a degree in electrical engineering and worked at Denso, an automotive parts manufacturer, while writing in his spare time. His literary career began in earnest after winning the Edogawa Rampo Prize in 1985 for his debut novel, "After School," a mystery inspired by his university life and his former wife’s work as a teacher.

Higashino gained international recognition with his 2005 novel "The Devotion of Suspect X," which became his English-language breakthrough. The novel was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2012 and was named one of the 100 best mystery and thriller books of all time by Time magazine. It has been adapted into films in Japan, China, South Korea, and India. Another notable work, "Newcomer" (2009), was nominated for a Dagger Award in 2019. Themes in Higashino’s novels often involved ordinary individuals such as schoolteachers, children, and pawnbrokers who become involved in or victims of hidden violence.

Higashino was the first Japanese author to be nominated for both the Edgar Award in the United States and the Dagger Award in the United Kingdom, two of the most prestigious awards in the mystery and crime genres. His works have been adapted into various films, including "The Secret," a 2007 French production starring David Duchovny based on his 1999 Japanese novel of the same name.

In a 2006 interview, Higashino described his narrative approach as balanced, emphasizing that he maintained multiple perspectives in his storytelling by embodying roles such as defense attorney, prosecutor, judge, and even defendant. This approach, he said, prevented the narrative from favoring a single viewpoint.

Higashino received the Medal with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government in 2023, recognizing his contributions to art and academia. At the time, he expressed a continued commitment to entertaining and encouraging readers, likening his efforts to climbing a mountain—believing persistence would eventually lead to success.

His last novel, "Eternal Memory," is scheduled for release on August 5 through the Tokyo-based publisher Bungeishunju. Details regarding his survivors have not been disclosed.