Perfect Crime, Non-Perfect Crime

books & arts Perfect crime, Non-Perfect crime The Devotion of could have terrible consequences for unconventional context. Tetsuya Ishigami, Suspect X the world, as contemplated in the 2012 maths prodigy, turned by unfortunate film,Travelling Salesman (http://www. circumstances into an unhappy high-school By Keigo Higashino travellingsalesmanmovie.com). But teacher, skilfully covers up the murder (translated by fortunately, or unfortunately, it is most likely committed by his neighbour. The detective Alexander O. Smith) that P ≠ NP. assigned to investigate it brings the case to his There is no shortage of mathematics- and friend Manabu Yukawa, associate professor MINOTAUR BOOKS: physics-inspired fiction, nor of ‘science-y’ in the physics department of a fictitious top 2011. 448PP. £7.99 detective stories. But here is a ‘science university. Yukawa and Ishigami are both mystery’ — a genre championed by Japanese graduates from the very same university, authors, which is unfortunately too little and although in different departments they known in the West. Science mystery is written used to be engaged in a friendly rivalry. This t all starts with a murder — and from the by people with a scientific background and unexpected encounter with his university very beginning you know who the murderer Keigo Higashino and Hiroshi Mori (whose friend makes Yukawa take a personal interest Iis. The mystery is not who did it, but how it work is not yet translated into English) are in the case. But solving the puzzle devised was covered up. It may look like an unsolvable probably the best known representatives by the math genius is — as expected — quite case, but is there such a thing as a perfect of this genre. The plots are clever and hard, perhaps NP. crime? Keigo Higashino’s The Devotion of intellectually stimulating, and the science is TheDevotion of Suspect X is a cleverly- Suspect X is an unusual detective story built well documented and accurate (unlike some written mystery novel, full of suspense and around the question, “Which is harder: CERN-related fiction). The stories usually ingeniously concluded. The story does have devising an unsolvable problem, or solving involve eccentric, but charismatic, academics a few clichés, such as omnipresent lab coats that problem?” — in other words, the famous solving intricate murder cases committed (even though no experiments are going on), P = NP problem. by other scientists or by clever people with a but it also touches on some sad and very P = NP is one of the seven Clay good knowledge of science. The genre uses the real aspects of academia — the struggle Mathematics Institute Millennium Prize analytic and experimental tools of research to to get a permanent position, for instance. Problems, the renowned unsolved question formulate and test hypotheses and ultimately Yukawa (nicknamed Detective Galileo by of whether problems whose solutions can be find out the truth about the crime. It also his detective friend) is without doubt the quickly verified (that is, in polynomial time) touches on deeper questions about science scientist: logical, distant and unemotional, can also be solved quickly. The conundrum and ethics, which admittedly might be a completely absorbed by research and socially has deep implications: P = NP means little hard to digest for the general public. It inept to some extent. But at the same time he that all problems have easily computable is not hard science-fiction, but rather ‘hard is brilliant, sporty, good-looking and well- solutions, which would be wonderful science’ fiction. dressed (even fashionable). On top of that, for mathematicians and programmers In The Devotion of Suspect X two scientists however, Yukawa is obnoxious, stubborn and but devastating for cryptographers, and take on the P = NP problem in a very extremely annoying. A very unlikely portrait of a physicist — built out of stereotypes ON OUR BOOKSHELF and qualities of comic book heroes — yet The Golden Ticket: P, NP, and the Search for Yukawa still manages to be a very entertaining the Impossible character, with his dry humour and quirky By Lance Fortnow remarks: “people always suspect scientists of PRINCETON UNIV. PRESS: 2013. 188PP. US$26.95 being up to no good”. A general introduction to the P = NP problem — one Higashino has struck the perfect balance of the most important open problems in mathematics of ‘hard science’ and clichés, and has turned and computer science — which asks whether a Yukawa into a very popular character. The problem that can be checked quickly by a computer Devotion of Suspect X is the first novel in the can also be solved quickly by a computer. Detective Galileo series, which also includes five short-story volumes and two other novels (Salvation of a Saint and Midsummer The Scientific Sherlock Holmes: Cracking the Case Equation). The series has been very successful with Science and Forensics and in 2008 The Devotion of Suspect X was By James O’Brien adapted into a movie, and the second season OXFORD UNIV. PRESS: 2013. 256PP. £18.99 of a TV series is now being aired in Japan It’s time to place Sherlock Holmes’ scientific skills (http://www.fujitv.co.jp/galileo/index.html). under a magnifying glass. Apparently he was Perhaps the popularity of the series will spark a competent chemist, despite Isaac Asimov’s some general interest in physics and change assertion to the contrary, but he didn’t use the common stereotypes: physicists are not much physics. just geeks, they are cool geeks. ❐ REVIEWED BY IULIA GEORGESCU 318 NATURE PHYSICS | VOL 9 | JUNE 2013 | www.nature.com/naturephysics © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

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