Zhang Ruoyi and Vivian Lin's 'The Devotion of Suspect X' Loses! Top 7 Chinese Adaptations of Keigo Higashino's Works, with the Champion Featuring Outstanding Performances and a Plot That Only Makes Sense at the End

Japanese mystery novelist Keigo Higashino passed away at the age of 68 from colon cancer on July 23, 2026. The news reignited discussions around his classic works, including 'The Devotion of Suspect X,' 'Naomi's Room,' and 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' Higashino's novels have previously been adapted multiple times for the screen in Japan, South Korea, and mainland China. To date, mainland China has produced seven officially released or broadcast film and web drama adaptations, starring actors such as Wang Kai, Zhang Ruoyi, Vivian Lin, Zhu Yawen, Jin Chen, and Peng Yuchang. However, the quality of these adaptations varies significantly. This article ranks the seven Chinese adaptations of Higashino's works from lowest to highest based on Douban ratings as of July 27, 2026, incorporating audience short reviews to analyze which versions successfully preserved the original charm and which failed to meet book fans' expectations.

7th Place: Deng Jiajia and Zhang Xincheng in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' | Douban Rating: 4.2

The 2022 web drama 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' is adapted from the novel 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' Deng Jiajia plays Jiang Yuanxing, severely injured in a fire, while Zhang Xincheng portrays Cheng Cheng, a man who suddenly enters her life. The story begins with a deadly midnight fire, and as Jiang Yuanxing investigates the truth, she becomes entangled in a wealthy family's inheritance dispute, identity secrets, and emotional deception.

Despite high expectations for the cast, the series faced criticism for its excessive focus on romance and sluggish suspense pacing. One netizen bluntly stated, 'I feel like I've been tricked—what a waste of Zhang Xincheng.' Others described the plot as 'no better than a horror film from ten years ago,' arguing that the adaptation diluted the novel's core theme of revenge and failed to develop many plot points into compelling narrative drivers.

6th Place: Ren Suxi and Liu Mintao in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' | Douban Rating: 4.9

The film version of 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' was released in 2023, with Ren Suxi playing Zhou Yang, a lawyer arriving at the mansion with a will, and Liu Mintao portraying Lin Zhenhui. After a wealthy businessman's death, family members gather to await inheritance distribution. Zhou Yang's arrival, however, uncovers a murder case from a year earlier—the deceased might have been the first-in-line heir to the entire estate, and the killer is hiding among the scheming relatives.

Compared to the series, the film restructured character identities and the mystery framework, but it still failed to win over most viewers. Some criticized the film for having 'three acts with three different styles, severely disjointed,' shifting from suspense comedy to female revenge, then veering into romance and family drama. Others pointed out that 'many characters act illogically,' and clues introduced early—such as paintings, wine glasses, and voyeurism—mostly served only to create atmosphere by the end.

5th Place: Wang Junkai, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Dong Zijian in 'Naomi's Room' | Douban Rating: 5.0

Released in 2017, 'Naomi's Room' stars Wang Junkai as Xiao Bo, Dilraba Dilmurat as Tongtong, and Dong Zijian as A Jie. Three young people flee into an abandoned convenience store and unexpectedly receive求助 letters from the past, beginning to answer life dilemmas for strangers they've never met. Gradually, they realize these stories are deeply connected to their own fates.

Audiences were divided on the film's localization and performances. Some described the Chinese version as 'a complete disappointment,' arguing that compressing multiple storylines made the novel's delicate emotional connections feel fragmented. Others defended the young actors, noting that 'Wang Junkai's acting has greatly improved compared to 'The Great Wall,' with visible emotional intensity in key scenes.

4th Place: Peng Yuchang and Hu Bingqing in 'The Kidnapping Game' | Douban Rating: 5.3

Released in 2024, 'The Kidnapping Game' stars Peng Yuchang as Lu Fei, a young man trying to turn his life around through gambling but burdened with massive debt, and Hu Bingqing as Qin Xiaoyao, the creditor's daughter. They conspire to stage a fake kidnapping to extract ransom from Qin Xiaoyao's father, but each harbors a separate agenda, and the game gradually spirals out of control.

The film's twists received partial praise. Even knowing a reversal was coming, some viewers said, 'I was still surprised when it unfolded,' appreciating the layered deceptions that maintained entertainment value. However, the romance subplot was controversial—some found the sudden romantic development 'awkward and abrupt,' arguing that the characters grew close too quickly after just establishing cooperation, weakening the tension of their mutual manipulation.

3rd Place: Wang Qianyuan and Wang Jingchun in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' | Douban Rating: 5.7

In 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue,' Wang Qianyuan plays Li Changfeng, a single father whose daughter is brutally murdered by juvenile offenders, driving him to pursue revenge. Wang Jingchun plays Detective Liang Jun, who chases Li Changfeng as he crosses legal boundaries while grappling with the contradictions between juvenile crime and judicial justice.

Wang Qianyuan's performance was the most divisive. Some viewers criticized him for 'only showing anger, not sorrow,' arguing that his intense acting suppressed the vulnerability of a father who lost his daughter. Others praised him for conveying immense repression through 'subtle expressions, eyes, and a hoarse voice,' successfully portraying a man's descent from ordinary life into despair.

2nd Place: Wang Kai, Zhang Ruoyi, and Vivian Lin in 'The Devotion of Suspect X' | Douban Rating: 6.3

Released in 2017, 'The Devotion of Suspect X' stars Wang Kai as physics professor Tang Chuan, Zhang Ruoyi as mathematical genius Shi Hong, and Vivian Lin as Chen Jing, who becomes entangled in a murder case. After police discover a body with a deliberately concealed identity, Tang Chuan gradually suspects his longtime friend Shi Hong's involvement, leading to a battle of evidence, logic, and emotion between two geniuses.

Zhang Ruoyi's performance received widespread acclaim. Some original novel readers called his final scenes 'textbook-level acting,' powerfully releasing Shi Hong's long-suppressed loneliness and breakdown. However, the film's pacing was criticized—some viewers felt it 'lacked a sense of rising tension,' and the mystery resolution came 'suddenly and flatly,' diminishing the impact of the novel's most shocking twist.

1st Place: Zhu Yawen and Jin Chen in 'Ten Days Game' | Douban Rating: 7.0

Released in 2020, 'Ten Days Game' stars Zhu Yawen as Yu Hai, a game studio owner who, after being cut off by investor Shen Hui, meets Lu Jie, played by Jin Chen, who claims to be Shen Hui's illegitimate daughter. They conspire to stage a fake kidnapping to extort ransom, and feelings develop between them. However, Lu Jie is later found dead, and Yu Hai becomes the prime suspect.

The ensemble cast, including Zhu Yawen, Jin Chen, Liu Yijun, and Geng Le, received the highest praise. Viewers called them 'all seasoned actors,' noting the intense tension in their scenes of mutual probing. The arc from cooperation to romance and forced separation made audiences wonder after the final twist: 'Were all the sweet moments I was given last week actually fake?' With its intertwined romance and crime investigation, 'Ten Days Game' became the highest-rated of the seven adaptations.