Higashino Keigo was a Japanese writer born in the Ikuno Ward, Osaka City, Japan. He incorporated his experience in his hometown into his works; notable examples include "Byakuya" and "Namiwa Shonen Tanteidan". Originally, his last name was read as Tono, but his father changed the reading to Higashino. He graduated from the department of electrical engineering of Osaka Prefecture University. While in college, he was the captain of the archery club. Archery would go on to be used in his debut work "Houkago (After School)".

While working as an engineer in 1983, he submitted his work, "Ningyotachi no Ie", for the 29th Edogawa Ranpo Award. He also got married to his wife, a part-time high school teacher, around that time.

In 1984, his novel, "Makyu", became a finalist for the 30th Random Walk Awards but was defeated. He had better results in the following year when his novel "Houkago" won the 31st Edogawa Ranpo Award, which started his career as a novelist. He retired from engineering in 1986 and moved to Tokyo, where he set out to become a full-time author.

While he faced initial difficulties in his path to becoming a full-time author, he got his big break after 1996's "Meitantei no Okite" and 1998's "Himitsu" won awards and were subsequently adapted.

Since then, he steadily improved his reputation as an author. 2006's "Dedication of Suspect X" became the winner of the 134th Naoki Award and the 6th Authentic Mystery Award. He and his wife reportedly divorced around that time.

In 2009, he became the chairman of the Japanese Society for Detective Authors through election. In 2014, he became a selection member of the Naoki Awards.

In 2011, he donated the profit from the reprinting of his book "Kirin no Tsubasa" to relief efforts after the Great Hanshin Earthquake. It was announced in April of 2020 that, due to the spread of COVID-19, he would be releasing his work in the ebook format for the first time. In 2019, he received an award for his contributions to the publishing world.

He died on July 23, 2026, of colon cancer.

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