Японски загадки: Бундори

Sano Ichiro #2

by Laura Joh Rowland

Япония, 1689 г. В столицата Едо броди зловещ убиец. Главите на жертвите му са приковани към дървени дъски, а етикетите към тях отпращат разследването сто години назад - към времето на страховитите междуфеодални войни. Личният следовател на шогуна Сано Ичиро е изправен пред най-жестоката дилема в живота си - да залови убиеца би означавало да си направи сепуку... "Бундори" от Лора Джо Роуланд е втората книга от световно известната поредица романи за криминалните разследвания на самурая Сано Ичиро. За разлика от първата - "Шинджу", в Бундори съспенсът е сгъстен до краен предел - мрачен, готически и орнаментиран със стресираща еротика. Бундори е древнояпонското название на зловещ боен трофей - отсечена глава, забита върху клин и положена върху дървена поставка. Книгата изобилства от натуралистични сцени, убийствата са повече, отколкото в романите на Чейс, Агата Кристи, Дашиъл Хамет и Сименон, взети заедно. Натурализмът, обаче, изобщо не се изчерпва с кървави екзекуции, ритуални самоубийства и садистични кастрации. В "Бундори" са описани някои от най-разюзданите хомо- и хетеросексуални сцени, издавани у нас. Книгата е ценна и със сюжетното противопоставяне (във философски и боен план) на господстващите самураи и отритнатите нинджи.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Japan, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Crime

328 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1996

About the author

Granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, Laura Joh Rowland grew up in Michigan and where she graduated with a B.S. in microbiology and a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan. She currently lives in New Orleans with her husband. She has worked as a chemist, microbiologist, sanitary inspector and quality engineer.

Reviews

[imts · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Keep us safe from evil!"

Since the last book did not end on a cliffhanger, I was able to take my time before starting the sequel; it did not disappoint.

Well, mostly.

The mystery itself was well-written, the characters were diverse and their personalities were portrayed well. However, I was a bit unhappy with one thing: the way Sano obtained information. Most of it was, of course, completely normal, but sometimes he'd use veiled threats to get his message across, something I did not believe he was capable of, being so very virtuous in general. The insta-love factor also annoyed me to an extent, and kept me from giving this book a full five stars. Four isn't bad at all, though, is it? I really did like the overall novel, and have every intention of reading the next in the series whenever I get the chance to do so.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal, yet entirely consistent with the milieu. I thought some of the sex scenes were entirely gratuitous, but the rest of the book was solidly noir. The story of O-tama was particularly lovely in the midst of all that squalor. It's kinda weird that I feel that Sano is on a downward spiral with each book, but I guess that's why it's hard-boiled. Good stuff, with the occasional deft turn of phrase like this one, so very representative of a life lived dutifully:

"One doesn't expect to find love, and so it hurts all the more to lose it."

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having started the stories of Sano Ichiro with Shinju, I decided to progress onto the second book instead of jumping around in the series. I found the book to be enjoyable in both its changes and singularities.

The story takes place just a couple of months after Shinju. Sano is learning his way around the ways of Edo Castle and his new lord, Tokugawa. When the Bundori killings begin (bundori is the ritual preparation of the head of one's enemy in the time of war. A war trophy), Sano is assigned to arrest the murdered.

Not only does the murder plot, steeped in the history of one of the most notorious generals in the rise of the Tokugawa dynasty, engage the reader and keep the reader off guard, the political development of the story is rich and shows the venomous trends of life in Edo Castle.

The story adds a number of interesting characters to the tapestry of Rowland's Edo. Hirata is competent and a good potential assistant to Sano. Aoi adds a new dynamic to the entire setting. She is strong and has her internal conflicts than carry on through the story.

There is more to the book than plot and an interesting setting though, the end of the story sees a genuine change in the character. I definitely look forward to reading Way of the Traitor to see how that change is carried on to the next story.

The book is a good and entertaining read.

[Staša · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am torn by this book. The constant deus-ex-bushido-dad and deus-ex-female-character that enlightens everything about the plot the last minute, along with the authors very obvious displeasure and distaste for gay people, and with one rape scene where she oh no hates him but in secret she likes him so it's okay if she doesn't give her consent she secretly wants him and they're both turned on. Yeah. No.

The plot is intriguing at first but then it becomes a carbon copy of the first book. Almost everyone hates him although he's proven himself time and time again, he can't get the girl he likes and he has an existential crisis about bushido and his dumbass lord. And the deus-ex-daddy reappears and all is well. Except the main big bad still hates him and has vowed to make his life living hell.

1.75 (rounded up)/5

All the fun i had in the first book got sucked out of it by predictable, copy paste plot and hate ur gays trope. :/

I'm giving the series one more try.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit to being a tad disappointed

[Alcornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bundori is full of information about life in Japan during the samurai era, but--as in the films of the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa--the information flows naturally from the story and never once intrudes on it. Sano Ichiro is an intrepid character, and this 2nd book in the series continues a satisfying character development arc while introducing both Hirata, who becomes Sano's retainer, and also the shogun's chamberlain, a more dangerous villain than the one in Shinju. Like some others, I found some of the sex in the story was gratuitous and did not add to plot or character development. However, Sano is a likeable, largely believable Samurai, whom Rowland successfully portrays as he struggles with conflicts between Bushido, the shogun's court, and his human needs. Excitement abounds..can't help thinking this series was written with a movie in mind. The descriptions of countryside, weather, clothing, etc, made me want to return to Japan, walk some of the same paths as Sano, revisit Nihonbashi, the cemeteries and temples, and consider the changes in Tokyo since the 1680s. Looking forward to #3 in the series.

[Kala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh...I really had to force myself to finish this one. I find myself caring more about the historical detail Rowland infuses in her writing more than what happens to the characters. It was repeated so many times the Sano wished beyond reason that Yanagisawa would not be the murderer that out of annoyance I found myself hoping he was the murderer! If Rowland hadn't stated it outright any reader would have been able to glean the same idea from Sano's actions. The author has a tendency to state the obvious instead letting readers take clues from the writing and make conclusions themselves. Perhaps her need to describe the same thing in a dozen different ways was what made this installment so sluggish.

A few good things about this installment is the introduction of Hirata, Sano's retainer, and Aoi, the ninja love interest, and also Yanagisawa's spy (although not by choice as she constantly refrains from killing him in order to protect her family). I expect great things to come from the addition of Hirata to Sano's small group of confidants. Don't for that Dr. Ito is still in the picture even though he only appeared briefly in this book. When he did he was a fiery old man telling Sano exactly what he thought about bushido's self destructing ways. I hope we see more of him in this series. Aoi would be nice to see again as well, but she has disappeared at the end of the book and who knows if she will be back. At least she was able to provide readers the chance to delve into the background of the ninja and see the strain between the samurai/ninja relationship; these insights may have been the most interesting parts of the entire story.

Regardless of my disappointment I will continue this series to see how Rowland's writing evolves.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two reasons I love this series. The first is the setting: 17th century feudal Japan. Laura Joh Rowland is such an atmospheric writer, and I can feel the crowded streets and imagine the sights and smells of Edo's overpopulation. Another thing she writes well is a sense of confinement, of "hands tied" by the constriction of bushido and the corrupt oppression of absolute power maintained by the feudal lords. Although these concepts are extremely frustrating to my western mind, it's interesting to see how Sano is able to move his investigation forward in spite of these hindrances.

I think this series deserves more attention than it gets, but I should mention there's some pretty gratuitous sexual and physical violence involved in these mysteries. Admittedly, the plot left something to be desired in this one - all the clues were not tied up well, and certain elements of the overarching story that were very important in the beginning seemed to almost be an afterthought in the end - and I'd have to say the first book, Shinju, had a better mystery. Even so, I plan to follow up with the next book soon just because of the setting and atmosphere. If Rowland returns to writing a good mystery too, it'll be the icing on the cake.

[Nina Miteva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ревю в Wanderbook тук

След като самоотвержено е спасил живота на шогуна, Сано Ичиро започва истинската си кариера като негов личен следовател. Първият му истински случай е да открие убиецът Бундори - убиец, който прави от жертвите си старовремски бойни трофеи - забива главите им на дъски. И тук младият самурай се изправя пред дилемата - дали да се подчини на правилата за воинско подчинение или да се вслуша във вътрешното си чувство за справедливост.
....

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one approaches 3 stars, but didn't quite make it for me. It's a slow starter, but picks up pretty well by halfway through. The formality of the prose may fit the culture, but I think it's taken too far and leaves one not knowing the characters well (and not caring to know) as well as distancing the reader from the action. It's not a bad book at all, but doubt I care enough about this series to read further.

[Jason Maguglin]

Great second book for Sano, mystery, intrigue, sex, scandal, ninjitsu, love, heart ache and triumph.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

About as good as the first book, unfortunately. The beginning of the book was great, filled with those interesting little details that really make a story come to life. But then the mystery got stale, it was boring meeting every suspect in quick succession, and the random bouts of violence do not make the book any more interesting. I don't think I'll be continuing with the series. There must be other books set around this time in Japan that are more entertaining.

[LKM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, this book was so hard to get through. Mostly because of its length and the way it was written, than out of dislike for the story.

I admit I have a love/hate situation going on with this series. On the one hand, I love all the historical details and how they're woven into the story, the settings are realistic, Sano is (albeit slightly annoying to me in his personality) portrayed in a way believable to what and who he is supposed to be, and the crime/mystery aspect of the series is very well played and more or less interesting.

On the other hand, I (as I already stated) dislike Sano's personality, don't really care what becomes of the characters, find the repetitive descriptions dragging, and the sprinkled Japanese words reek of fanfic (and I'm not even talking about the titles of their jobs, which require a one paragraph explanation on what position it exactly is else no one [except those who know Japanese and their history] would know, because using the actual words in English like "retainer" and "captain" or whatever apparently takes it too far out of 'the setting').

I don't think I'll be continuing the series unless I'm very bored or very in need for a kick for some Feudal Japan. I know they're not the longest books ever, but something about the writing style just makes them drag on forever. If the books were about half the length they are, I might have read on, but as they are... nope.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newly appointed as the shogun's special investigator, samurai Sano Ichiro hasn't yet had the opportunity to prove himself in his new position. Now, a gruesome murder in which the victim's head was turned into a war trophy like something straight out of a history book prompts the shogun to call upon his new investigator. The investigation, though, proves difficult and soon becomes a race against time as more bodies drop and Sano is given an ultimatum: Solve the case within a week or face exile.

This was always one of my favourite books in the series - and having read it at least four or five times over the years, I still find it an engaging mystery with lots of suspense despite the fact that I know exactly how it all turns out. The second book in the series, it also introduces a number of characters that will become important players as the story moves forward: In addition to chasing a murderer, Sano also seeks a wife, acquires a sidekick and incurs the enmity of the most influential man in the country.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samurai Detective Sano Ichiro has 5 days to catch the killer who is decapitating his victims and impaling the head on a spike for all to see - a Bundori, or war trophy. Edo in the year 1679 is rich with suptuous castles, pleasure districts, and quiet, serence temples, but chaos reigns as the killer passes through the city like a ghost. Sano relies on his training in Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, to bring down the evil culprit.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a mystery set in medieval Japan with a detective who is a samurai, Sano Ichiro. Its title, Bundori, means "war trophy." The historical background, the characters of the shogun's court, the romance with a Ninja, the intriguing sleuthing all make for an exciting read. This is the 2nd of the Sano Ichiro mysteries by Rowland.

[Richard Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series. It's a good followup to the first novel, and by the end actually improves on it. Lots to like here. I like his assistant, Hirata, and especially enjoyed the addition of Aoi; I hope we see more of her.

The author does a good job of establishing a sense of setting and helping clarify many of the nuances of Medieval Japan that would otherwise remain opaque to readers like me. Instead of cursing Ichiro Sano for not behaving the way I think he should, I am made to understand why he doesn't contradict the lies of the police and other authorities, why he doesn't want Hirata to be his retainer, why he takes the path of a martyr. Without going into the details, I can say that it makes sense in terms of the laws of bushido and the norms of the time, and as a western reader I appreciate that guidance through a world I only know a little about.

Apart from the setting, this is a straightforward enough mystery (not a criticism) and I enjoy his methodical way of solving it. Early on (slight spoilers) I began to lose patience with him being foolish and constantly a step behind, as I want my sleuths and private eyes and such types to be amazing and almost unstoppable--he is pretty unremarkable in the first half at least--and the unreasonable unreasonable expectations heaped on him while his efforts are being undermined by any number of people gets frustrating. But he ultimately shows plenty of nerve and capability and flashes of brilliance. He does get some help, and I'm glad for it, because the introduction of a helper and a love interest improves the story in many ways. If nothing else, he has someone to talk to about events, which is more fun to read than long introspective passages...

The action and my pleasure in seeing our hero behave heroically both increase a great deal in the last third of the book. The middle parts, where he is often made to look bad, are not that fun to read, but it takes off, and by the end I was entertained and engaged, looking forward to another adventure. I guess I feel like the series is building, becoming more robust and satisfying as we go, and I hope to discover I'm right in the third book.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

[C.J. Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Joh Rowland takes us again to Japan in the the Edo period (17th century) in her noir historical detective mystery series, Bundori. Our chief crime investigator is Sano Ichiro, a samurai tasked by the Japanese shogun to find the Bundori Killer who is responsible for a series of murders. The murderer displays the head of his victims in a ritualistic (Bundori) manner. Sano has to find out the motivations for the killings in order to explain the Bundori ritual, and that will in turn lead to discovering the perpetrator.

Sano is an upright and honest man who does his best to bring honor to his family and to follow the path of the samurai warrior, known as Bushido, in the face of tremendous odds. He is given a five-day limit to find the killer, and failure to do so will lead to certain dishonor. He is beset on all sides by those who attempt to thwart him, most especially the shogun’s retainer, Yanagisawa, who will do anything he can to bring about Sano’s downfall. Sano is assigned a medium from the local temple, Aoi, to help him. She turns out to be much more than he could ever have imaged. He also acquires his own retainer, Hirata, a young man who quickly proves his worthiness. Sano is able to determine, with help from some close colleagues, that there are only four suspects. One of them is particularly troublesome because identifying and punishing him will ultimately lead to Sano’s death.

The stakes are high in this mystery. The suspense is constant, and toward the end of the book, intense. There are some disturbing scenes of violence, in particular one involving a young boy. All this occurs in the context of an historical period in which Rowland manages to describe in accurate and rich detail. She calls upon all the senses, enabling us to experience Japan at this turbulent time. Her writing is very cinematic as well as intriguing and suspenseful. It is an enjoyable read for mystery-suspense lovers. I look forward to the next Sano Ichiro mystery.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love the descriptions of Edo Era Japan in these books and if it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't have finished this one. I won't say that Shinju, the first book, was a brilliant novel, but it was entertaining enough and I genuinely cared about what happened to Sano, our main character detective. But halfway through this one, I started to lose all empathy for the MC. His motivations as a character are already pretty thin. He wants to become a great man, living by the bushido code and make his father's spirit proud of him. I mean, sure, I think most people want something along those lines, give or take the father and the bushido. And sure, he's a product of his times and that's what a samurai would want, so I get it that his motivations are simple. But... he also is apparently a slave to his lust and at one point in the story, overtakes an enemy female character and has his way with her... which ends up being okay because she's into it? But, he didn't KNOW she would be into it when he started so... doesn't that make him a rapist? Again... product of the times, but isn't the main character supposed to rise above the status quo and be able to resist his baser instincts? Shouldn't he be an example of what a samurai should be? The main villain of this story is also a rapist but in his case, it's not okay because his victim was not willing. So the difference between a good and bad samurai apparently is being lucky in choosing your victims. (That particular scene was overly graphic and way too long too.)
As for the mystery part, I stopped caring by the time we found out who the killer was. It just felt a little too Scooby-Doo by that point. The first book had a cool little conspiracy going, but the killer in this one is just on a mad quest to get vengeance for a 100 years ago dead ancestor. Boring...
Not sure if I'm going to continue this series or not, but we'll see how I feel next time I'm in a feudal Japan mood.
2.5/5

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celkem svižně ubíhající čtení. Spíš než hledání vraha ale pro mne tentokrát byl zajímavější svár povinnosti a spravedlnosti, různých vrstev cti, které se Sanovi míchaly do případu. To spolu se zajímavě se vyvíjející linkou nadějný úředník - blíží se problém, všichni od něj ruce pryč - výtečná partie bylo zajímavou ilustrací tehdejší (tu dnešní nejsem schopna posoudit) mentality. Narazila jsem ma tyhle tendence v jiných příbězích i v textech nebeletristického rázu, proto mi to přišlo přirozené a zde i dobře napsané.
Romantická linka s Aoi se mi však zdála přes hranu. Ne ze strany Ičira, jako spíš z její. Stejně jako samuraj, tak i žena jejího postavení a výcviku má stejné předpoklady pro morální dilema. To, že se rozhodla zmizet a snad přežít, přestože tolik milovala svoje lidi, zkrátka nespolknu. Jezdci na koních by se do její vesnice dostali dřív, než by tam ona sama doputovala, byť nespatřena - komořímu stačilo poslat list (jeden jezdec postupuje rychleji než víc) a v provincii by se už trestná výprava rychle shromáždila z jeho místních sloužících a žoldáků. Zkrátka v tomhle vidím autorčin záměr udržet tragickou romantickou linku (ale ne zase tak moc tragickou, jaká by nejspíš ve skutečnosti byla) za každou cenu. Zvlášt s přihlédnutím k závěru: Sano už přeci jednou byl svědkem Aoiiny proměny v jeho otce. Mohla to tedy na hřbitově být i ona, ukrývající se v převleku starého samuraje a tedy ne na cestě k rodině, která by ji nejspíš při návratu sama zabila nebo vydala komořímu, protože povinnost a čest.

Souhrnem: nesmí se do toho moc hrabat a je to dobré čtení pro milovníky hladce ubíhajících detektivek. Historizující fikce s výletem do japonské minulosti zní dobře, napětí je tam také dost (i určité syrovosti). Ideální čtení na dovolenou, případně do postele při marodění.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intricate and suspenseful mystery from Laura Joh Rowland. In this one, Sano Ichiro has less than a week to solve a series of grisly murders of the descendants of samurai generals. It probably would be very doable if he hadn't inadvertently made an enemy of the shogun's second in command, Chamberlain Yanagisawa, who thwarts his every move. Add in a female ninja, 4 intriguing suspects, a potential marriage match, and a new junior detective, and you have a recipe for an exciting mystery.

There a host of suspects in this novel, and they're all super intriguing. The more you get to know them, the more you wonder who the murderer could be. Through these suspects, readers learn a lot about Japanese and Bushido culture: the good, the bad, and the complexities. Everyone in this book feels an intense desire to uphold family honor and to do their duty. Each character represents this desire in a different way. Even Aoi, who is from a family of ninjas and not samurai, still feels this pull for her family and feels she must do her duty - no matter how much she loathes it - in order to protect them and make them proud. That pull, that desire, is what humanizes the characters and makes them relatable and sympathetic. It is also this push and pull that makes it very difficult to figure out who the killer is, and I couldn't put the book down.

Just as in the first book, Bundori is full of historical detail that immerses the reader into the era. So, while you're riding the wave of the mystery, you're also learning plenty about medieval Japanese culture. Moreso than the first book, I got a better sense of place, as if Edo and the palace were laid out in a map in my head. Previously, Sano would visit various places, but I didn't really understand how close everything was or their connection. That's much clearer here.

One thing that folks might have an issue with is the amount of graphic sex in this book. The first book had absolutely none, so it was shocking to read about various scenes of sex and assault in this book. I had a sense that it was needlessly gratuitous at times, but it didn't dampen my overall enjoyment of the novel. That said, I would say beware to readers who aren't interested in that sort of thing.

Overall, this is a fantastic novel with well-rounded characters and a nuanced view of Bushido. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and see how Sano grapples with the rigidity of his code while also keeping to his moral compass and staying alive, two things often at odd with the samurai code.

[Ayacchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★

This book had been in my TBR for ever and finally I made a time to read it. I loved the first book, Shinju, read it maybe 10 years ago.

Bundori story revolved around Sano Ichiro, a police whom recently became a sosakan for his heroic act protecting the shogun. Now, to fulfill his father's dream and o show loyalty to his lord, he had to catch a bundori killer, a killer who made head trophy. But there were many obstacles to finish the duty, and it seemed that bundori killer wasn't the only one who wanted him dead.

I'm not sure but maybe this is my very first Japanese historical fiction I read in English. Which is harder. The writing style is good, I like some of the phrases she used, but it was hard to imagine the setting. The book has so many information about feudal era, from the weak shogun to every inch of society. The author cleverly put the historical facts without forcing it. So it was enjoyable to follow Sano's journey while learning about Japanese history and culture.

While it was interesting, I don't really like one against the world kind of story. And it wasn't as thrilling as I thought it would be.

[Christina Hirko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly as good as the first, this book is really well written and engaging. I feel like it's darker--like, the first book had graphic death, but this book leans into the gruesome deaths and it adds numerous sex acts, most of which are uncomfortable slightly because of some violent flavor, and I wonder if this book was in particular working through the sexual frustration or if it'll continue with the series. Less allies of Sano's die in this book, a nice change from the first book where everyone around him died, and I'm interested to see their returns or contributions to the series. Unfortunately, he also has living adversaries, and they are almost comically annoying with how laser-focused they are on sabotaging Sano for misconceived threats. Of course I want Sano to be victorious, but this book felt bittersweet, at not even for the reason Sano thinks (he's lamenting a lost love, while I'm fully recognizing that his way of life is meaningless because bad men are in power and maybe I wanted this book to be a touch more on the escapism side of reality rather than remind me how unjust the world is). Anyway, it's a good book but maybe a heavy read... (Also, shout out to Sengoku Basara that I could follow all the Oda backstory and was genuinely interested in what I could easily see being an off-putting subplot for readers)

[hibiskuit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uff... Ich wollte dieses Buch mögen. Wirklich. Aber die Art der sexuellen Darstellung hier macht es mir leider unmöglich. Sex ist in diesem Buch kein Ausdruck von Intimität und Liebe oder irgendetwas in der Richtung. Es geht allein um Demütigung und Unterwerfung. Was vielleicht noch vertretbar wäre, wenn es dabei nur bei den Antagonisten geblieben wäre und die Charaktere klarer als verabscheuungswürdig gezeichnet hätte. Aber nein, auch der angeblich sympathische Hauptcharakter "nimmt" sich Aoi, eine Ninja, aus "Rache" und "Hass gegen die Ninja". Und ja das sind alles direkte Zitate. Noch eins gefällig? "Er wollte sie haben, wollte sie verletzen." Calm the fuck down sir. Nix mit Consent und hinterher ist sie verliebt in ihn??! Nein danke.

Als ich dieses Buch in einem der öffentlichen Bücherschränke entdeckte, habe ich mich mega gefreut. Ein Krimi, der in der Edo-Zeit spielt? Count me in! Und es fing auch ganz gut an. Ich mag die historischen Twists und die Bushido-Kritik. Aber leider leider wurde mir das alles zunichte gemacht. Also ich werde jedenfalls keine weiteren Bücher dieser Reihe anfassen.

[Volha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a far cry from my favourite cozy Agatha Christie-like mysteries. Actually it has all the elements I generally try to avoid: tons of dramatic irony when the unsuspecting protagonist willingly walks into every imaginable trap; inexperienced investigator who misses obvious clues but refuses help; last-minute rescues; quixotic lead lost in court and political intrigue, spirits and miracles in otherwise realistic plot (magical realism? incorporation of cultural beliefs? not very well done anyway), and the list goes on and on.
Still, I enjoyed (almost) every minute of it and plan to go on with the series. Maybe it is because the author really tried to avoid presentism and did her research, or because she made the people she describes so very human, flawed and neither black nor white, with plausible motives behind their actions. The prose is uneven, but it undeniably captures the poetry of the mundane and at its best manages to flesh out even a minor character in a few calligraphic strokes.

[Anna From Gustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. I generally have commitment problems when it comes to series, whether television or books, but I am already looking forward to book 3.

There are two primary reasons.

1. Sano Ichiro. I just love this character. I'm a little surprised as I don't always connect to male protagonists, but I do in this case. He's smart, noble, but flawed. The latter is particularly the case in his commitment to the bushido code which puts honor above everything, including common sense. The author does not make Ichiro into an alpha male. He is a skilled warrior, but also gets scared as hell. I love his humanity.

2. The setting. Edo in the 1600s is cool.

Granted, the mysteries thus far are no great works of art, but they are simply a format for a book that is more about a time period, a culture and those that live it.

Trigger warning: There is a graphic and unexpectedly long scene of sexual assault on a minor. I understand the role of the scene, but I was taken aback by how explicit it was. I think that readers should be aware as it could be distressing to read.

[Pat MacEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Rowland's second outing with Sano Ichiro, a young samurai with a gift for uncovering the secrets of the powerful. His goal is to become the embodiment of Bushido, the ancient way of the warrior, and bring honor to his name and family, but he cannot bring himself to ignore the truth about the Shogun he serves. Neither can he walk away from a series of murders whose victims have been beheaded for the purpose of making bundori - war trophies. The victims turn out to be interconnected by events of the previous century, at the very beginning of the Tokugawa dynasty, but finding out which of three powerful cousins is the killer will force Sano to ally himself with a female ninja and to confront the Shogun's Chamberlain in a series of life or death decisions that may well end in yet another murder, this one committed by his own hand and immediately followed by his own ritual suicide. Well-written, exquisitely detailed, deeply seated in the politics, history, culture, and multi-generational conflicts of the Shogunate era.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samarai Sano has achieved the status he needs to further his ancestral and family honor. He is still mourning the death if his father and struggling to fulfill his father's last request. To succeed in a quest that will bring honor to his clan and to marry.

Although a proposal of marriage is evident, it is not priority as there is a brutal serial killer in the city and his Shogun has insisted Sano find the killer. However, the shogun is a weakened man heavily influenced by his second in command. Unknown to him, the second in command is at about a being Santa's every move.

Rowland mixes Japanese Feudal history, culture and mannerisms in every paragraph. The social divides between the citizens are deeply ingrained where no one dares step outside their roles. Even, if it means solving murders, Sank does not dare overstep his position. In feudal times any misstep can bring dishonor, exile or even death.

[Anjuna Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

*yawn*. The first of this series was fairly good so I was looking forward to reading this but the story (as following a similar pattern, there is a murder crime Sano San must solve in which there are many setbacks and complications which teaches us about Japanese history and customs along the way). I liked the ninja character Blue (aoi), but I just have no investment in the ending like we no Sano wont die because there is another 18 books and we were fairly certain who the mystery murder was about 5 chapters in so just dragged on unessiarily like there is probably a spicy plot twist in the last few chapters but you bored me to death at this point. Soz. I love the Japan history also Sano is seeming 2 dimensional now since we know his character and there doesnt seem to be self reflection or growth (other than his Japanese sense of duty and Samurai code but we KNOW this from book one)

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book even better than the debut. We're so used to sophisticated, bullet-proof thriller heroes like Pendergast now that we can fail to see the fun in a hero who is naïve and awkward. Yes, sometimes Sano is annoyingly simple, but like anyone would be, he's constantly out of his depth, which is what I like about the storytelling. Joh Rowland does a fantastic job of conveying the political/cultural machinations that forever keep Sano from attaining not just his heart's desires, but also the truth itself. He's not exactly be a man of his time. However, the setting and Rowland's attention to detail ground us in the landscape. Sano is slowly growing up. Hopefully in future books he'll learn the difference between infatuation and true love.