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Sano Ichiro #11
Red Chrysanthemum
July 1698. Sano Ichiro, the samurai detective who has risen to become the shogun's second-in-command, is investigating rumors of a plot to overthrow the ruling regime. When the investigation brings Sano's deputy Hirata to Lord Mori's estate, he is shocked to find Lord Mori murdered and grotesquely mutilated in his own bed, and Sano's pregnant wife, Reiko, lying beside him. The only solid clue is a chrysanthemum soaked in blood.
Reiko's account of her actions is anything but solid. She insists that she went undercover to Lord Mori's estate in order to investigate claims that he molested and murdered young boys. But when Sano inspects the crime scene, he finds no trace of what Reiko described. And every other witness tells a different Lady Mori alleges that Reiko was Lord Mori's scorned mistress and murdered him for revenge. And Lord Mori himself, speaking through a medium, claims his murder was part of Sano's plot to overthrow the shogun!
Unless Sano can prove his wife's unlikely claims, both he and Reiko--and their unborn child--face execution for treason. Sano fights desperately to save his family and his honor, as Laura Joh Rowland draws on the tradition of the classic film Rashomon to bring us a masterful tale of intrigue and treachery.
Reiko's account of her actions is anything but solid. She insists that she went undercover to Lord Mori's estate in order to investigate claims that he molested and murdered young boys. But when Sano inspects the crime scene, he finds no trace of what Reiko described. And every other witness tells a different Lady Mori alleges that Reiko was Lord Mori's scorned mistress and murdered him for revenge. And Lord Mori himself, speaking through a medium, claims his murder was part of Sano's plot to overthrow the shogun!
Unless Sano can prove his wife's unlikely claims, both he and Reiko--and their unborn child--face execution for treason. Sano fights desperately to save his family and his honor, as Laura Joh Rowland draws on the tradition of the classic film Rashomon to bring us a masterful tale of intrigue and treachery.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
25 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Laura Joh Rowland
73 books1,291 followersGranddaughter 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 5, 2021
Another wonderful book in the Sano Ichiro series. Lots of beautiful descriptions and high tension. I love following these characters from book to book.
If you like historical fiction and you also enjoy stories about feudal Japan I highly recommend this series.
If you like historical fiction and you also enjoy stories about feudal Japan I highly recommend this series.
April 24, 2020
This book is patterned on the film "Rashomon" in which a woman is accused of murder and the story is told from the point of view of several witnesses, including the accused and the ghost of the victim. In this story it is Sano Ichiro's pregnant wife who is accused. She is found naked next to the horribly murdered body of a man Sano is investigating for plotting against the government. Being familiar with Rashomon increases the interest in this book, although the need for a ghost's testimony does make it a bit awkward to modern readers. Having the book to read increased my interest in watching Rashomon when I had the opportunity. There is a larger amount of sexual activity than in some of the other books.
November 28, 2011
This is the eleventh adventure of Sano Ichiro and his wife Reiko. Sano is an official in the administration of the Shogun and his controlling cousin Lord Matsudairo. Sano has the misfortune to be second only to Lord Matsudairo and this is both the source of his power and his jeopardy. Medieval Japan was a time of despots and wannabes, all ruthless, all jealous and all suspicious of their underlings. In this twisty tale, Reiko is found naked in the bedroom of perverted Lord Mori, asleep next to his mutilated corpse. Reiko denies murdering Lord Mori, but she cannot remember what really happened. Sano believes his wife and is sure that the whole thing can be traced to his political enemies, but is hampered at every step by politics, treachery and suspicion. Even his own life may be forfeit if the Shogun begins to suspect him of treason, despite his innocence. Sano and Reiko must reason and detect their way to safety by locating the real murderer.
This series has immense appeal for me because of its setting in Medieval Japan. Rowland has really done her homework and her city and its officials ring true. The whole society operated as a complex set of rules, with roles for each tier of its multi-classed populace. Rowland steers us through the world of court politics, through the pleasure palaces of the entertainment quarter and in the homes of Edo's rich and poor. It is a painless history lesson along with an entertaining mystery.
I heartily recommend this whole series to lovers of Japanese culture and history. All of us uppity women will love the adventures of Reiko, who refuses to accept her appointed role as a docile female. It invariably lands her in hot water, but hey, where would we get our story without her?
This series has immense appeal for me because of its setting in Medieval Japan. Rowland has really done her homework and her city and its officials ring true. The whole society operated as a complex set of rules, with roles for each tier of its multi-classed populace. Rowland steers us through the world of court politics, through the pleasure palaces of the entertainment quarter and in the homes of Edo's rich and poor. It is a painless history lesson along with an entertaining mystery.
I heartily recommend this whole series to lovers of Japanese culture and history. All of us uppity women will love the adventures of Reiko, who refuses to accept her appointed role as a docile female. It invariably lands her in hot water, but hey, where would we get our story without her?
December 1, 2021
In general I love reading the Sano series. This story, for all the flaws, was still worth the read. While one accepts that the focus of the story was Reiko and her steps to solve both her case and the charges against both her and Sano. In this case her independence nearly brings them down. another question that came to mind was, given the poison motif, one almost expected to see Yanagisawa's wife also make an appearance.
Hirata, as a character develops nicely, if a little predictably. A question here is, given the events in the story how or in what form can he return?
Sano is somewhat secondary in this story, which is a bit of a shame, but he still plays a feature role. One would have liked to see more of his work at his new level. His work on the murder case gets muddied by the treason issue. Was Hoshina a player in this? We are not sure. Vaguely related to this is this is a relationship with Enju. Given the Hoshina's loyalties Enju is a question and makes the Enju/Yanagisawa link is more than a little unclear. One understands Yanagisawa's move to recover his position. That said, the part Mori, or Enju, plays pushes logic a bit. The ending is thrilling.
That said Yanagisawa taking credit for the things he claims is a bit much. Many of the situations and subplots he could not have been aware of, or have any control over. That Sano senses the presence is to his credit and lays the ground for later stories, I'm sure. Overall a good read, not as sparkling as some in the series. I still recommend it...so long as one has read a couple of the previous installments.
Hirata, as a character develops nicely, if a little predictably. A question here is, given the events in the story how or in what form can he return?
Sano is somewhat secondary in this story, which is a bit of a shame, but he still plays a feature role. One would have liked to see more of his work at his new level. His work on the murder case gets muddied by the treason issue. Was Hoshina a player in this? We are not sure. Vaguely related to this is this is a relationship with Enju. Given the Hoshina's loyalties Enju is a question and makes the Enju/Yanagisawa link is more than a little unclear. One understands Yanagisawa's move to recover his position. That said, the part Mori, or Enju, plays pushes logic a bit. The ending is thrilling.
That said Yanagisawa taking credit for the things he claims is a bit much. Many of the situations and subplots he could not have been aware of, or have any control over. That Sano senses the presence is to his credit and lays the ground for later stories, I'm sure. Overall a good read, not as sparkling as some in the series. I still recommend it...so long as one has read a couple of the previous installments.
October 11, 2021
In the summer of 1698, Sano Ichiro is searching out men plotting to overthrow the Dog Shogun. He is now the Shogun's chamberlain, but still caught up in disputes between different factions of the bakufu, the 'tent-government' run by the Tokugawa clan while the Emperor lives in enforced seclusion. One of Sano's suspects, Lord Mori, may be guilty of much more than treason but Sano's first task is proving that his own wife didn't castrate and murder the daimyo. That won't be easy, since she was found in bed with the body and cannot remember what happened. The only solid clue? A chrysanthemum soaked in blood. This tangled mystery might have been titled "Gaslighting Edo-style" since every witness tells a different story. Worse yet, a personal enemy of Sano's is intent on having his wife and unborn child executed for the brutal murder. Police Chief Hoshina has also accused the Chamberlain of being himself behind Lord Mori's scheme to overthrow the Shogun. It's a plot line that might have been drawn from the classic tale of "Rashomon" and leads to a final showdown between the samurai that is, truly, a spectacular winner-take-all battle to the death. Recommended.
August 13, 2007
This may be the weakest story in the series (of about 12 novels!) but I love the setting in 17th century Edo. Rohland populates the city with colorful characters and a creates a sense of political drama which is well researched and believable. Start with the first books and see how you like them!
January 25, 2025
One of the bleakest books in the series left me wondering if it all would come out right. Dismaying, but satisfying.
October 31, 2022
Meryl Bookclub 2023 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ … well that was a fun ride. Really enjoyed this meaty, matter of factly written detective story set in 1698 Tokyo, featuring a husband and wife team called Reiko and Sano.
This is the 11th in the series but reads perfectly well as a stand alone.
Lord Sano is negotiating the usual pre Meji restoration political battles, stuck between the rocks of the Shogun and Lord Matsudaira and the hard place of various factional supporting old-guys-in-charge when he is thrown quite the curve ball.
His wife, the clever and beautiful sleuthing Lady Reiko had been found naked next to the dead body of Lord Mori, dagger in hand, missing his genitals.
What follows is the story from various points of view while Sano races against time to save his wife’s head and Reiko, traumatised and pregnant is determined not to go down without a fight.
Exquisitely plotted with a manageable and memorable cast of villains and heroes, I will be tracking down more of this series.
M 2022
This is the 11th in the series but reads perfectly well as a stand alone.
Lord Sano is negotiating the usual pre Meji restoration political battles, stuck between the rocks of the Shogun and Lord Matsudaira and the hard place of various factional supporting old-guys-in-charge when he is thrown quite the curve ball.
His wife, the clever and beautiful sleuthing Lady Reiko had been found naked next to the dead body of Lord Mori, dagger in hand, missing his genitals.
What follows is the story from various points of view while Sano races against time to save his wife’s head and Reiko, traumatised and pregnant is determined not to go down without a fight.
Exquisitely plotted with a manageable and memorable cast of villains and heroes, I will be tracking down more of this series.
M 2022
December 9, 2025
As per usual *sigh*, a good mystery, a fascinating look at Japan during the Edo period, and more sexual abuse than you can shake a stick at. I know that adult men using prepubescent boys for sex was part of the culture at that time, but did it have to be a major factor in the plot? Plus, once again poor Reiko is put through the emotional wringer--five months pregnant, accused of murder, suffering from the aftereffects of being drugged. At one point she offers to let herself be arrested and executed or to commit seppuku, because at least it would save Sano and their son from being ruined by their association with an alleged murderer. I want her to catch a break.
May 11, 2025
Somehow Red Chysanthemum is the absolute weirdest book thus far in the Sano Ichiro series, and this is after reading about a magic scream, magic killing touches, and some borderline psychics. Reiko awakes naked next to a castrated and murdered high official by Hirata. It's all incredibly awkward and convenient for Sano's enemies. The most intriguing thing about the novel is that it's setup to be written from multiple perspectives, and the reader has to figure out who is telling the truth and who isn't. Except it's the most obvious thing in the world, so unfortunately the book comes off as quite boring, despite the high stakes.
The first perspective we hear from is the victim's wife later followed by the dead man himself through a medium (yes, I know). Their interpretations of Reiko's actions are so laughably fake that while they might fool the shogun, they don't fool the reader for a second. It's super obvious they're lying, which just makes the mystery drag.
Since Reiko is incriminated, she's supposed to be under house arrest. However, at the first opportunity, Sano allows her to leave to clear her name, which obviously causes more trouble than it's worth, but everyone is an idiot in this book. Hirata is useless until he miraculously develops video-game level fighting skills. Hoshina is even stupider than usual. Then Sano and Reiko fight, but the arguments are so dumb. You've known each other how long but you seriously think the other is guilty of a crime?
There's very little that's redeeming about this story. Basically everyone who isn't an out-and-out "good guy" has some sexual skeletons in a proverbial closet, and it's really starting to get old. The charm of the early books are in short supply.
The first perspective we hear from is the victim's wife later followed by the dead man himself through a medium (yes, I know). Their interpretations of Reiko's actions are so laughably fake that while they might fool the shogun, they don't fool the reader for a second. It's super obvious they're lying, which just makes the mystery drag.
Since Reiko is incriminated, she's supposed to be under house arrest. However, at the first opportunity, Sano allows her to leave to clear her name, which obviously causes more trouble than it's worth, but everyone is an idiot in this book. Hirata is useless until he miraculously develops video-game level fighting skills. Hoshina is even stupider than usual. Then Sano and Reiko fight, but the arguments are so dumb. You've known each other how long but you seriously think the other is guilty of a crime?
There's very little that's redeeming about this story. Basically everyone who isn't an out-and-out "good guy" has some sexual skeletons in a proverbial closet, and it's really starting to get old. The charm of the early books are in short supply.
June 23, 2019
This is the first book I read about my new found hero Sano Ichiro and I was blown. I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture but this book made me look differently with the chrysanthemun flowers. Never the same.
April 29, 2022
In the end turned out to be a better book. At first, remember from the previous books on the main characters behaviors. Will play out in the first two hundred pages. Angered me and took me awhile to get through it. He’s back!
March 6, 2025
Sano's wife, Reiko, is found next to a murdered Lord Mori is this installment. As Sano desperately seeks the real culprit, evidence surfaces that Sano could be involved in a plot to overthrow the government.
As usual Sano has his hands full, and with very little assistance from his peers.
As usual Sano has his hands full, and with very little assistance from his peers.
July 23, 2017
And the plot thickens with the addition of new characters in the plot.
A fast read!
A fast read!
October 24, 2018
Thriller, good for insomnia, part of a series to check out
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
November 14, 2021
Action packed and pretty gory! Been a while since I was reading this series so was a bit confused as to who was who at first.
March 29, 2022
Another great detective novel with Reiko and Sano Ichiro.
July 21, 2023
Another contrived, frame story.
January 14, 2017
Red Chrysanthemum is okay. It's a bit gritty for my taste.
August 5, 2014
Laura Joh Rowland recreates the Edo era in Japanese history with the kind of machinations and political intrigue that one would expect in one of Sharon Kay Penman’s historical novels based in Medieval England. Then, she manages to weave the intricate pas de deux of a married couple where both partners have superior ability and intellect. Although both spouses manage to conduct their individual lives with courage, creativity, and dignity, it is when those lives become enmeshed in the greater conspiracies of Medieval Japan that the books are at their best.
In Red Chrysanthemum, the opening pages unveil a scandal. Reiko, the wife of the shogun’s chamberlain, has been found in a bloody and compromising position with the emasculated and defaced corpse of an alleged supporter of a rebellion against the shogun’s regime. Since the chamberlain is Sano, the protagonist of the novel, the plot thickens as the investigation makes things look worse and worse for Sano’s beloved Reiko. Before the story has navigated the twists and turns of the plot (as well as the tiny streets and alleys of Tokyo before it was Tokyo (the Edo period), both spouses have opportunity to doubt the other and must decide whether their devotion rests on trust or the ability to survive.
Reiko’s investigation deals with an alleged child molester who uses, abuses, and, all too often, murders young boys. This makes her initial position less probable, but the situation is more complicated as a result of a cover-up which can only be explained by noting the denial which often surrounds such depraved atrocities. Of course, in spite of the larger national conspiracy which has come into play, this offers a significant clue on part of the murder mystery for those who know about the psychology of such victims.
In terms of psychology and emotional tension, Red Chrysanthemum is a very powerful novel. Though it didn’t have any memorable lines that caused me to highlight them for future reference, it did have some interesting artistic touches. For example, it uses several different points of view in order to illustrate the same scene. The fact that some of these versions are based on overt deception doesn’t take away from the effectiveness of the presentation. It was a fascinating approach to exposition and I appreciate it greatly.
Another fascinating touch in this book is the idea of combining a mystery that has an apparent solution with an overarching conspiracy. One doesn’t know when the events ensue whether the conspiracy caused the primary murder or if the conspiracy is using the murder to advance its ends. So, even though the probable murderer seems fairly obvious from early in the book, one is never quite sure because of the glimpses of other considerations (sleight of hand? red “minnows” as opposed to “herrings?”) which weave in and out of the frame.
Red Chrysanthemum is as bloody as the sanguinary-stained flower for which it is named (an artifact in the emasculation/murder scene). The novel is satisfying and well-paced, but feels somewhat more forced than the first “Sano” novel that I read. Red Chrysanthemum is interesting on many levels and has certainly done nothing to dissuade undergoing other investigations with this fascinating couple.
In Red Chrysanthemum, the opening pages unveil a scandal. Reiko, the wife of the shogun’s chamberlain, has been found in a bloody and compromising position with the emasculated and defaced corpse of an alleged supporter of a rebellion against the shogun’s regime. Since the chamberlain is Sano, the protagonist of the novel, the plot thickens as the investigation makes things look worse and worse for Sano’s beloved Reiko. Before the story has navigated the twists and turns of the plot (as well as the tiny streets and alleys of Tokyo before it was Tokyo (the Edo period), both spouses have opportunity to doubt the other and must decide whether their devotion rests on trust or the ability to survive.
Reiko’s investigation deals with an alleged child molester who uses, abuses, and, all too often, murders young boys. This makes her initial position less probable, but the situation is more complicated as a result of a cover-up which can only be explained by noting the denial which often surrounds such depraved atrocities. Of course, in spite of the larger national conspiracy which has come into play, this offers a significant clue on part of the murder mystery for those who know about the psychology of such victims.
In terms of psychology and emotional tension, Red Chrysanthemum is a very powerful novel. Though it didn’t have any memorable lines that caused me to highlight them for future reference, it did have some interesting artistic touches. For example, it uses several different points of view in order to illustrate the same scene. The fact that some of these versions are based on overt deception doesn’t take away from the effectiveness of the presentation. It was a fascinating approach to exposition and I appreciate it greatly.
Another fascinating touch in this book is the idea of combining a mystery that has an apparent solution with an overarching conspiracy. One doesn’t know when the events ensue whether the conspiracy caused the primary murder or if the conspiracy is using the murder to advance its ends. So, even though the probable murderer seems fairly obvious from early in the book, one is never quite sure because of the glimpses of other considerations (sleight of hand? red “minnows” as opposed to “herrings?”) which weave in and out of the frame.
Red Chrysanthemum is as bloody as the sanguinary-stained flower for which it is named (an artifact in the emasculation/murder scene). The novel is satisfying and well-paced, but feels somewhat more forced than the first “Sano” novel that I read. Red Chrysanthemum is interesting on many levels and has certainly done nothing to dissuade undergoing other investigations with this fascinating couple.
January 16, 2009
This is the eleventh book of the Sano Ichiro mysteries. The setting is Japan during the edo period (around 1700 ), Sano is a police officer in the beginning of the series but rises higher and currently is the chamberlain. He solves crimes together with his wife Reiko (and some friends, mainly a guy named Hirata, from the police). I love all the books, mainly because of the setting. They are interenstingly written and the characters are nicely portrayed too.
The eleventh book of the series is about a murder of a daimyou. Reiko, Sanos Wife, is found next to the body and can't remember a thing. Sano is trying to believe her story but there are several other stories from different characters, all of them saying something different about the murdered daimyou and the reasons why he was murdered and the murderer.
It was exciting as always to see Sano struggle through all this, even though Reiko got a bit annoying (i liked her before). It was also a bit strange to see Hirata beeing SO different from the other novels. He is learning a super-sekrit ninja technique and couldn't concentrate on his police work and made a lot of mistakes. I know the authors reason was to give Hirata some kind of strenght again after his bad leg injury in earlier books but the 'secret technique' came across as too mystery-like. Even though, of course, Hirata saves them with the techniqe in the end. I liked him better in the other books though.
The thing i loved most was (sadly?) the part where Yanagisawa, Sanos former BIG enemy and former chamberlain, got back to Japan (after beeing banned to an island for treason)! Even though he is the 'villain' (maybe just on the other side of Sano though he has a really mean streak sometimes), i like him.
In the end, it wasn't a totally surprising book but it kept me reading because i wanted to know which story was the true 'murder-story' and if Sano and Reiko would really escape death... again (it#s a BIT unbelievable that Sano is close to dying in EVERY novel and ALWAYS gets treated badly by all the big guys in the country ;_; )
The eleventh book of the series is about a murder of a daimyou. Reiko, Sanos Wife, is found next to the body and can't remember a thing. Sano is trying to believe her story but there are several other stories from different characters, all of them saying something different about the murdered daimyou and the reasons why he was murdered and the murderer.
It was exciting as always to see Sano struggle through all this, even though Reiko got a bit annoying (i liked her before). It was also a bit strange to see Hirata beeing SO different from the other novels. He is learning a super-sekrit ninja technique and couldn't concentrate on his police work and made a lot of mistakes. I know the authors reason was to give Hirata some kind of strenght again after his bad leg injury in earlier books but the 'secret technique' came across as too mystery-like. Even though, of course, Hirata saves them with the techniqe in the end. I liked him better in the other books though.
The thing i loved most was (sadly?) the part where Yanagisawa, Sanos former BIG enemy and former chamberlain, got back to Japan (after beeing banned to an island for treason)! Even though he is the 'villain' (maybe just on the other side of Sano though he has a really mean streak sometimes), i like him.
In the end, it wasn't a totally surprising book but it kept me reading because i wanted to know which story was the true 'murder-story' and if Sano and Reiko would really escape death... again (it#s a BIT unbelievable that Sano is close to dying in EVERY novel and ALWAYS gets treated badly by all the big guys in the country ;_; )
April 24, 2009
I always enjoy these books to a point....I read them with out putting them down several times to read other books, I don't find them boring, and even so, they are not books I would go out of my way to recommend. Perhaps it is the overall theme of duty and the samuri life style, which is so foreign I have a difficult time really engaging with the philosophy of the books. Perhaps it is the somewhat stilted writing, which I do think is "in character" with the time period and the culture. Whatever it is, they just don't compell me the way other books and series do.
[close:] July 1698. Sano Ichiro, the samurai detective who has risen to become the shogun’s second-in-command, is investigating rumors of a plot to overthrow the ruling regime. When the investigation brings Sano’s deputy Hirata to Lord Mori’s estate, he is shocked to find Lord Mori murdered and grotesquely mutilated in his own bed, and Sano’s pregnant wife, Reiko, lying beside him. The only solid clue is a chrysanthemum soaked in blood.
Reiko’s account of her actions is anything but solid. She insists that she went undercover to Lord Mori’s estate in order to investigate claims that he molested and murdered young boys. But when Sano inspects the crime scene, he finds no trace of what Reiko described. And every other witness tells a different story: Lady Mori alleges that Reiko was Lord Mori’s scorned mistress and murdered him for revenge. And Lord Mori himself, speaking through a medium, claims his murder was part of Sano’s plot to overthrow the shogun!
Unless Sano can prove his wife’s unlikely claims, both he and Reiko—and their unborn child—face execution for treason. Sano fights desperately to save his family and his honor, as Laura Joh Rowland draws on the tradition of the classic film Rashomon to bring us a masterful tale of intrigue and treachery.
[close:] July 1698. Sano Ichiro, the samurai detective who has risen to become the shogun’s second-in-command, is investigating rumors of a plot to overthrow the ruling regime. When the investigation brings Sano’s deputy Hirata to Lord Mori’s estate, he is shocked to find Lord Mori murdered and grotesquely mutilated in his own bed, and Sano’s pregnant wife, Reiko, lying beside him. The only solid clue is a chrysanthemum soaked in blood.
Reiko’s account of her actions is anything but solid. She insists that she went undercover to Lord Mori’s estate in order to investigate claims that he molested and murdered young boys. But when Sano inspects the crime scene, he finds no trace of what Reiko described. And every other witness tells a different story: Lady Mori alleges that Reiko was Lord Mori’s scorned mistress and murdered him for revenge. And Lord Mori himself, speaking through a medium, claims his murder was part of Sano’s plot to overthrow the shogun!
Unless Sano can prove his wife’s unlikely claims, both he and Reiko—and their unborn child—face execution for treason. Sano fights desperately to save his family and his honor, as Laura Joh Rowland draws on the tradition of the classic film Rashomon to bring us a masterful tale of intrigue and treachery.
March 4, 2017
In this installment of Laura Joh Rowland's series starring Sano Ichiro (he has various titles depending on how far along in the series you are), we find disturbing parallels to the news in the contemporary United States - the horrors of child molestation and child murder. Rowland explores the political intrigue and dangers surrounding exposing & proving these charges in the setting of feudal Japan. More a thriller than a mystery, Sano and his wife, Lady Reiko, find themselves trapped by the roles they are expected to play in their society. While trying to stop the heinous practices of another member of the aristocracy, Lady Reiko finds herself (and therefore her husband and son) in greater danger than ever before.
Rowland masterfully portrays the feudal Japanese setting, explaining potentially unfamiliar concepts without breaking the action. The tension of the social structure as it existed in Japan at that time adds to the suspense of this thriller/mystery. I've read all the books in this series and look forward to her next! The characters are as well-rounded and complex as the setting. Readers interested in this setting will not be disappointed! The dialogue is rich and not stilted.
Interested readers should start with Rowland's first novel, Shinju and will be grateful there are many more in the series to read after that! Her latest book in the series is The Snow Empress, which I can't wait to get my hands on!
Rowland masterfully portrays the feudal Japanese setting, explaining potentially unfamiliar concepts without breaking the action. The tension of the social structure as it existed in Japan at that time adds to the suspense of this thriller/mystery. I've read all the books in this series and look forward to her next! The characters are as well-rounded and complex as the setting. Readers interested in this setting will not be disappointed! The dialogue is rich and not stilted.
Interested readers should start with Rowland's first novel, Shinju and will be grateful there are many more in the series to read after that! Her latest book in the series is The Snow Empress, which I can't wait to get my hands on!
March 4, 2012
Sano Ichiro’s pregnant wife Lady Reiko has been found next to the mutilated and bloody corpse of Lord Mori. Not only is she accused of his murder, Sano stands accused of treason. The two of them must face these charges together or be executed together.
This book didn’t have much to recommend itself to. I found the characters acting in a manner that was very unlike the Japanese culture in which this book was set in. This may have been the point, but it rankled.
Sano went around accusing all the suspects point blank of killing Lord Mori without any proof in desperation. Only it didn’t come off as desperate really. It came off as blustering and blundering without a clue. Lady Reiko did some investigating of her own with much the same effect. She did a lot of accusing of her own which made her seems just as clueless.
The dialogue was trite and unbelievable. I heaved great sighs of annoyance throughout the book.
While the climax of the book had an intellectually stimulating satisfying ending, the dialogue! The dialogue killed it!
Finally, the antics of the antagonist in her final moments before the executioner’s block had me in disbelief. It was a sub-par effort for sub-par book. All in all a very disappointing book for what is usually a very good series.
This book didn’t have much to recommend itself to. I found the characters acting in a manner that was very unlike the Japanese culture in which this book was set in. This may have been the point, but it rankled.
Sano went around accusing all the suspects point blank of killing Lord Mori without any proof in desperation. Only it didn’t come off as desperate really. It came off as blustering and blundering without a clue. Lady Reiko did some investigating of her own with much the same effect. She did a lot of accusing of her own which made her seems just as clueless.
The dialogue was trite and unbelievable. I heaved great sighs of annoyance throughout the book.
While the climax of the book had an intellectually stimulating satisfying ending, the dialogue! The dialogue killed it!
Finally, the antics of the antagonist in her final moments before the executioner’s block had me in disbelief. It was a sub-par effort for sub-par book. All in all a very disappointing book for what is usually a very good series.
March 23, 2014
Acting on an anonymous tip, Sano Ichirio's chief retainer raids the estate of a powerful lord, looking for proof of a conspiracy against the regime. He finds the suspect lord murdered, and Sano's wife holding the knife that killed him. Lady Reiko claims she had legitimate business of her own at the lord's estate, but she can't explain how she came to be present at the crime scene. Conflicting witness testimony paints a different picture from what Reiko remembers, one that incriminates her further. With his wife the chief suspect in the murder, Sano must use all his power to clear her name before he is also implicated in treason and his whole family pays the price.
This is by far the best book in the Sano Ichiro series so far. Taking inspiration from the classic Film, Rashomon, Laura Joh Rowland shows how multiple points of view of any situation can make it nearly impossible to uncover the truth. All the characters and their motivations were deftly painted, with far less of the same-old interpersonal conflicts we've seen in other books. The books is better edited, too, with none of the weird verb usages I've found so jarring in previous volumes. I was so curious to see how everything would resolve that I literally couldn't put this one down.
This is by far the best book in the Sano Ichiro series so far. Taking inspiration from the classic Film, Rashomon, Laura Joh Rowland shows how multiple points of view of any situation can make it nearly impossible to uncover the truth. All the characters and their motivations were deftly painted, with far less of the same-old interpersonal conflicts we've seen in other books. The books is better edited, too, with none of the weird verb usages I've found so jarring in previous volumes. I was so curious to see how everything would resolve that I literally couldn't put this one down.
January 24, 2008
A murder mystery set in 17th century Edo among the samurai set. Characters include an effete Shogun, a scheming Lord whole really has the power, the noble Chamberlain and his wife, detectives, a depraved daimyo, various vassals and peasants. Large amounts of blood, sex, political intrigue and observations about social class and customs.
A pretty good read, but not very challenging. Not up to the level of "literature", but a page-turner once it gets going. Should be considered by anyone interested in Japan, japanese history and culture and murder mysteries set in exotic locales.
The book is the 10th or 11th in a series that began in 1994 with Shinju and is the first of the series that I have read. I believe that I will read Shinju soon to see how it all got started.
A pretty good read, but not very challenging. Not up to the level of "literature", but a page-turner once it gets going. Should be considered by anyone interested in Japan, japanese history and culture and murder mysteries set in exotic locales.
The book is the 10th or 11th in a series that began in 1994 with Shinju and is the first of the series that I have read. I believe that I will read Shinju soon to see how it all got started.
May 28, 2010
Rowland's strengths are in plot, not prose. This book is a complex, gripping story told with an appalling lack of finesse. In seemingly every paragraph, the author presents striking visual images and deep emotions with all the blunt force of a heavy club, rather than a delicate paintbrush! The dialogue feels much too colloquial-American-thriller for the time and place ("You can take your offer and shove it up your behind."). And just when you think things couldn't get nastier (castration, pedophilia, sort-of incest, a pregnant woman fighting hand-to-hand combat), there's actually a fight in a rendering plant. Really! I'd prefer some restraint!
And yet the story itself really is compelling; it's the only thing that kept me reading past the first few pages. Nevertheless, I don't believe I'll hack my way through another of Rowland's books.
And yet the story itself really is compelling; it's the only thing that kept me reading past the first few pages. Nevertheless, I don't believe I'll hack my way through another of Rowland's books.
May 7, 2014
The more things change for San Ichiro, the more they seem to stay the same: He and his wife are still having trust issues, he and his chief retainer continue to find new ways to strain their friendship, and his arch nemesis has once again returned to wreak havoc (and just when you thought he might actually sit this one out for a change!). Despite his new position as Honorable Chamberlain, Sano once again finds himself investigating a murder, and once again it's all he can do to keep his own neck off the chopping block.
Fortunately, I never seem to tire of Rowland's formula. Her stories are just so darn absorbing that it's easy to forgive her for the weaknesses in her writing and all the silly contrivances in her plots. As with all Rowland's novels, RED CHRYSANTHEMUM is definitely something greater than the sum of its parts.
Fortunately, I never seem to tire of Rowland's formula. Her stories are just so darn absorbing that it's easy to forgive her for the weaknesses in her writing and all the silly contrivances in her plots. As with all Rowland's novels, RED CHRYSANTHEMUM is definitely something greater than the sum of its parts.
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