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Shinobi Mystery #2
Blade of the Samurai
June, 1565: Master ninja Hiro Hattori receives a pre-dawn visit from Kazu, a fellow shinobi working undercover at the shogunate. Hours before, the shogun''s cousin, Saburo, was stabbed to death in the shogun's palace. The murder weapon: Kazu's personal dagger. Kazu says he's innocent, and begs for Hiro's help, but his story gives Hiro reason to doubt the young shinobi's claims.
When the shogun summons Hiro and Father Mateo, the Portuguese Jesuit priest under Hiro's protection, to find the killer, Hiro finds himself forced to choose between friendship and personal honor.
The investigation reveals a plot to assassinate the shogun and overthrow the ruling Ashikaga clan. With Lord Oda's enemy forces approaching Kyoto, and the murderer poised to strike again, Hiro must use his assassin's skills to reveal the killer's identity and protect the shogun at any cost. Kazu, now trapped in the city, still refuses to explain his whereabouts at the time of the murder. But a suspicious shogunate maid, Saburo's wife, and the shogun's stable master also had reasons to want Saburo dead. With the shogun demanding the murderer's head before Lord Oda reaches the city, Hiro and Father Mateo must produce the killer in time . . . or die in his place.
Susan Spann's Blade of the Samurai is a complex mystery that will transport readers to a thrilling and unforgettable adventure in sixteenth-century Japan.
When the shogun summons Hiro and Father Mateo, the Portuguese Jesuit priest under Hiro's protection, to find the killer, Hiro finds himself forced to choose between friendship and personal honor.
The investigation reveals a plot to assassinate the shogun and overthrow the ruling Ashikaga clan. With Lord Oda's enemy forces approaching Kyoto, and the murderer poised to strike again, Hiro must use his assassin's skills to reveal the killer's identity and protect the shogun at any cost. Kazu, now trapped in the city, still refuses to explain his whereabouts at the time of the murder. But a suspicious shogunate maid, Saburo's wife, and the shogun's stable master also had reasons to want Saburo dead. With the shogun demanding the murderer's head before Lord Oda reaches the city, Hiro and Father Mateo must produce the killer in time . . . or die in his place.
Susan Spann's Blade of the Samurai is a complex mystery that will transport readers to a thrilling and unforgettable adventure in sixteenth-century Japan.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2014
22 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Susan Spann
12 books217 followersAuthor of the Hiro Hattori Novels (Shinobi Mysteries), featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo.
CLAWS OF THE CAT (Minotaur Books, 2013)
Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month
Silver Falchion Finalist: Best First Novel
BLADE OF THE SAMURAI (Minotaur Books, 2014)
FLASK OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER (Minotaur Books, July 2015)
THE NINJA'S DAUGHTER (Seventh Street Books, August 2016)
BETRAYAL AT IGA (Seventh Street Books, July 2017)
CLAWS OF THE CAT (Minotaur Books, 2013)
Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month
Silver Falchion Finalist: Best First Novel
BLADE OF THE SAMURAI (Minotaur Books, 2014)
FLASK OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER (Minotaur Books, July 2015)
THE NINJA'S DAUGHTER (Seventh Street Books, August 2016)
BETRAYAL AT IGA (Seventh Street Books, July 2017)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
October 5, 2023
Complex and intense
🗡️ This is a complex and complicated whodunit. Good luck figuring it out before the end. It’s also pretty intense. The stage is littered with bodies by the final chapter just like in Hamlet. And the ninja/shinobi in Hatori comes out in a moment of ferocity. Great ferocity.
But I don’t read this series for the whodunit aspect. I like learning about 16th century Japanese culture and the era of the samurais. So a scene about a samurai using his skills to provide medical care is more interesting to me than a scene with another body. Maybe that’s what draws you too.
Father Mateo showed courage in this second novel on many levels - fighting off the attack of a powerful Akita, bearing the pain of his wounds bravely and silently, standing firm when everything around him is coming to pieces. I still find his religious approach somewhat legalistic but I enjoy the interplay between Buddhism and Catholic Christianity. I want much more from him though. I probably won’t get it.
I wish he was a warrior monk. I wish he’d connect with a Zen monastic group. I wish he’d live a faith that honored his Jesus but that also fought to defend the poor and the weak. I wish he was a peaceful priest but one that samurai realized was a force to be reckoned with. Like a mix of sunshine, wind and thunder. His version of the famous verse would be: The spirit is willing and the body is strong.
Oh .. and I love the kitten Gato. My own Kokomo totally approves.
🗡️ This is a complex and complicated whodunit. Good luck figuring it out before the end. It’s also pretty intense. The stage is littered with bodies by the final chapter just like in Hamlet. And the ninja/shinobi in Hatori comes out in a moment of ferocity. Great ferocity.
But I don’t read this series for the whodunit aspect. I like learning about 16th century Japanese culture and the era of the samurais. So a scene about a samurai using his skills to provide medical care is more interesting to me than a scene with another body. Maybe that’s what draws you too.
Father Mateo showed courage in this second novel on many levels - fighting off the attack of a powerful Akita, bearing the pain of his wounds bravely and silently, standing firm when everything around him is coming to pieces. I still find his religious approach somewhat legalistic but I enjoy the interplay between Buddhism and Catholic Christianity. I want much more from him though. I probably won’t get it.
I wish he was a warrior monk. I wish he’d connect with a Zen monastic group. I wish he’d live a faith that honored his Jesus but that also fought to defend the poor and the weak. I wish he was a peaceful priest but one that samurai realized was a force to be reckoned with. Like a mix of sunshine, wind and thunder. His version of the famous verse would be: The spirit is willing and the body is strong.
Oh .. and I love the kitten Gato. My own Kokomo totally approves.
November 5, 2022
Blade of the Samurai is the second In the Shinobi Mystery series and I think I am hooked. The action takes place in Shogunate Japan-and I do mean action as this book is paced in such a way as to be a very swift read. I think I finished it in six hours. You do not have to have read book one to enjoy this, tho it might be preferable. Good mystery too I should have figured it out but didn’t. Good stuff.
July 29, 2014
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I felt I'd come late to the party when I picked up Susan Spann's Blade of the Samurai. Every review said her sophomore release was better than her debut and there I was jumping into book two, one eyebrow raised, wondering what the hell everyone was going on about. I'd never heard of the author, wasn't familiar with the series, was slightly wary of all the praise, and wasn't feeling it as I moved through the first few chapters.
I don't know if it's because I was unfamiliar with the cast, was still getting to know Spann's voice or that I'm just a stubborn skeptic, but I struggled to get into this book and was half-convinced I'd be penning a lukewarm commentary when Spann threw a curve ball I didn't see coming.
Moving forward after that was an entirely different experience. Spann had caught me off guard and in so doing, engaged my interest. The general levity of the narrative was still difficult for me to digest, but the mystery at the heart of the novel more than made up for it. Shrewd, sophisticated and imaginative, Spann constructs a riddle that keeps her audience on their toes.
From a historical perspective, there is a lot of interesting detail, particularly that pertaining to the samurai code and the Jesuit missionaries operating in Japan during the sixteenth century. There are also some rather lovely representations of Japanese architecture if ambiance is something you look for in literature.
In hindsight I wish I'd read the books in order as there are several elements that seem to build on concepts from the previous installment, but I can't say I regret the time spent with Blade of the Samurai. I ultimately enjoyed the story a great deal and would definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in culture based fiction.
I felt I'd come late to the party when I picked up Susan Spann's Blade of the Samurai. Every review said her sophomore release was better than her debut and there I was jumping into book two, one eyebrow raised, wondering what the hell everyone was going on about. I'd never heard of the author, wasn't familiar with the series, was slightly wary of all the praise, and wasn't feeling it as I moved through the first few chapters.
I don't know if it's because I was unfamiliar with the cast, was still getting to know Spann's voice or that I'm just a stubborn skeptic, but I struggled to get into this book and was half-convinced I'd be penning a lukewarm commentary when Spann threw a curve ball I didn't see coming.
Moving forward after that was an entirely different experience. Spann had caught me off guard and in so doing, engaged my interest. The general levity of the narrative was still difficult for me to digest, but the mystery at the heart of the novel more than made up for it. Shrewd, sophisticated and imaginative, Spann constructs a riddle that keeps her audience on their toes.
From a historical perspective, there is a lot of interesting detail, particularly that pertaining to the samurai code and the Jesuit missionaries operating in Japan during the sixteenth century. There are also some rather lovely representations of Japanese architecture if ambiance is something you look for in literature.
In hindsight I wish I'd read the books in order as there are several elements that seem to build on concepts from the previous installment, but I can't say I regret the time spent with Blade of the Samurai. I ultimately enjoyed the story a great deal and would definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in culture based fiction.
July 31, 2014
I first became aware of Susan Spann when I came across her first novel Claws of the Cat last year. It immediately pinged a lot of the alerts on my radar: historical fiction, a murder mystery and an interesting setting in feudal Japan. Unfortunately I never came across the book, so I missed out on picking it up, but when I was approached about reviewing the second one I knew I had to say yes. For those of you who like me haven’t read the previous book: don’t worry Blade of the Samurai stands alone beautifully and makes for a very satisfying read.
The book is set in feudal Japan at the end of the sixteenth century. It’s an interesting era and one I don’t know that much about, as I’m more familiar – if only a smidgen – with its history a century later. I really enjoyed the setting and the way Spann evokes Kyoto, though beyond canals, bridges, wooden houses and sliding doors, she leaves it pretty nebulous on the whole. With an author writing in a culture different from their own, there’s always the risk of over explanation, to make sure that the reader understands all of the nuances and details included in the narrative. Spann doesn’t make this mistake, giving enough context to clarify meaning, but without turning into a textbook on Japanese history. She accomplishes this by using the nice device of having her narrator Hiro working as a translator for an outsider, one of the rare foreigners present in Japan, the Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo. This conceit allows Spann to comment on Japanese culture and society both through Hiro explaining it to Mateo and by having Hiro wince every time Mateo behaves in a not-Japanese manner, that had he been Japanese would have given offence. The one thing that made the text sometimes a little harder to grasp was the fact that some Japanese vocabulary used wasn’t translated. It turned out there was a glossary for these terms in the back, which I only found out after I’d finished the book, and while the gist of them was clear from their context, I found myself distracted by it.
As mentioned, the book’s narrator and main protagonist Hiro officially is a translator to Father Mateo, which makes him look at Japanese society with different eyes. But Hiro himself is somewhat of an outsider in and of himself already, due to being a shinobi, an assassin, which is a breed of men taught to hold themselves apart and furthermore by dint of his cover story, which is that he is a masterless samurai, a ronin, and as such is considered of lesser rank. This outsider status also helps to allow the reader into the story and this, for most readers, unfamiliar society. The samurai treat him with disdain and he’s often at a disadvantage socially speaking, especially in this story where much of the investigation takes place within the Shogun palace, a place peopled by those of the Samurai class. Hiro’s unique training has also made him somewhat blind to class boundaries, something that the palace officials he has to deal with observe with a jaundiced eye. In a society underpinned by the principle of honour, pretending to be someone he’s not and having to tolerate disrespect is hard for Hiro and I liked that Spann shows him having to force himself to not react.
Hiro’s employer, Father Mateo is an interesting character. A devout man of staunch faith, he’s nevertheless quite flexible in his thinking, though somewhat uncaring about giving offence to his hosts through his Western manners. It’s also in elements of Father Mateo’s household that the story’s standalone character falls down the most. Blade of the Samurai never repeats the explanation for how and why Hiro comes to serve as Mateo’s bodyguard, only that he has a fat contract to do so and that as a consequence his life is linked to that of Mateo. Similarly, it was never quite clear to me whether Ana, the housekeeper, was Japanese or Portuguese. From her behaviour I’d say Japanese, however, Ana seemed more like a Portuguese name. If she is Portuguese, how did she end up in Japan? In the grand scheme of things not knowing these details doesn’t affect the plot, but they did shake me from the narrative several times.
The mystery was tightly plotted. The murder was somewhat of a locked-room mystery, with the attendant back and forth between suspects. I loved the concept and especially seeing how Hiro’s theories develop. Of course the initial main suspect, Kazu, is Hiro’s friend and he really wants to believe in his innocence, especially considering he’s a shinobi from the same clan. Hiro can completely absolve him of guilt at first and as a consequence stays suspicious of Kazu, something that almost ruins their friendship. I really loved the interplay between these to, as I did the relationship between Hiro and Mateo, which is more a friendship than anything else. I kept second guessing myself as to who the real culprit was and the final reveal was amazing. I really liked the way the plot played out and it made for a very satisfying ending.
Blade of the Samurai was a terrific read, with only some minor quibbles. If you enjoy well-plotted historical crime fiction then I recommend you take a look at this one as it is highly entertaining. The book has convinced me I’ll have to track down a copy of Claws of the Cat at some point to learn how Hiro and Mateo first met. And I sincerely hope there’ll be many more adventures in the Shinobi Mysteries, but we’re guaranteed at least one more due out next year. Until then you can get caught up with Claws of the Cat and Blade of the Samurai.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
The book is set in feudal Japan at the end of the sixteenth century. It’s an interesting era and one I don’t know that much about, as I’m more familiar – if only a smidgen – with its history a century later. I really enjoyed the setting and the way Spann evokes Kyoto, though beyond canals, bridges, wooden houses and sliding doors, she leaves it pretty nebulous on the whole. With an author writing in a culture different from their own, there’s always the risk of over explanation, to make sure that the reader understands all of the nuances and details included in the narrative. Spann doesn’t make this mistake, giving enough context to clarify meaning, but without turning into a textbook on Japanese history. She accomplishes this by using the nice device of having her narrator Hiro working as a translator for an outsider, one of the rare foreigners present in Japan, the Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo. This conceit allows Spann to comment on Japanese culture and society both through Hiro explaining it to Mateo and by having Hiro wince every time Mateo behaves in a not-Japanese manner, that had he been Japanese would have given offence. The one thing that made the text sometimes a little harder to grasp was the fact that some Japanese vocabulary used wasn’t translated. It turned out there was a glossary for these terms in the back, which I only found out after I’d finished the book, and while the gist of them was clear from their context, I found myself distracted by it.
As mentioned, the book’s narrator and main protagonist Hiro officially is a translator to Father Mateo, which makes him look at Japanese society with different eyes. But Hiro himself is somewhat of an outsider in and of himself already, due to being a shinobi, an assassin, which is a breed of men taught to hold themselves apart and furthermore by dint of his cover story, which is that he is a masterless samurai, a ronin, and as such is considered of lesser rank. This outsider status also helps to allow the reader into the story and this, for most readers, unfamiliar society. The samurai treat him with disdain and he’s often at a disadvantage socially speaking, especially in this story where much of the investigation takes place within the Shogun palace, a place peopled by those of the Samurai class. Hiro’s unique training has also made him somewhat blind to class boundaries, something that the palace officials he has to deal with observe with a jaundiced eye. In a society underpinned by the principle of honour, pretending to be someone he’s not and having to tolerate disrespect is hard for Hiro and I liked that Spann shows him having to force himself to not react.
Hiro’s employer, Father Mateo is an interesting character. A devout man of staunch faith, he’s nevertheless quite flexible in his thinking, though somewhat uncaring about giving offence to his hosts through his Western manners. It’s also in elements of Father Mateo’s household that the story’s standalone character falls down the most. Blade of the Samurai never repeats the explanation for how and why Hiro comes to serve as Mateo’s bodyguard, only that he has a fat contract to do so and that as a consequence his life is linked to that of Mateo. Similarly, it was never quite clear to me whether Ana, the housekeeper, was Japanese or Portuguese. From her behaviour I’d say Japanese, however, Ana seemed more like a Portuguese name. If she is Portuguese, how did she end up in Japan? In the grand scheme of things not knowing these details doesn’t affect the plot, but they did shake me from the narrative several times.
The mystery was tightly plotted. The murder was somewhat of a locked-room mystery, with the attendant back and forth between suspects. I loved the concept and especially seeing how Hiro’s theories develop. Of course the initial main suspect, Kazu, is Hiro’s friend and he really wants to believe in his innocence, especially considering he’s a shinobi from the same clan. Hiro can completely absolve him of guilt at first and as a consequence stays suspicious of Kazu, something that almost ruins their friendship. I really loved the interplay between these to, as I did the relationship between Hiro and Mateo, which is more a friendship than anything else. I kept second guessing myself as to who the real culprit was and the final reveal was amazing. I really liked the way the plot played out and it made for a very satisfying ending.
Blade of the Samurai was a terrific read, with only some minor quibbles. If you enjoy well-plotted historical crime fiction then I recommend you take a look at this one as it is highly entertaining. The book has convinced me I’ll have to track down a copy of Claws of the Cat at some point to learn how Hiro and Mateo first met. And I sincerely hope there’ll be many more adventures in the Shinobi Mysteries, but we’re guaranteed at least one more due out next year. Until then you can get caught up with Claws of the Cat and Blade of the Samurai.
This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
September 6, 2016
I wanted to give this a 3.5 out of 5 but that's not exactly an option here. I'm an admirer of Japanese culture so this book was right up my ally.
Three Good Things:
1. The Mystery being the novels core aspect, it was really well thought out. I didn't exactly get right who the murderer was, that said it still made sense when everything was said and done.
2. The way that each character allowed their ideas on how Honor and Respect should be shown towards other was perhaps the key distinction factor for a while. It's a very accurate gauge on a person mindset in this story and was interesting to see unfold.
3. Hands down my favorite aspect of the story was the relationship between Father Mateo and Hiro. The way to the two very different men, who even disagree on some key points, keep each other on a level playing field and show only the utmost respect made their interactions very entertaining to read.
Three Bad Things
1. There is one scene in particular that I can't help but feel like Hiro's reaction is a bit over the top. For something he even admits to being somewhat minor he get's very angry and it just seemed really out of character for him.
2. While I understand the historical accuracy and perhaps even watered down portrayal of how "commoners" were treating I found it to be somewhat upsetting.
3. The last thing that bothered me was how the ending rounded out in somewhat of an anticlimactic way. Answers are discovered and new issues are resolved almost immediately which I found to be off tempo with the rest of the story.
All around this was a very enjoyable read.
Three Good Things:
1. The Mystery being the novels core aspect, it was really well thought out. I didn't exactly get right who the murderer was, that said it still made sense when everything was said and done.
2. The way that each character allowed their ideas on how Honor and Respect should be shown towards other was perhaps the key distinction factor for a while. It's a very accurate gauge on a person mindset in this story and was interesting to see unfold.
3. Hands down my favorite aspect of the story was the relationship between Father Mateo and Hiro. The way to the two very different men, who even disagree on some key points, keep each other on a level playing field and show only the utmost respect made their interactions very entertaining to read.
Three Bad Things
1. There is one scene in particular that I can't help but feel like Hiro's reaction is a bit over the top. For something he even admits to being somewhat minor he get's very angry and it just seemed really out of character for him.
2. While I understand the historical accuracy and perhaps even watered down portrayal of how "commoners" were treating I found it to be somewhat upsetting.
3. The last thing that bothered me was how the ending rounded out in somewhat of an anticlimactic way. Answers are discovered and new issues are resolved almost immediately which I found to be off tempo with the rest of the story.
All around this was a very enjoyable read.
June 15, 2019
Love to get taken to different times and places. Like the first book in this series, the author's thorough and believable research adds a lot of flavor -- yum, tasty! -- to the reading. Hiro is truly a hero, and his character, and his relationship with his charge, Father Mateo, continue developing in this book. You don't need the first book to appreciate this one, but as always, having read #1 enriches one's appreciation for the world of #2. I'm looking forward to #3.
July 1, 2019
Wonderful!
July 15, 2014
BLADE opens in sixteenth-century Kyoto a year after undercover ninja Matsui Hiro and Jesuit priest Father Mateo successfully solved a first murder case. The action moves from the local entertainment district to the shogunate, where Ashikaga Saburo, the shogun's cousin, has been found stabbed to death in his office a few days before the expected visit of an enemy warlord. The shogun, loath to exhibit any weakness before his visiting adversary and impressed by Hiro and Fr. Mateo's demonstrated investigative skills, demands the pair apprehend the murderer before the embassy arrives. Hiro finds himself in an unenviable position--the murder weapon belongs to his ninja friend Kazu, Saburo's assistant, who, like Hiro, is on a secret assignment for the Iga school. Kazu swears to Hiro that he did not commit the murder, yet he won't give Hiro a clear answer about where he was the night of the crime. Though Hiro harbors doubts about his friend's innocence, plenty of other people--Saburo's wife, a stable boy, a maid, a master carpenter, and various government officials--nurse grievances against Saburo that could easily explain the murder. Moreover, the murder appears connected to a plot that endangers the shogun himself. With the fate of the city and the lives of Kazu and Fr. Mateo, a well as his own, at stake, Hiro must weigh the evidence and unveil the murderer with utmost speed and certainty.
Meticulously plotted, BLADE moves at an exciting, engaging clip. Hiro pursues suspects and unearths evidence with a ninja's stealth and finesse. His habits of observing before judging and of trying to provoke suspects into revealing themselves before he accuses them allows the reader time to piece the clues together for herself. The plot has just enough twists and turns to sustain interest without becoming confusing, and the reveal at the end has been so well-prepared as to be welcomed with pleasure.
As Father Mateo finds himself sidelined with unforeseen injuries for much of the novel, BLADE becomes Hiro's story, and the reader catches intriguing glimpses of the man behind the ninja. Spann portions out Hiro's personal history in tantalizing dribs and drabs, still revealing in this second book only the most basic facts about his personal background. Yet she begins to define Hiro's emotional landscape, a challenging task for a character whose livelihood and survival depend on the complete mastery of emotion. Not only does Japanese culture make a virtue of emotional control, but Hiro's ninja training has ingrained on him the grave danger of emotions: "A shinobi," he reminds himself, "must always remain detached from his mission. Real emotion was dangerous and forbidden." Yet as much as he fights them, emotions keep creeping in, complicating his task and threatening to cloud his judgment. Is his friendship with Father Mateo and the consequent exposure to Western affability and Christian ideals "softening" him, or has the wall behind which Hiro has dammed his feelings (one senses there is a deep emotional hurt, possibly involving a woman, in his past) springing hairline cracks on its own? It will be interesting to see how this struggle against emotion plays out in later books and where it ultimately leads the increasingly conflicted protagonist. For now, it is more than sufficient for forging bonds of sympathy between the reader and a man trained to kill with great efficiency and no remorse.
These intimations of Hiro's past and portents of his future contribute to Spann's greatest achievement so far: the successful integration of the story particular to each volume into the larger mystery that encompasses the entire series. Readers engage not only with the story questions of the murder under investigation, but with the broader questions of who has hired the assassin to protect Father Mateo and why. Hiro himself does not know the answers, and Spann keeps that grander mystery bubbling merrily on the burner as she concocts a heady brew of Japanese culture, early modern history, and basic human nature. BLADE OF THE SAMURAI will quench the thirst inspired by CLAWS, yet leave the reader panting eagerly for another gulp.
Meticulously plotted, BLADE moves at an exciting, engaging clip. Hiro pursues suspects and unearths evidence with a ninja's stealth and finesse. His habits of observing before judging and of trying to provoke suspects into revealing themselves before he accuses them allows the reader time to piece the clues together for herself. The plot has just enough twists and turns to sustain interest without becoming confusing, and the reveal at the end has been so well-prepared as to be welcomed with pleasure.
As Father Mateo finds himself sidelined with unforeseen injuries for much of the novel, BLADE becomes Hiro's story, and the reader catches intriguing glimpses of the man behind the ninja. Spann portions out Hiro's personal history in tantalizing dribs and drabs, still revealing in this second book only the most basic facts about his personal background. Yet she begins to define Hiro's emotional landscape, a challenging task for a character whose livelihood and survival depend on the complete mastery of emotion. Not only does Japanese culture make a virtue of emotional control, but Hiro's ninja training has ingrained on him the grave danger of emotions: "A shinobi," he reminds himself, "must always remain detached from his mission. Real emotion was dangerous and forbidden." Yet as much as he fights them, emotions keep creeping in, complicating his task and threatening to cloud his judgment. Is his friendship with Father Mateo and the consequent exposure to Western affability and Christian ideals "softening" him, or has the wall behind which Hiro has dammed his feelings (one senses there is a deep emotional hurt, possibly involving a woman, in his past) springing hairline cracks on its own? It will be interesting to see how this struggle against emotion plays out in later books and where it ultimately leads the increasingly conflicted protagonist. For now, it is more than sufficient for forging bonds of sympathy between the reader and a man trained to kill with great efficiency and no remorse.
These intimations of Hiro's past and portents of his future contribute to Spann's greatest achievement so far: the successful integration of the story particular to each volume into the larger mystery that encompasses the entire series. Readers engage not only with the story questions of the murder under investigation, but with the broader questions of who has hired the assassin to protect Father Mateo and why. Hiro himself does not know the answers, and Spann keeps that grander mystery bubbling merrily on the burner as she concocts a heady brew of Japanese culture, early modern history, and basic human nature. BLADE OF THE SAMURAI will quench the thirst inspired by CLAWS, yet leave the reader panting eagerly for another gulp.
July 29, 2014
The shogun's cousin has been murdered in his office and Hiro and Father Mateo have been asked to investigate. They agree, reluctantly, but have hidden the fact that they are both already aware of the murder. In the wee hours of the morning, and just before the body is discovered, Hiro's fellow shinobi Kazu arrived at Father Mateo's residence begging for Hiro's help. The dead man had been murdered with Kazu's own blade! Kazu swore his innocence but Hiro isn't so certain - a shinobi like himself would be trained to lie after all. The shogun gives Hiro and Father Mateo just three days to find the killer. When those three days are up, someone will be punished for the crime whether they've been proven guilty or not.
This second in Spann's series is my introduction to the story. And while that's mostly fine - the mystery stands alone - the character set up is something I've missed out on.
First, shinobi according to Spann's provided glossary means:
literally "shadowed person." Shinobi is the Japanese pronunciation of the characters that many Westerners pronounce "ninja." ("Ninja" is based on a Chinese pronunciation.)
Second, Hiro's (and Kazu's) real purpose in Kyoto is secret. No one knows they are shinobi. They are there under cover - Hiro is supposed to protect Father Mateo and does so under the guise of being his translator. I do imagine that much of this as well as the development of Hiro and Father Mateo's relationship plays a great part in the plot of Claws of the Cat. In this second outing, though, it's clear that Father Mateo knows Hiro is shinobi and that the two of them have developed a rapport and trust based around his skills and their shared secret. And yet Hiro doesn't know why he's been hired to protect Father Mateo in particular.
Spann spends a good amount of time setting the scene both culturally and historically in the book, but it is fluid and blends naturally into the story rather than sounding like a classroom lecture interspersed in the narrative. Sixteenth century Japan has some quite different rules about class, law, and respect. Most interesting, and a key part of the plot here, is the fact that if Hiro and Father Mateo fail in uncovering the murderer's identity to the shogun's satisfaction, they could actually be held responsible in the killer's stead! At the same time, there's a political based secondary plot that involves the arrival of a neighboring lord and a possible plot against the shogun.
I quite enjoyed my introduction to Hiro and Father Mateo. Spann's setting is unique and the overall tone is somewhat light. I really appreciated the fact that Spann was able to so smoothly incorporate the historical aspects, giving the reader a real understanding of Kyoto in the 1500s. Readers looking for something beyond the usual mystery fare will certainly find the Shinobi Mysteries appealing.
This second in Spann's series is my introduction to the story. And while that's mostly fine - the mystery stands alone - the character set up is something I've missed out on.
First, shinobi according to Spann's provided glossary means:
literally "shadowed person." Shinobi is the Japanese pronunciation of the characters that many Westerners pronounce "ninja." ("Ninja" is based on a Chinese pronunciation.)
Second, Hiro's (and Kazu's) real purpose in Kyoto is secret. No one knows they are shinobi. They are there under cover - Hiro is supposed to protect Father Mateo and does so under the guise of being his translator. I do imagine that much of this as well as the development of Hiro and Father Mateo's relationship plays a great part in the plot of Claws of the Cat. In this second outing, though, it's clear that Father Mateo knows Hiro is shinobi and that the two of them have developed a rapport and trust based around his skills and their shared secret. And yet Hiro doesn't know why he's been hired to protect Father Mateo in particular.
Spann spends a good amount of time setting the scene both culturally and historically in the book, but it is fluid and blends naturally into the story rather than sounding like a classroom lecture interspersed in the narrative. Sixteenth century Japan has some quite different rules about class, law, and respect. Most interesting, and a key part of the plot here, is the fact that if Hiro and Father Mateo fail in uncovering the murderer's identity to the shogun's satisfaction, they could actually be held responsible in the killer's stead! At the same time, there's a political based secondary plot that involves the arrival of a neighboring lord and a possible plot against the shogun.
I quite enjoyed my introduction to Hiro and Father Mateo. Spann's setting is unique and the overall tone is somewhat light. I really appreciated the fact that Spann was able to so smoothly incorporate the historical aspects, giving the reader a real understanding of Kyoto in the 1500s. Readers looking for something beyond the usual mystery fare will certainly find the Shinobi Mysteries appealing.
June 25, 2014
This is book 2 of the Samurai series by Susan Spann. Last year I happened upon Book 1 ‘Claws of the Cat‘ on netgalley and was genuinely entertained and amazed. As before, you are introduced to Hiro and Father Mateo, very much the Holmes and Watson of 16th century Japan. For every calculated step the shinobi takes, Father Mateo unknowingly stumbles with genuine curiosity and innocence at the very structured Japan culture of the samurai.
Father Mateo has been allowed to teach Christianity to one of the Shogun’s regions, and it would appear he steps blindly into the complicated class-based world, but he is often Hiro’s right-hand when it comes to asking the obvious questions that class dictates is improper to even think. Without Mateo, Hiro would not be able to navigate within his class limitations and have any type of success.
Along with the absolutely interesting dynamic between the foreigner and shinobi (masterless Samurai), Susan Spann brings back several characters from Book 1, namely Kazu, Hiro’s only friend and Samurai to the local Shogun. There is, inevitably, a body, clues to a bigger conspiracy, political intrigue, and another step into the world of the samurai. I thoroughly enjoyed Book 2, Blades of the Samurai for the mystery, as well as the glimpse into the feudal history of a powerful country. Hiro is called upon by the Shogun himself to solve the murder of one of his trusted men, and almost immediately, his life and Father Mateo’s, are put on the line. Culture dictates that dishonor is not only shared by the family, but the friends in the absence of any family ties. Kazu is accused of murder, caught up in his lies meant only to protect, and again both Hiro and Kazu’s ulterior motives to being in the region are threatened.
Fast paced, enjoyable dialogue, immensely interesting history, and a conspiracy worthy of the deception it causes. Definitely give Book 2 Blade of the Samurai 5 out of 5 stars. I wish it was only longer and cannot wait for Book 3!
Father Mateo has been allowed to teach Christianity to one of the Shogun’s regions, and it would appear he steps blindly into the complicated class-based world, but he is often Hiro’s right-hand when it comes to asking the obvious questions that class dictates is improper to even think. Without Mateo, Hiro would not be able to navigate within his class limitations and have any type of success.
Along with the absolutely interesting dynamic between the foreigner and shinobi (masterless Samurai), Susan Spann brings back several characters from Book 1, namely Kazu, Hiro’s only friend and Samurai to the local Shogun. There is, inevitably, a body, clues to a bigger conspiracy, political intrigue, and another step into the world of the samurai. I thoroughly enjoyed Book 2, Blades of the Samurai for the mystery, as well as the glimpse into the feudal history of a powerful country. Hiro is called upon by the Shogun himself to solve the murder of one of his trusted men, and almost immediately, his life and Father Mateo’s, are put on the line. Culture dictates that dishonor is not only shared by the family, but the friends in the absence of any family ties. Kazu is accused of murder, caught up in his lies meant only to protect, and again both Hiro and Kazu’s ulterior motives to being in the region are threatened.
Fast paced, enjoyable dialogue, immensely interesting history, and a conspiracy worthy of the deception it causes. Definitely give Book 2 Blade of the Samurai 5 out of 5 stars. I wish it was only longer and cannot wait for Book 3!
December 9, 2014
I've been sitting here trying to figure out what to say about Blade of the Samurai. Much like the last book I reviewed, All I Love and Know by Judith Frank, I'm of two mind on this one. Where a relationship flaw threw me in that previous book, it's the setting that I'm having a hard time with in this one.
Part of the reason why I wanted to read Blade of the Samurai, was because of how much I enjoyed the first book in the Sugawara Akitada series by I.J. Parker, The Dragon Scroll. It's another series set in feudal Japan, and I fell in love with the feel of the entire book, even if the characters where a bit stiff and formal in their behavior, dictated by the setting. The author brought that time period to life for me, and I couldn't imagine the story or those characters living at any other time, or in any other place.
I didn't get that with this book. The author used the language and even some of the cultural differences to frame her story, but I never got that total immersion experience I was looking for. The entire time I was reading it, I would occasionally forget about the setting, and I was able to picture it somewhere else, in another time. It just never felt like a fully fleshed out real world to me. And I'm sad to say, I was a little disappointed by that.
On the other hand, I loved Hiro and Father Mateo, and just about every other character in the book.They were fun to hang out with, and I'm really looking forward to their next mystery. And as far as mysteries go, while there was nothing that really stood out for me, it was a nice solid story, that kept moving along. There were no plot holes, or odd jumps of logic. Everything progressed in a linear fashion, and I really did enjoy the story overall. I just wish the setting would have been a little bit more concrete, allowing me to really lose myself in it.
Part of the reason why I wanted to read Blade of the Samurai, was because of how much I enjoyed the first book in the Sugawara Akitada series by I.J. Parker, The Dragon Scroll. It's another series set in feudal Japan, and I fell in love with the feel of the entire book, even if the characters where a bit stiff and formal in their behavior, dictated by the setting. The author brought that time period to life for me, and I couldn't imagine the story or those characters living at any other time, or in any other place.
I didn't get that with this book. The author used the language and even some of the cultural differences to frame her story, but I never got that total immersion experience I was looking for. The entire time I was reading it, I would occasionally forget about the setting, and I was able to picture it somewhere else, in another time. It just never felt like a fully fleshed out real world to me. And I'm sad to say, I was a little disappointed by that.
On the other hand, I loved Hiro and Father Mateo, and just about every other character in the book.They were fun to hang out with, and I'm really looking forward to their next mystery. And as far as mysteries go, while there was nothing that really stood out for me, it was a nice solid story, that kept moving along. There were no plot holes, or odd jumps of logic. Everything progressed in a linear fashion, and I really did enjoy the story overall. I just wish the setting would have been a little bit more concrete, allowing me to really lose myself in it.
July 25, 2014
This mystery was intricately planned out and executed and to set it in 16th century Japan with such mastery of the time period is amazing. The reader is transported. As I'm reading, I'm seeing in my mind's eye the Shogunate, the town, Hiro and Father Mateo's house. It's this excellent imagery that really brings one into the story. And there are elements of surprise...and even whimsy. Case in point - the foreshadowing in this scene I will share here had me thinking that something alarming was about to happen. And low and behold...
(quote)
"The attack came from behind and without warning. A dozen tiny daggers punctured Hiro's shoulder and upper back. He grunted with surprise and pain and tried to twist away, but the effort made Gato sink her claws even deeper into his flesh. Her free paw batted his hand and grabbed at the saying tail of hair.
"Ow!" Hiro grabbed Gato, determined to pry the kitten away before her efforts ruined his hair completely."
(end quote)
See! Hiro is attacked not by a human, but none other than his own kitten. A fine example of suspense transitioning to whimsy. Quite clever.
Not to say that the book doesn't have its moments of sheer suspense because it does. There is a murder and sinister doings afoot. Watching as Hiro and Father Mateo navigate the stringent customs of the Japanese Samurai while trying to solve the murder was indeed entertaining and interesting.
This author has a true talent in writing not only mysteries, but also capturing an entire culture in the pages. I can't wait to go back and read the first book in the Shinobi Mysteries, Claws of the Cat, and I look forward to her next offering, Flask of the Drunken Master.
(quote)
"The attack came from behind and without warning. A dozen tiny daggers punctured Hiro's shoulder and upper back. He grunted with surprise and pain and tried to twist away, but the effort made Gato sink her claws even deeper into his flesh. Her free paw batted his hand and grabbed at the saying tail of hair.
"Ow!" Hiro grabbed Gato, determined to pry the kitten away before her efforts ruined his hair completely."
(end quote)
See! Hiro is attacked not by a human, but none other than his own kitten. A fine example of suspense transitioning to whimsy. Quite clever.
Not to say that the book doesn't have its moments of sheer suspense because it does. There is a murder and sinister doings afoot. Watching as Hiro and Father Mateo navigate the stringent customs of the Japanese Samurai while trying to solve the murder was indeed entertaining and interesting.
This author has a true talent in writing not only mysteries, but also capturing an entire culture in the pages. I can't wait to go back and read the first book in the Shinobi Mysteries, Claws of the Cat, and I look forward to her next offering, Flask of the Drunken Master.
April 2, 2014
Susan Spann is an excellent writer and clearly knows this specific era in 16th century Japan. It is always up to me to remember the hereditary occupations of the characters, a trick when reading on my kindle where flipping to the author's fine glossary.
This mystery like the prior one was a very fine read. You will meet many new characters but only a few survived the multilayered mysteries that swirled around 16th century Kyoto. Our heroes and other characters got little sleep as they traveled back and forth to and from the shogunate. The weather, a vicious Akita and the cat Gato are elements that contribute to a sinister plot to overthrow the shogun
A satisfying ending, after many deaths, violence and intrigue, showed the Shinobi Hiro as well as his colleague,Father Mateo safe and healthy. New ties to the two newer characters who survived the fray tells me of a new series as does the statement "A warlord was a warlord after all", which referred to the NEW shogun.
received this from Netgalley for a review which will be posted August 1 on the HFVB Tour.See you then!
This mystery like the prior one was a very fine read. You will meet many new characters but only a few survived the multilayered mysteries that swirled around 16th century Kyoto. Our heroes and other characters got little sleep as they traveled back and forth to and from the shogunate. The weather, a vicious Akita and the cat Gato are elements that contribute to a sinister plot to overthrow the shogun
A satisfying ending, after many deaths, violence and intrigue, showed the Shinobi Hiro as well as his colleague,Father Mateo safe and healthy. New ties to the two newer characters who survived the fray tells me of a new series as does the statement "A warlord was a warlord after all", which referred to the NEW shogun.
received this from Netgalley for a review which will be posted August 1 on the HFVB Tour.See you then!
August 11, 2014
I enjoyed this second book as much as the first - the unusual main characters - a ninja (shinobi) investigator and a Portuguese Jesuit priest, the historical setting, the involved customs and politics of sixteenth century Japan, and the code of the samurai and the ninja. Also intriguing are how Hiro and Father Mateo go about their investigation, the people they interview, and the clues they put together to arrive at the surprising conclusion. Well written and plotted, this is an exciting new series for me!
See my full review: http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/20...
See my full review: http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/20...
June 25, 2014
As with Book One of this series, I love how Susan Spann brings the world of 16th century Japan to life in her tense mysteries. Her Shinobi detective Hiro is a steady presence with a hint of darkness in his past and an intriguing take on the world around him. Father Mateo is a memorable character as well. I particularly enjoyed his display of courage in this story...let's just say he is one tough guy. And of course I can't resist Gato's antics. Great read for fans of mysteries and historical novels.
July 15, 2014
Ms. Spann keeps the series going strong with her sophomore novel--there's no slump here! In fact, I enjoyed Blade even more than the first with its intricate plot, political detailing, and juicy cultural tidbits about opium, and the shogun culture. I ripped through it in two days, on the edge of my seat, barely coming up for air. This author is a rising star among mystery writers, without doubt.
June 13, 2014
I loved Claws of the Cat, and this second book in the series is even better. The mystery is tight and intricately crafted, and the characters come alive on the page. This is all in addition to the incredible immersion into a fascinating culture and historical events.
July 13, 2014
I highly recommend this book, it keep you want to turn the page to find out, who is the killer in this historical suspense novel!! I will post more about this novel on the 30th !!!
July 17, 2022
I enjoyed this one!!
November 12, 2022
A mystery with Samurais, Shoguns and a Portuguese priest - a good mix to me. Looking forward to reading book #2.
July 25, 2019
This was another great read after Spann's first in this series (Claws of the Cat), and gets my strong recommendation for fans of historical fiction or mysteries.
The samurai ninja Hiro Hattori and his companion, Portuguese Jesuit priest Father Mateo, have gotten themselves embroiled in another murder investigation in 1560s Kyoto, this time featuring a high-ranking official of the Shogun's government. The story moves well, offering even more potential suspects (and more deaths) than the first book in the series, and involves not just the murders, but a plot to overthrow the Shogun. All of the suspects have believable motives and opportunity to commit the crime, so the reader can't be sure of the culprit until the exposition at the end. Spann definitely has a knack for creating false leads and leaving a trail of clues that tie together at the end. And the denouement and epilogue definitely set up some potential storylines for Hiro, both allies and nemeses.
As with the first book, I'm only holding back the final fifth star from my rating because I'd like to see more samurai/shinobi action in a story that features a samurai shinobi so prominently -- the novel is definitely heavier on the sleuthing than on the action -- but the final few pages of this book definitely tease the reader for the potential action to come in the next few books in the series, so I am hopeful for more action in later books and eager to keep reading this series.
Thanks again to Seventh Street Books for providing me a copy.
The samurai ninja Hiro Hattori and his companion, Portuguese Jesuit priest Father Mateo, have gotten themselves embroiled in another murder investigation in 1560s Kyoto, this time featuring a high-ranking official of the Shogun's government. The story moves well, offering even more potential suspects (and more deaths) than the first book in the series, and involves not just the murders, but a plot to overthrow the Shogun. All of the suspects have believable motives and opportunity to commit the crime, so the reader can't be sure of the culprit until the exposition at the end. Spann definitely has a knack for creating false leads and leaving a trail of clues that tie together at the end. And the denouement and epilogue definitely set up some potential storylines for Hiro, both allies and nemeses.
As with the first book, I'm only holding back the final fifth star from my rating because I'd like to see more samurai/shinobi action in a story that features a samurai shinobi so prominently -- the novel is definitely heavier on the sleuthing than on the action -- but the final few pages of this book definitely tease the reader for the potential action to come in the next few books in the series, so I am hopeful for more action in later books and eager to keep reading this series.
Thanks again to Seventh Street Books for providing me a copy.
November 28, 2019
This is the third Shinobi mystery that I've read (I started with the sixth, and then went back to the beginning). I find this to be a workmanlike series that would be better if Spann didn't rely on certain tired conventions. So far, in all three that I've read, Hiro and Father Matteo have a deadline (typically 3 days) in which to find the killer or someone, who may or may not be guilty, will be executed in the murderer's place. Although Spann produces an in-plot justification for the deadline, it's apparent that she uses this convention to create tension (but since there is almost no chance that either Hiro or Matteo will die or let someone innocent die, there's really no tension whatsoever).
The time period is interesting, but, again, I think Spann could do more with it. She spends virtually no time on Matteo's missionary work and how he is able to convert some of the people. Spann also spends little time meaningfully exploring how a foreigner such as Matteo--who is physically, psychologically, and philosophically markedly different from the Japanese with whom he interacts--is viewed and judged by everyone but Hiro and Ana, the maid (who just loves Matteo, though it's not clear why; it's not even clear that she's Christian). The standard reaction to Matteo is people staring at him or speaking of him in front of him, assuming that he can't understand what is being said. There's no real evidence of the resistance with which much of medieval Japan reacted to the Portugese traders and the priests who came in their wake.
The time period is interesting, but, again, I think Spann could do more with it. She spends virtually no time on Matteo's missionary work and how he is able to convert some of the people. Spann also spends little time meaningfully exploring how a foreigner such as Matteo--who is physically, psychologically, and philosophically markedly different from the Japanese with whom he interacts--is viewed and judged by everyone but Hiro and Ana, the maid (who just loves Matteo, though it's not clear why; it's not even clear that she's Christian). The standard reaction to Matteo is people staring at him or speaking of him in front of him, assuming that he can't understand what is being said. There's no real evidence of the resistance with which much of medieval Japan reacted to the Portugese traders and the priests who came in their wake.
March 31, 2022
Susan Spann delivers another compelling mystery set in 16th century Japan with this sequel to her first book, “Claws of the Cat,” featuring Hiro Hattori, a master shinobi (Westerners refer to them as “ninja”), who is charged with protecting Portuguese Jesuit priest Father Mateo in the guise of a ronin translator.
In this installment, the unlikely duo are drawn into another murder case when Hiro receives a pre-dawn visit from Kazu, a brother shinobi working undercover at the shogunate. Hours earlier, someone stabbed the shogun’s cousin to death at the palace. The murder weapon? Kazu’s own dagger. While Kazu proclaims his innocence, Hiro has reason to doubt the young shinobi’s claims. Though Hiro would like nothing better than to steer clear of another investigation, the shogun, having heard of Hiro and Father Mateo’s success in solving the events of “Claws of the Cat,” summons the shinobi and foreign priest to find the killer. Delving into the case as more deaths occur, the pair uncover a plot to assassinate the shogun and overthrow the ruling clan and must take care not to lose their own lives in a power struggle while revealing the culprit.
As with Spann’s first novel, I found this book to be a great read, bridging the cultural gap between East and West, creating memorable characters, action, political intrigue, unexpected plot twists, and a fascinating exploration of feudal Japan while providing a fun mystery. Four stars.
In this installment, the unlikely duo are drawn into another murder case when Hiro receives a pre-dawn visit from Kazu, a brother shinobi working undercover at the shogunate. Hours earlier, someone stabbed the shogun’s cousin to death at the palace. The murder weapon? Kazu’s own dagger. While Kazu proclaims his innocence, Hiro has reason to doubt the young shinobi’s claims. Though Hiro would like nothing better than to steer clear of another investigation, the shogun, having heard of Hiro and Father Mateo’s success in solving the events of “Claws of the Cat,” summons the shinobi and foreign priest to find the killer. Delving into the case as more deaths occur, the pair uncover a plot to assassinate the shogun and overthrow the ruling clan and must take care not to lose their own lives in a power struggle while revealing the culprit.
As with Spann’s first novel, I found this book to be a great read, bridging the cultural gap between East and West, creating memorable characters, action, political intrigue, unexpected plot twists, and a fascinating exploration of feudal Japan while providing a fun mystery. Four stars.
April 29, 2024
Still very much appreciate the concept of the Jesuit priest + shinobi investigating, and I liked the hints towards more backstory to Hiro and how he came to be Father Mateo's bodyguard. But the mystery itself was pretty meh.
I think the main issue for me is that we are too much in Hiro's head rather than him having a Watson, despite there being two investigators, in theory. But Father Mateo is pretty much sidelined much of the time (in this case literally, in two different ways), which I think is a waste of the character, which is actually really good - he is admirable in his principles. I thought the contrast between him and the other Jesuit priest in Kyoto was really interesting.
For much of the book it felt like things were happening to push the mystery forward and that they weren't happening in organic ways. (e.g. first we hear that . I also didn't understand why anyone would have bought that , unless I completely misunderstood that subplot.
Why am I still giving it 4*? I'm just really enjoying the bigger mystery of Hiro, and I will likely continue.
I think the main issue for me is that we are too much in Hiro's head rather than him having a Watson, despite there being two investigators, in theory. But Father Mateo is pretty much sidelined much of the time (in this case literally, in two different ways), which I think is a waste of the character, which is actually really good - he is admirable in his principles. I thought the contrast between him and the other Jesuit priest in Kyoto was really interesting.
For much of the book it felt like things were happening to push the mystery forward and that they weren't happening in organic ways. (e.g. first we hear that . I also didn't understand why anyone would have bought that , unless I completely misunderstood that subplot.
Why am I still giving it 4*? I'm just really enjoying the bigger mystery of Hiro, and I will likely continue.
November 27, 2025
A murder in the Shogun’s compound, ninja spies, and a possible invasion plot…
Blade of the Samurai: A Shinobi Mystery by Susan Spann is the second volume in a series following a shinobi bodyguard and his Portuguese priest employer…
As with the first book, this odd pair finds itself drawn into a murder investigation…but the primary cause is due to an associate of the shinobi (a ninja spying as a clerk for the shogun) rather than a Christian convert seeking aid from the twist.
Father Mateo is more of the secondary protagonist, limited by his language barrier, though his non priest connections (specifically his arms dealing roommate Luis) do prove important again…
Meanwhile the Hiro the shinobi navigates the intricacies of shogun politics and who would want to kill someone in the household…
It doesn’t help that Lord Oda Nobunaga has a diplomatic visit planned in a few days…
Decent fun again…
Blade of the Samurai: A Shinobi Mystery by Susan Spann is the second volume in a series following a shinobi bodyguard and his Portuguese priest employer…
As with the first book, this odd pair finds itself drawn into a murder investigation…but the primary cause is due to an associate of the shinobi (a ninja spying as a clerk for the shogun) rather than a Christian convert seeking aid from the twist.
Father Mateo is more of the secondary protagonist, limited by his language barrier, though his non priest connections (specifically his arms dealing roommate Luis) do prove important again…
Meanwhile the Hiro the shinobi navigates the intricacies of shogun politics and who would want to kill someone in the household…
It doesn’t help that Lord Oda Nobunaga has a diplomatic visit planned in a few days…
Decent fun again…
November 1, 2018
#2 in the series. Like the first one, although the main character is shinobi, there is very little fighting or violence; indeed, the most ninja-like actions he performs is sneaking around quietly.
That said, it is a nice mystery that happens to be set in Japan in the 16th Century. A samurai is found dead, and the killer seems obvious - or does it? Was the murder political, a romance gone wrong, or something else?
Once again, Hattori Hiro solves the problem, although not to everyone's satisfaction.
That said, it is a nice mystery that happens to be set in Japan in the 16th Century. A samurai is found dead, and the killer seems obvious - or does it? Was the murder political, a romance gone wrong, or something else?
Once again, Hattori Hiro solves the problem, although not to everyone's satisfaction.
January 5, 2019
The shogun's cousin, Ashikaga Saburo, is murdered and the shogun orders Hiro and Father Mateo to discover the perpetrator within three days or be executed themselves. It appears that the author had a hard time figuring out how to fit the Jesuit into the plot, so he is hors de combat for most of the story. That leaves it to the shinobi, Hiro, to do most of the investigating. The author clearly has done a lot of research on 16th century Japan and creates an atmosphere of unrelenting menace and terror that can be rather exhausting.
February 3, 2022
Enjoyed this fast reading Japanese samurai mystery as much as I did the first in the series. Spann does a better job with historic and cultural accuracy than Clavell did with his famous, fun Shōgun book and its companions. She does, however, make a false step in describing Hiro as using various traditional drugs to prevent infection, centuries before the source of infections was understood.
Ignoring that, the social dynamics of Kyoto, the court, the samurai, the commoners, the smarmy Portugese priests and the equally offensive Portugese merchants are well detailed.
Ignoring that, the social dynamics of Kyoto, the court, the samurai, the commoners, the smarmy Portugese priests and the equally offensive Portugese merchants are well detailed.
May 25, 2017
This is a terrific blend of well-researched Japanese history and a good whodunit story. Second in a series, it builds nicely off the first book, "Claws of the Cat," while ramping up the tension between characters.
For more of my thoughts on this book, check out the review on my blog:
https://stevegoblefiction.wordpress.c...
For more of my thoughts on this book, check out the review on my blog:
https://stevegoblefiction.wordpress.c...
October 26, 2020
This is book number two in the series on Hiro the shinobi and his charge, the Portuguese Jesuit priest Father Mateo. Yet again the author, Susan Spann, has created an intricate mystery, this time set in the shogun’s palace. The chief suspect is Hiro’s friend and fellow disguised shinobi.
The cast of characters is intriguing, the list of suspects long, and the action continuous. Prepare for a surprise ending and enjoy.
The cast of characters is intriguing, the list of suspects long, and the action continuous. Prepare for a surprise ending and enjoy.
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