Spring Festival in Akaiwa: An Akitada Novel

by I. J. Parker

A governor's life is not an easy one. It is spring when everything starts going wrong for Akitada. The town is full of unruly festival visitors, three brutal murders remain unsolved when the suspects depart, and two rice merchants plot to defraud his province. When his own retainer rebels and embarks on a murderous vendetta, complaints multiply and Akitada faces not only dismissal but his family turns against him. In a desperate attempt to redeem himself, he risks his career and almost loses his life.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2023

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akitada is the governor of a province on the Inland Sea. Tension in his household with his secretary, Saburo. Saburo's past as a professional assassin catches up with him and Akitada fires him for disobedience. Meanwhile there's a strange death that just might be a murder. Then a murder. Two women dead. Then Saburo and another visiting monk are found dead. Another murder. In the midst of all these unsolvable murders he receives notice he is being recalled to the capital. Quite an ending with a body count and the overriding sense of gloom throughout the story being dispelled.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another welcome and pleasant addition to the Akitada series. As usual there are several things going on, including baffling murders and trouble with a long time staff member. There was to me a surprising turn of events related to that. Meanwhile the threat of recall to the capital hangs over his head.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

tired

The last few books in this series seem to have lost their way, and this book is just ... boring

Akidata, the protagonist, has become bitter and angry, his friends and family empty characters

I could not get past 20% of this awful story

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Akitada is the governor of what today would be Okayama and the bodies keep piling up. He crosses the abbot of the local temple and is clashing with Ota the police chief. Only the loyal Taro seems to be on his side. He sacks one of his retainers who later turns up dead – is this connected with the other murders? And then he’s recalled to the capital Kyoto, and he’s sure it’s because of how he’s behaving and handling these cases. Will he be able to solve them before he’s forced to leave, and how can he face retirement when he’s not ready for it.
The mystery itself was fine if over populated with corpses, but one of my pet peeves with novels is books without a single likeable main character and really this has no-one you can fully sympathise with beyond Sadako, Akitada’s long-suffering wife, and perhaps Taro. I don’t remember earlier books in this series being so miserable but it’s been a while since I read any.

[Susan Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Akitada series because he continues to grow and struggle with life both as an administrator in a complex unfair hierarchy and as a well meaning patriarch. Here Akitada develops family problems after he loses his temper and dismisses his difficult secretary. It seems like everyone turns against him and his murder solving is not going too well either. Then the abbot complains to Akitada's superiors and more than his job is on the line. Time to fire up the old retainers and get on the road!

[David Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story but poorly editrd

The latest instalment of the Akitada series delivers an entertaining story with amusing and well crafted characters.

Slightly key down by poor editing with key events in the story being revealed, forgotten about and then "revealed" again a few chapters later but still definitely worth reading (although this is book 22 so best to begin at the beginning

[Steven K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gratifying, gripping tales and The history of Sugawara, Akitada

Historical fiction at its finest! I hope I.J. Parker lives to be 120 and is inspired to write until the end!!