The Assassin's Touch

Sano Ichiro #10

by Laura Joh Rowland

May 1695. During a horse race at Edo Castle the chief of the shogun’s intelligence service, Ejima Senzaemon, drops dead as his horse gallops across the finish line—the fourth in a recent series of sudden deaths of high-ranking officials. Sano Ichiro is ordered to investigate, despite his recent promotion to chamberlain and his new duties as the shogun’s second-in-command.

Meanwhile, Sano’s wife, Reiko, is invited to attend the trial of Yugao, a beautiful young woman accused of stabbing her parents and sister to death. The woman has confessed, but the magistrate believes there is more to this case than meets the eye. He delays his verdict and asks Reiko to prove Yugao’s guilt or innocence.

As their investigations continue, both Sano and Reiko come to realize that the man he is trying to hunt and the woman she is desperate to save are somehow connected. A single fingerprint on Ejima’s temple puts Sano on the trail of an underground movement to overthrow the regime, and in the path of an assassin with a deadly touch.

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

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

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

Reviews

[Gintautas Ivanickas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oi.
Užnešė gerbiamą Laurą ne į tas pievas.
Lauros Joh Rowland „Žudiko prisilietimas“ yra paslaptis, kurios nenorėsite praleisti, - teigia anotacija. E... Žinote, gal visai norėčiau.
Ok, eikim iš eilės.
Netikėta mirtimi miršta nebe pirmas valdančiosios grupuotės įtakingas narys. Mirtys tarsi natūralios – bet kažkaip labai jau įtartina ta velionių rikiuotė. Sano, iškilęs į neregėtas aukštumas, gali kristi. O juk žinia – kuo iš aukščiau krenti, tuo pasekmės liūdnesnės. Laikas spaudžia, iš jo reikalaujama tyrimo rezultatų, o užsikabinti kaip ir nėra už ko.
Tuo metu savo tėvo paprašyta Sano žmona imasi savo tyrimo. Atstumtųjų kastos mergina išžudė visą savo šeimą. Ir noriai prisipažįsta tai padariusi. Tačiau Reiko supranta, kad kažkas čia nesueina.
Pats tyrimas ir visa kita būtų ok, bet ta visa fantastika su slapta Dim-mak technika, kai pirštų lietimu galima iššaukti „atidėtą“ mirtį... Arba tas antagonisto balso valdymas, kai žodžiai sklinda iš kur nori, bet ne iš ten, kur buvo ištarti... Va, pas Sapkowskį toks personažas buvo pateisinamas – magiška būtybė, ne žmogus. O šitas Supermenas neįtikino. Juolab, Sano vis tiek kietesnis – ir čia ne spoileris, nes serijoje knygų dar yra.
Žodžiu, būtent šitas serijos romanas nuvylė. Du iš keturių. Bet gal daugiau taip nedarys, a?

[Lee Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm beginning to get annoyed with Reiko. I used to like her tenacity but now I just think it's full on stubborness. She doesn't really think much about the people around her who could be affected by her actions. Let's see if there's still a redeeming quality to her once I've finished the book

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the scariest book so far! I was completely drawn into this volume and could hardly put it down.

I love this series! Rowland really knows how to write wonderful books.

[Cy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been reading this series, off and on, for about ten years now and I can't help but wonder if ten years, a college degree, and my changes in reading interests and habits have given me fonder memories of this series than they deserve. Quite frankly, this is one of the worst books in the series and the few leading up to it weren't exactly much better. Was Shinju or Bundori this bad?

The author needs an editor, or at least, a new one. The book is written in cardboard sentences. Every sentence is about the same length with little variation. Every sentence is a fact. "Reiko looked across the street. She saw Tama standing there. Tama looked sad. Reiko knew her guards were behind her. She knew they would follow her. This is third grade writing. There is no passion. Stop, start, stop, start." One of the things I remember loving from the early books was the lush detail in the description of Japan. This wasn't here either. "Reiko saw the house. It was painted green. Green made her feel sad." There's no meat to any of the story.

And the story itself was out of character for the series as well. Rowland has always been good at weaving in Japanese mysticism and mythology, but keeping the story firmly planted on the ground of murder mystery. While the motives or methods were supernatural, the investigation was forensic and methodical. That balance went out the window with this book where, within the first few pages, we're told Sano is hunting an assassin without equal and wraps up in a battle where hundreds of brave soldiers are frightened away by voices and whispers. It doesn't mesh with the political drama that provides the story's backdrop: quite simply, if Yanagisawa has, at his beck and call, an army of assassins who can kill with a touch, why did he bother with all of the political gamesmanship of the previous books? Why didn't he just order his assassins to kill his rivals like Sano or Matsudaira? Why did he let himself get exiled? Keeping the story grounded in reality, letting only a tinge of the supernatural into the world, is what made these books entertaining. The actual "investigation", the mundane part, is a series of conversations where the character talks to a guy who points them to another guy who conveniently points them to the next guy who then tells them to talk to this other guy, etc.

Two stars for barely being able to finish it.

[Pat MacEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is number 10 in Laura Joh Rowland's intricate historical murder mystery series, set in Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate. This time, Sano Ichiro confronts a practitioner of the lost art called Dim-mak. Anyone commanding the art can kill with the touch of a single finger, and death can come hours to two full days after contact. Most samurai believe Dim-mak is a myth, but then senior officials in the Shogun's government start turning up dead, each with a fingerprint lightly glazed into his skin. Who is the assassin, and why is he targeting these men? Is Sano himself a target, now that he has become the Shogun's Chamberlain? And what does it all have to do with Sano's wife, who's investigating a very different kind of killing and murderer at her father the magistrate's behest? Something, surely, does link the unknown assassin and the hinin woman Reiko is trying to understand, a woman outcast by society because of her father's crimes, not her own. In the aftermath of the recent bloody but aborted civil war between factions of the Shogun's court, the assassin's touch could destabilize everything and plunge the whole of Japan into chaos. And Sano, whose very bedroom has been invaded by the assassin, may very well be doomed already, not sure whether he himself was touched in his sleep. As always, the politics and customs of the era get careful attention, with the reader hanging on tenterhooks as the mystery uncoils like a striking viper. Highly recommended.

[Mililani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chamberlain Sano and his wife Reiko share in the solving of mysterious murders among the newly established government ranks in the Edo shogunate. Twists and turns and the sleuthing work of the couple help to identify the various components of the tapestry of intrigue. Sano continues to be plagued by his detractors but moves forward nonetheless.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this feels like a brother cadfael book or maybe Murdoch mysteries. A crime drama steeped in historic bits that seem to drive the narrative.

In this case, it is the death touch. You know the stories are going to twine and you wait for the moment.

The last few chapters were spectacular in their action sequences. I can see how this series would develop fans.

[Jessica L Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

I love this book series. It got me back into reading again. I can never get enough of the adventures of Sano and Reiko.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edo + MYSTICAL RACCOON HANDS = murder most trashy

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

TBA

[jaroiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nevím, proč pokračuju pořád dál a dál. Už to nepřináší nic nového, sexuální scény, které nejsou vůbec erotické...
A stejně zase sáhnu po dalším dílu.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one so far for me!

[Michael Wojciehoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cracks, karma and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Arlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly story.

[Jason Maguglin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery for Sano Ichiro to solve. I really enjoyed the mystical parts of this book, they went well along with the usual historical fiction of feudal Japan that Rolwand brings to life.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is par for the course with this series, fascinating historical setting, interesting mystery, gratuitous rape scene and sordid sexual backstory.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked the the fifth book in this series, The Samurai's Wife, then you will probably like this one too. Both books delve more into paranormal fantasy rather than staying firmly in the realm of reality. To be honest, it strains credulity and begs the question why there isn't more chaos in the regime or how anyone can kill one of these super-soldiers.

Sano Ichiro immediately accepts the occult theory of dim-mak, which is helpful in some ways because then the mystery proceeds as a normal mystery, which I appreciated. Now that Yanagisawa has been exiled, Sano has assumed the post of chamberlain. His new adversary is Hoshina who, I constantly wonder, has any allies because the man is completely inept at his job and is even less subtle than Reiko, and that's saying something.

Speaking of Reiko, whoo boy. She gets her own mystery to investigate about a woman who too readily admits to murder. The mystery is unfortunately boring and only proceeds because of Reiko's "intuition", which basically translates to "because the plot demands it". Once again, Reiko is unable to blend in and be serious. At least she takes guards with her this time instead of traipsing around Edo by herself like a modern woman without a care in the world.

Then there's Hirata. He's slowly unraveling as he becomes more obsessed with his pride, which while frustrating, makes him an interesting character. He's the only character that truly grapples with temptation away from bushido, which neither Reiko nor Sano deal with. It makes him one of the more relatable characters of the bunch.

Overall, this was pretty standard fare for Rowland. The historical setting was richer in this book, the political maneuverings weren't so distracting, and the characters' motivations were evolving and nuanced. Though I will warn readers that there was, again, graphic sex, but this time it's incest, so be forewarned.spoiler

[Melvin Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first began reading the Sano Ichiro novels in the late 1990s. Laura Joh Rowland’s Japanese mystery books were well written and interesting. So I have to admit to a little bit of disappointment in this effort.

First let me point out the good things I liked about this book. I found the story an interesting page turner. Although the authors understanding of the delayed death touch is somewhat superficial it was nonetheless an engrossing mystery. I haven't kept up with the series since the first three novels I read so the characters have been through much more than I recall. I thought that the idea of Ichiro and his wife acting as detectives was reminiscent of the old 1970s television series McMillan and wife. It was fun to read the parallel mysteries and see if they would come to resolution together.

Here's what I didn't like about this particular entry in the Ichiro mysteries. Yes, the writing was a little choppy in some places but I can forgive that. What I find difficult to forgive are the instances in which I read modern-day lingo, colloquialism and slang in a book that is supposed to be set in 16th or 17th century Japan. Also in describing the Dim Mak technique the author gives the impression that this was a technique that was developed in Japan. In fact Dim Mak is by all accounts a Chinese martial art technique. There is a substantial amount of literature about the Dim Mak much of which arose during the 1970s upon the death of Bruce Lee. After his death there was much speculation that he'd been the victim of the delayed death touch.

Further there were scenes that seem to go absolutely nowhere. For example there is a scene where Sano visits his mother. They have a brief conversation and then he says I have to go in that’s it. That scene does nothing to further any aspect of the story nor is it sufficient to give Sano any further character development. I really couldn't figure out why the author included that scene.

Finally, one of the more annoying problems with my version of the novel has nothing to do with the authors writing but in fact is probably a Kindle translation problem. There were numerous typos involving foreign words that probably do not appear in the written version of the book. For example, the term Dim Mak was spelled several different ways in the book none of which are consistent with the others. Other problems included the use of the term “san” after a name which got garbled into “-rn” and other obvious spelling and typographical errors. I've encountered Kindle translation errors before and this book was loaded with them. You'd think that by now they would know how to handle a Kindle translation and edit accordingly.

Notwithstanding the above, this won't be my last Sano Ichiro novel.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Assassin’s Touch was my first experience with Laura Joh Rowland’s husband-wife detective team set in the era of Tokugawa Japan. At the point in the series where the events in Assassin’s Touch take place, the samurai husband has become Chamberlain Sano and his wife, Reiko, is the daughter of an influential magistrate. In fact, the transition between the samurai of action and Sano’s new station is well represented when we read early in the novel, “He reflected that the Tokugawa regime, which had been founded by the steel of the sword, now ran on paper and talk.” (p. 9)

The mystery is fascinating. It appears that the members of one political faction are dying in a suspiciously systematic fashion. The only trouble is that there is no overt indication of murder. Indeed, the latest victim (and the one with which the story begins) dies in front of a huge crowd with no one near him. If it is murder, it is certainly a delayed effect and Rowland offers an intriguing clue when she reveals (from an omniscient perspective) exactly what the victim is thinking as he dies. Both the methodology and the rationale for the murder(s) is fascinating and builds upon a nice historical background.

And, that’s just the mystery which Chamberlain Sano is investigating.
Reiko has a different problem. Her father is suspicious about a woman who has confessed to murdering her entire family. Something about the confession doesn’t seem right, but when he asks Reiko to investigate, the suspect is adamant that she is guilty and wishes the death penalty. Is she truly guilty? Is she insane? Is she covering for someone else? Finding the answer requires Reiko to navigate the dark waters of the hinin (disgraced caste) and introduces the dark side of medieval Japanese society in a graphic and powerful fashion.

Meanwhile, Sano’s investigation seems to be centering on an ancient ninja technique and it appears that Sano himself may be a victim of the serial assassin. Since it is a delayed effect, the countdown continues throughout much of the book. With at least two murders and an ongoing cliffhanger with regard to Sano, one might wonder what else could distinguish this period piece. In addition to the mystery itself, there are some strange fetishes—one involving a very sharp sword and the rather obvious symbolism. That isn’t the only unnerving scene in the book. Some of the descriptions make one feel like a perverse voyeur. Yet, some of these horrible scenes make the final resolution much more worthwhile. This definitely won’t be the last book with these characters that I will read.

[Kayeb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book intrigued me as far as doing a bit more reading about dim-mak. It seems that the verdict is out...often used in film and cartooms, there seems to be less consensus around it being actually used. I may do a bit more reading and see if I can find some other written material that is not web based. At any rate, of course, Sano prevails...as does his wife in a knock down -dray out. A bit different in some ways than others she writes...as the 2 of them each pursue their own line of inquiry that comes together.



It is a lost art, passed down by the ancients in great secrecy: Dim-mak. It is death, by the lightest touch of a finger. Sano Ichiro, tenuous in the new regime as the shogun’s second-in-command, does not have the luxury of skepticism?another senior official is dead, a fingerprint lightly glazed into his skin.

Sano’s wife Reiko has an investigation of her own: a beautiful, proud, and hopelessly poor woman has confessed to murdering her family. Yet the pieces do not fit, and as Reiko looks deeper into the woman’s life as a hinin?a moral outcast, shunned by the world?inexplicable connections appear between her investigation and Sano’s.

As Reiko’s questions spiral her further into the squalor of life as a hinin, Sano and Hirata?his most loyal samurai?pursure their prey, uncovering an intricate tapestry of betrayal woven into the highest levels of the new regime. But they are no match for the one who has mastered dim-mak, a warrior who will strike all those who cross him or his path?even Reiko. [close:]

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the tenth book in the Sano Ichiro series, all our well-known characters are still adapting to the changes the recent civil disorder brought into their lives. Sano, the new Chamberlain, is overworked and bored. Reiko is underworked and bored. Hirata, who is now the shogun's sosakan-sama, is still recovering from his near-fatal wounding and his weakness frustrates him. So when a series of deaths seem to threaten Lord Matsudaira's new order and a murder among the city's outcast population poses questions without answers, everyone is eager to leap into action.

I like these books for their historical research and entertaining stories. At this point, however, a lot of the conflict seems a bit old. I understand the limitations of working within the feudal Japanese culture and the Bushido system. But the political maneuvering is always the same, no matter who's involved. Sano always has to choose between the way of the warrior and his own sense of justice, and he's always about to lose everything if he fails. His superiors always make unreasonable demands and are barely mollified when he comes up with the solution. Sano and Reiko always fight about the same things, make up by the end of the book, and have the same fight over again in the next one. Hirata always feels inadequate for one reason or another. It's getting tiresome and I wish something would change about it.

Anyway, I enjoyed it for what it is: a mildly amusing detective story set in Japan of the late 1600s. I expect I'll enjoy the next one for the same reasons.

[Tama Wise · Rating 1 out of 5]

A friend recommended me this one as a short, quick, trashy read. Actually, she warned me about the bad editing as well, and boy is this thing trashy. It took me a bit to realize that the scene changes in the middle of conversations were the authors way of changing characters POV.

Didn't like the fact there was so little description either. I never really got more than a cardboard feeling for the characters, some of which I really detested. At some points, they kept breaking my impression they were in ancient Japan by using sayings I'm sure were modern sayings.

Not much nice I can say about this book. I had always meant to get around to reading some of these books, being a fan of the period of Japan thats it's set in. This certainly isn't the first book in the series (it's almost the last), but I don't think it affected my understanding of story. Maybe I might have enjoyed it if I could have started at the first. It is pretty much what my friend told me it was though; a short, trashy, quick read.

[Ellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah! Another book in Laura Joh Rowland's mystery series starring Sano Ichiro, a detective in feudal Japan. I love this series and was really excited when I found out this book was coming out. :) Rowland uses the conventions of feudal Japanese society to increase the suspense in her novels. She explains potentially unfamiliar conventions of that culture without setting the story aside for the "okay now I'm going to explain things" paragraph or two. Explanations are expertly woven into the story and greatly add to the richness of the setting and gives depth to the characters.

This is not a cozy mystery series, but there is little or no profanity and very little explicit violence or sexual content - though there is violent and sexual content.

Definitely recommend to mystery lovers and to those interested in the time period.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and the historical backdrop of this book, but did not find the story very engaging.

However, I would like to make a comment on the formatting and editing of the e-book version I read. I was disappointed to find so many typos in a book released by a major publisher. It looked to me as of they took a printed copy and used optical character reading software to convert the text into digital and failed to proof the digital text afterward. A simple spell-check of the resulting text would have brought to light most of the typos.

I have converted many printed texts this way and this had all the hallmarks of what happens when you use OCR. I cannot figure out why they would have done so. Surely the text would have been in digital format when it was laid out for print. Why not use that version?

[Taijilibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sano Ichiro, chamberlain to the Shogun, is tasked with investigating the murder of a high official that may hint at a plan to bring down the regime. This book is similar to others in the series. Sano must investigate an unusual murder, and failure has dire consequences to a samurai of the Shogunate. The book has more details on this period of Japan, and also introduces information on the Hinin and dim mak. A worthwhile read despite the length and sameness of this series. This book was a more interesting thriller than the previous few books. There is a hint of a change for the character Hirata.

[Kemi looves 2 read · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is set in medieval times - I'm going to guess 16th or 17th century Japan. While I am a self confessed history buff, the authour stretched out the plot a wee bit. Some as aspects of the Japanese culture were "over described", drawn out and drew attention away from the interaction of the characters and how the story line came together. A few words I picked up - palanquin, dim-mak, doshin, bushido, daimyo. If you are into martial arts, the stuff from "crouching tiger, leaping dragon", you might enjoy the long drawn out ending. I had to skip some pages. An FYI - some scenes are sexually graphic and painfully so!!

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kind of interesting story, but the writing is so juvenile that when my friend asked for the copy back to pass on, I did not even care enough to finish it (even after getting 2/3 of the way through) and gave it back. The author seems to think her audience are cultural philistines, explaining such basic aspects of Japan as to be insulting. Years ago I think I tried to read another of her books, and came away with a similar opinion. There are much better alternatives for almost any aspect of these books.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid entry, but nowhere near among the best in the series. THE ASSASSIN'S TOUCH is a fast, fun read, but people of a mind to be critical will find it highly contrived. The villain's quasi-mystical skills in the martial arts strain credulity, making this one of Rowland's less believable mysteries. However, anyone who enjoys watching ninjas get up to some crazy shenanigans will eat up this novel like a plate of sushi.

[Steve Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected this to be a fun, trashy read, but it was pretty dull and uninspiring. The characters were paper thin, the action was plodding, and none of the descriptions of feudal Japan were very vibrant or interesting. Also, the characters seemed extremely Western in their thoughts and speech. I was looking forward to getting into this series but I think I'll try another route.