Flask of the Drunken Master

Shinobi Mystery #3

by Susan Spann

August 1565: When a rival artisan turns up dead outside Ginjiro's brewery, and all the evidence implicates the brewer, master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo must find the killer before the magistrate executes Ginjiro and seizes the brewery, leaving his wife and daughter destitute. A missing merchant, a vicious debt collector, and a female moneylender join Ginjiro and the victim's spendthrift son on the suspect list. But with Kyoto on alert in the wake of the shogun's recent death, a rival shinobi on the prowl, and samurai threatening Hiro and Father Mateo at every turn, Ginjiro's life is not the only one in danger.

Will Hiro and Father Mateo unravel the clues in time to save Ginjiro's life, or will the shadows gathering over Kyoto consume the detectives as well as the brewer?

Flask of the Drunken Master is the latest entry in Susan Spann's thrilling 16th century Japanese mystery series, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and Jesuit Father Mateo.

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

291 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2015

About the author

Author 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)

Reviews

[Mieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

After last year's wonderful Blade of the Samurai , I was really pleased to have the opportunity to review its successor Flask of the Drunken Master, the third in the Shinobi Mysteries by Susan Spann. The book definitely didn't disappoint, though it doesn't stand alone as well as Blade of the Samurai did. The consequences of the power vacuum after the death of the Shogun in the previous book are felt throughout the narrative and there are some characters from the first book in the series, Claws of the Cat, that make a return appearance. Still, Spann returns us to Hiro, Father Mateo, and Kyoto for another interesting murder to solve.

The main characters of the series remain its principal strength. Hiro and Father Mateo are great characters, whose chemistry works really well. The interactions between them, including Hiro's exasperation at Mateo's social blundering and the priest's disapproval of Hiro's taking liberties with the truth when necessary, remain my favourite thing in this book as well. I love how Hiro uses Mateo to ask questions that Japanese tradition and politeness prevent him from asking without giving offence. Their relationship has blossomed into friendship of the years spent together; Hiro doesn't only protect Mateo because he gets paid to do so any more, he genuinely cares about the priest. But this growing closeness also brings conflict as the priest isn't afraid to call out Hiro when he feels he is disrespecting him by tuning out whenever Mateo discusses his religion.

Spann uses the above-mentioned conflict to illustrate the inherent tension between Hiro’s innate feeling of superiority over Mateo – not just due to his Samurai status, but also due to Mateo’s being a foreigner – and the respect he has for the priest. This resonates with the larger narrative where class differences and the various power differentials between them play a large role. The contempt the samurai guards show those they consider beneath them, whether they are commoners, merchants, or a foreigner like Father Mateo is palpable and they crossover into abuse more often than not. Similarly, the way Akechi uses her Samurai status to intimidate those from the classes below hers to pay up their debts, trusting in her higher status to keep her safe from repercussions. But we also see the flip side, when Hiro and Mateo encounter several eta or untouchables and Hiro has to persuade Mateo to leave the eta alone for their own sake, because his insistence on talking to them might bring them trouble and embarrasses them to boot.

The Samurai are such an important and threatening presence due to the power struggle over the empty seat of Kyoto’s shogunate. It’s a conflict that bleeds through the narrative, influencing trade deals and upping the tension in Kyoto to the boiling point. It’ll be interesting to see if and how this situation shapes the plot of the next book. And hopefully several of the returning characters from this book will return in the next one as well. Ginjiro and Tomiko, the father and daughter who run Hiro’s local sake brewery and who we’ve met before, play central roles in the plot. As does Akechi Yoshiki, who is the daughter of the first book’s murder victim. They were all interesting characters, especially Tomiko and Akechi, who are anything but traditional women and I’d love to see them again.

As is often the case in modern day crime shows, it’s all about the money in this case as well. The concept of debt, whether monetary or of honour, is intricate and complicated, doubly so in the honour-driven Japanese culture. It is Hiro’s honour debt to Ginjiro that seals the deal on him assisting in tracking the true killer, even if he’d been inclined to help Ginjiro and his family without it. Debt and money-lending plays an important part in the economy of Kyoto and it too is very much class-restricted, with money lenders only giving loans to specific groups of people. Follow the money is always wise advise and I loved the places the trail takes Hiro and Father Mateo in Flask of the Drunken Master.

This third entry in the Shinobi Mysteries was just as entertaining as its predecessor. Spann has clearly done her research on Japan in the sixteenth century and it shows without being overbearing or overwhelming. Add to that two charming main characters supported by a great cast of secondary and background characters, a good plot, and a nice twist or two and you have a recipe for a great murder mystery. I really enjoyed Flask of a Drunken Master. Hopefully, Hiro and Father Mateo will return in the future, because I’m curious to see what happens in the struggle for the shogunate.

This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.

[Harvee Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
The author brings Japanese history, its customs and politics, to life in this series and in this book, as we enjoy detecting from an unlikely pair of sleuths. I highly recommend it for history and mystery buffs alike.
My full review: http://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/20...

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/fl...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Flask of the Drunken Master is the engrossing third entry in the wonderful Shinobi Mystery series, and the main characters Hiro, the undercover ninja bodyguard, and the Portuguese priest Mateo, who he is sworn to protect, are as delightful as ever. Susan Spann draws a vivid picture of sixteenth century Japan that pulled me in right from the first sentence and kept me guessing until the very end.

While out on a morning quest for breakfast, Hiro and Father Mateo come across a disturbance at the sake house that Hiro frequents. The proprietor Ginjiro is being led away, charged with the murder of a fellow sake brewer named Chikoa who was found beaten to death behind Ginjiro’s shop. His daughter Tomiko implores the unlikely detective duo to find the real killer before her father is put to death. The assistant magistrate insists that Chikoa’s death was the accidental result of a fight between the two brewers and wants the case closed as quickly and quietly as possible. Hiro does not believe Ginjiro is guilty so he agrees to help. Could the victim’s debt ridden, spoiled son be to blame? Or the female samurai debt collector who often uses violence to obtain the money she is owed? Could his death be the result of brewery politics? The investigative pair finds themselves in increasingly tense situations as they ferret out the killer.



Flask of the Drunken Master picks up right after the action of Blade of the Samurai, but I do think it can be read as a stand-alone mystery. There is political upheaval following the recent death of the Shogun, and Kyoto is on edge waiting for the new Shogun to be announced. There are guards present everywhere, and everyone fears that war is coming. This adds to Hiro’s anxiety, fearing that Kyoto may soon be a dangerous place for Father Mateo.

My favorite part of this series is Hiro and Father Mateo’s improbable friendship. Their relationship has progressed from mere protector/protegee to a warm respect and affection for each other. I think that Hiro, though still obligated to safeguard the priest, would now look after him anyway. I look forward to seeing how their relationship continues to evolve. They are well developed characters but still possess enough mystery to be interesting.

The Japanese setting, and culture, is almost like a character itself. I enjoy reading historical fiction and mysteries because I always feel like I come away from each book having learned something, and that is certainly the case here. The class system and social customs, the honor-bound approach to every aspect of life, the various districts of Kyoto, and even the descriptions of the clothing and such are fascinating. Ms. Spann has obviously done her research, and her love of Japan shines through. What could come across as a dry history lecture is instead vividly presented, and I felt like I was there.

Flask of the Drunken Master is a first rate, methodically plotted and logically unfurled mystery. I did not want to put the book down. I recommend it to fans of historical mysteries and those who are interested in Japanese culture.

[Mayken Brunings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this third part of the Shinobi mysteries, as I had enjoyed the first two (CLAWS OF HE CAT and BLADE OF THE SAMURAI)very much, despite the fact that before picking up the first book, I had no interest in Japan in general, much less in medieval Japan. CLAWS OF THE CAT surprised and delighted me. And the next two books were worthy successors.
IN FLASK OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER, a brewer is murdered, and another brewer is the main suspect. So naturally, there is lots of sake as Hiro and Father Mateo set out to prove the innocence of the suspect and find the real murderer. And suspects abound! There's a familiar face (or two), if you are a returning reader, and of course a cast of new ones. But despite the (at least to me) unusual and hard to remember Japanese names, it wasn't hard to follow the story without getting anyone mixed up. There is a list of the cast of characters at the start of the book and a list of Japanese terms used at the end (that's where they are placed in the Kindle edition). I found the latter list very helpful in the first book and to my surprise remembered quite a few, so I didn't have to look them up.
As it should be in a good murder mystery, you are kept guessing until the very end, that is to say, the trial and pending execution of the initial suspect. Can Hiro solve the mystery in time? Why does he enlist the drunk monk to help him? What is that female samurai doing? And will Luis' weapon trade have direct consequences for Father Mateo and his bodyguard-cum-translator?
Only one way to find out...

[Heidi Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Susan Spann entertains readers and transports them to 16th century Japan. The author has the ability to make you feel like you are walking next to Hiro and Father Mateo. This time, Hiro engages in more sword fights and battles, which are thrilling and page-turning. It was exciting to see the samurai in action. The relationship between Hiro and Father Mateo continues to develop and deepen as the series progresses. Her writing is beautiful, and many times I would re-read a passage because I loved the language so much. Hiro has a "love interest" this time (although he has no interest), and the interaction between Hiro and the female admirer was another fun subplot. For the third time, I had no idea “who done it” until the big reveal. The author keeps you guessing until the end. I’m so excited there will be a fourth book in this series, as I would miss these characters tremendously if my walks with Hiro and Father Mateo were over. It’s hard enough to wait between books! Counting the days until the release of Book 4 Mask of the Fallen in July 2016.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the dynamic between Hiro, a shinobi/ninja, and Father Mateo, a Portuguese priest in feudal Kyoto Japan. As Hiro officially acts as the priest's interpreter, it highlights the differences between Japanese and Western etiquette and judicial systems. I will be looking forward to reading more about Hiro and Father Mateo.

[Rusty Dalferes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read that I strenuously recommend.

The third novel in her Shinobi series has Susan Spann increasing everything from her first two episodes: the cast of characters (some old, some new, some old with new backstories), the action, the number of suspects, the political tension, the threats to our two main protagonists (Father Mateo and Hattori Hiro), even the comedy (the character Suke could get his own comedy show). Set in 1560s Kyoto during an interregnum of sorts between the alleged seppuku of one Shogun and the Emperor's official appointment of the de facto military ruler of Kyoto as the next Shogun, the two main protagonists find themselves embroiled in another murder mystery involving the death of a sake brewer who is a rival to Ginjiro, the proprietor of the sake establishment frequented by Hiro. The plot weaves through the victim's attempts to become a member of the brewer's guild, moneylending, collections enforcers, marriage propositions, increased police presence in the form of samurai enforcers on virtually every street corner, and internecine political struggles among the fractious clans vying for control of medieval Japan.

In my reviews of Spann's previous entries in this series, I stated that I wanted more shinobi/samurai action. Well, she delivered, as we get to see Hiro (and others) displaying more martial skill than was depicted in earlier novels, in very compelling and thrilling scenes. We also get a lot more of Hiro's backstory and emotional makeup, get significant teasers about the history of hilarious besotted monk Suke, and get a continuation of the ongoing story of female samurai Akechi Yoshiko (and her apparent unrequited attraction to Hiro). The story is well-paced, regularly hitting significant milestones while not abandoning lush descriptions of the settings or detailed explanations of Japanese culture. There was a tiny bit of introduction of new information only in the final few pages during Hiro's declaration of "whodunit," but overall I continue to enjoy the series immensely, and recommend it to fans of mysteries or historical fiction.

Thanks to Seventh Street books for providing me with other novels in this series to get me hooked enough to buy this one on my own.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is August of 1565, and the capital city of Kyoto is in the temporary “protection” of the feared samurai, Matsunaga Hisehide, since the seppuku of Ashikaga, the last official shogun. The city is under a veritable lockdown and everyone entering is viewed as a possible spy including Hattori Hiro and his charge, Jesuit priest, Father Mateo Ávila de Santos.

One morning in the city while purchasing noodles for breakfast, Hiro and Father Mateo see their friend, Ginjiro the brewer, being arrested and hauled off by the yoriki, for the murder of Chikao, a brewer from a poorer part of the city. The two had been heard arguing the night before, and the victim’s body was found outside Ginjiro’s home and place of business with the remnants of one of Ginjiro’s custom saké bottles at hand. The victim’s son apparently owed the accused a considerable amount of money and Ginjiro had refused to advance Chikao any further credit. Ginjiro asserts his innocence and his daughter, Tomiko, begs Hiro and Father Mateo to find the real killer and save her father from certain death at the hand of the executioner.

Author Susan Spann has again crafted a compelling murder mystery against the complex background of 16th century Kyoto, Japan. It is a very robust historical tale as, along with the murder investigation, there is the continuing story of the fall of the Ashikaga clan, the impending approach of the fierce warlord, Oda Nobunaga, and the arrival of the Portuguese and Jesuits in Japan. The relationship between Hiro and Father Mateo is great fun to observe as their two cultures and basic natures try to work together and get along as is the side story of Akechi Yoshiko, the female samurai who may have her eye on Hiro for romantic reasons. Additionally, another fun and interesting side story involves Hiro’s pet cat, Gato. The story explains that cats were not considered pets by the Japanese at this time in the past so having a cat in the house is a new experience for the tough, manly Hiro.

This is the third entry in the Shinobi Mystery series which currently numbers at seven total. Flask of the Drunken Master could be read alone but I highly recommend starting at the first in the series because they are just that good and worth looking for. I recommend this series to historical mystery fans especially those with an affinity for stories set in old Japan.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly good tale about a shinobi (ninja) detective named Hiro Hattori and his companion, Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo, as they solve a the murder of a brewer in Kyoto, Japan in August of 1565. There's a helpful list of characters and a glossary of terms, but the novel itself was easy to follow without them. Ms. Spann has a story-telling knack, and clearly has done her research about the old ways of Japan.

I like Hiro; he uses his skills as a shinobi/ronin to solve the murder, sometimes relying on his companion, Father Mateo, to open lines of communications, as the latter is a foreigner and given some leeway. The Japanese culture is very strict, which often prevents Hiro from doing what he needs to obtain investigative results, but kind and faithful Father Mateo often provides the opening he needs, as well as the calming and knowledgable insight Hiro occasionally lacks.

This was a mostly clean read; Hiro had to defend himself at one point and a death occurred, so a mention of this is needed. There's no graphic sex or foul language, making this a (nearly) clean read.

I'd definitely read the others in the series.

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another trip to Kyoto…another mystery our investigators get involved in that the should probably know better…

Flask of the Drunken Master: A Shinobi Mystery by Susan Spann is the third book in the series.

Playing off of events of the first two books and the ongoing politics…this is probably the smallest scale as it involves the death of a minor brewer rather than someone higher up on the social ladder…

Of course when the accused is someone your shinobi bodyguard is friends with…the Jesuit persist employer feels there’s an expectation to help…

I liked that this involved more of the merchant class and didn’t deal with navigating the politics of higher samurai or even the shogun…which also having a handful of secondary characters from the first two books play a key role…

Again…I liked it because it wasn’t huge and political…but a smaller level case…though the ending leaves it hinting at much larger stakes for the fourth book…

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is really good, I've liked all her books so far. Usually I think that in these series you have to give them a few books to see if they're really going to be good. Susan Spann has been great from the beginning. I think she got some off information in this book which really created some speed bumps for my reading, like Samurai wearing their swords on their backs, sticking up like tails. Otherwise I loved this book.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 3rd book in the series was really good. I like this series more and more. There is some good connection with characters in the 1st book but I notice is that a) there is no pattern for the who did it; and b) the historical intricacies definitely heighten the tension. I finished the book in 2 evening readings. It was that good that it was worth it! I can't wait for the next books in the series.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A samurai world

I enjoyed once again immersing myself in 16th century Japanese culture and the world of the samurai and ninja (shinobi in Japanese). Another complex whodunnit, some serious swordplay with katanas and wakizashi, and rich character development on all the principals in the series, including Suke the monk, the female samurai and the ninja carpenter. An enjoyable couple of hours, better than TV (depending on what you are watching, I suppose). Four solid stars.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be the best of the three stories that I have read. The stories unfold so well and I just could not put this one down. The relationships in this one come alive and I really enjoyed how each of them played out. The pacing was done very well and it was interesting to see how this one would play out. I have to say that this did not disappoint at all!!

[Arnold A. Mount · Rating 5 out of 5]

A "Sake" to me Mystery

An extremely entertaining story with the whodunit deftly woven into the fabric of historic Japan. A plethora of suspects all the way to the crucial end. The kind of tale that satisfies the palate of a hungry for adventure reader.

[Melissa Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This was the first in her series that I read so I am excited about reading the first two books and then going onto the others. She has woven an amazing scene with tons of historic treats for a Historian like me, who loves all things old and ancient!!!!!

[Betty S Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!


I love the characters...the story line...the setting...an
d especially Ga



I love the characters , the story line, the settings. And especially Gato! On to the next book in the series .
Great job Susan ty

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn’t a bad mystery...a little convoluted ending as the killer is revealed. My first time reading this series. I won’t do another. It was a slow star, picked up towards the middle and a rushed finish.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series of mysteries set in Shogonate Japan, modeled on the Brother Cadfael mysteries of Ellas Peters. This continues to be a fun series to read and I'm glad that it follows actual Japanese society more closely than the fun but seriously flawed works by Clavell.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

While every bit as captivating as its two predecessors, Claws of the Cat and Blade of the Samurai it also takes off in slightly different direction from those previous two books in this series.

In their earlier adventures, Father Mateo and his bodyguard, the shinobi (read ninja) Hiro found themselves investigating within the halls of power; solving murders at the heart of the shogunate, risking their lives to determine the guilt or innocence of possible killers with their own lives tied to the results of a successful investigation under excruciating time pressure.

In Flask of the Drunken Master, while the crime is still serious, their own lives do not directly hang in the balance. And they are working far from the halls of power. The sake brewer Ginjiro has been accused of murdering his rival Chikao with one of his own sake flasks in the back of his own shop.

It does not help Ginjiro’s case that the two men were heard arguing earlier that evening, to the point of exchanging the kind of threats and insults that always come back to haunt one whenever the other party to the argument turns up dead.

Ginjiro is not a friend of Hiro’s, because samurai cannot be friends with merchants. But Hiro feels that owes Ginjiro a debt of honor. It also seems as if Hiro has an unrequited crush on Ginjiro’s lovely daughter Tomiko, but then, so do half the men in the neighborhood.

Tomiko is certain that her father is not guilty. But of course she would be. Ginjiro seems to be a genuinely good man. But so was the murder victim, Chikao. However, Chikao’s son Kauru is a spoiled, self-centered pig. And I just insulted pigs.

More importantly, Ginjiro does not benefit from Chikao’s murder. None of that seems to matter to the magistrate, who immediately carts Ginjiro to prison to be tortured until he confesses to a crime that he probably did not commit.

Hiro, with Father Mateo’s help, has four days at most to figure out who the real killer is and prove it. In the course of his investigation he turns up all too many people with a motive, but can’t find one who can be proved to have had the opportunity.

Except poor Ginjiro.

As Hiro races the clock to make sure that an innocent man isn’t punished, he is also confronted with the indirect results of his actions in the previous stories. The shogunate is under contention, and Kyoto is under siege by samurai belonging to one of the rival powers. Unfortunately for Hiro and Father Mateo, their housemate has been gun running to too many of the possible contenders.

By the end of the case, Hiro knows that there is a storm coming in to Kyoto that will test his loyalty and his honor. All he can do is watch which way the winds blow.

Escape Rating A: Flask of the Drunken Master was the perfect antidote for the awful book I reviewed yesterday at The Book Pushers. It’s wonderful when karma works its powers for good!

In previous reviews I have compared Hiro and his investigative methods to Brother Cadfael in Ellis Peters’ landmark historical mystery series, and I felt that resemblance even more strongly in this book. Cadfael usually investigated crimes that involved ordinary people, and the case of the brewer Ginjiro and his dead rival was certainly a case of that type.

Hiro also solves cases the way that Cadfael does. He has no forensic science except his own knowledge of how dead bodies appear, and how people act, or don’t act, in and especially out of character. He is intelligent and determined. Also occasionally ruthless. He gets to the bottom of the case, even when, as in the cases in Blade of the Samurai, it is very possible that the criminal is a friend or colleague.

As a shinobi, or shadow warrior, Hiro is always an outsider, always an observer, even when he seems to be most at home. He does not completely belong to any group, so he can be a relatively disinterested observer.

It is fascinating to watch the changes in Hiro’s relationship with Father Mateo. The scene where Hiro realizes that has not respected Father Mateo’s beliefs, and that he owes amends, is excellent and something we could all learn from. Hiro finally realizes that even though he does not and never will believe as Mateo does, he needs to respect Mateo’s beliefs and his sincerity in them.

As each story in this series unfolds, we see more and more into this time and place that was so completely closed from Western eyes, and possibly with good reason. Mateo’s foreignness allows Hiro to pry by proxy into areas and places where the strict rules of his society do not allow, and at the same time gives him an insight to question his beliefs, whether to confirm them or confront them.

This is a partnership and a setting that I will be happy to return to again and again.

[Shira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series keeps on getting better and better. At least we can see character developments and involvement of other characters.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent mystery! Getting to read this book was a study reward. And yes it really helped me to keep going with my studies! I wanted to know who the killer was and what happened!!!!

[Don Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading a story based in Japan! Well written

[Zuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to read the other books in the series.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read. Not earth shattering, but pleasant.

[Jessica L Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Great story, good character development, educational in the language, great mystery it had me stumped till the end. Loved it!!!

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not even guess who the killer was complete surprise. These books would make a great TV series. 📺

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these books- I find them really interesting and easy to read. Looking forward to the
Next one

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novel. I loved reading it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟