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The Samurai Detectives #3
The Man in the Mist
THE SAMURAI DETECTIVES ARE BACK! THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING SERIES SET IN THE DARK HEART OF OLD JAPAN
Late spring settles over Edo with a deceptive gentleness – soft rain, a drifting haze, the first warmth of summer. But it is not only fallen blossom that gathers in the streets and woodland of Edo city – there too a terrible villainy lies hidden.
When the fearless swordswoman Mifuyu returns to her secluded lodging, her long-awaited repose is shattered: while she rests one day, a group of intruders slip into the house with violent intent. Their attack is as swift and silent as it is inexplicable – and it takes all of her skill to beat them back. Her friend and ally Daijiro soon discovers that the men were not common burglars, but mysterious ronin hunting a ghost from the house’s past. What starts as a puzzling intrusion soon draws him and his father into a tangle of shifting identities, forgotten residents, and shadowy figures whose motives dissolve like mist in the morning light. . .
In The Man in the Mist, the brilliant third instalment in Shotaro Ikenami’s masterful Samurai Detectives series, mystery, swordplay, and human drama entwine to illuminate the secrets of one the most bewitching periods in Japanese history.
Late spring settles over Edo with a deceptive gentleness – soft rain, a drifting haze, the first warmth of summer. But it is not only fallen blossom that gathers in the streets and woodland of Edo city – there too a terrible villainy lies hidden.
When the fearless swordswoman Mifuyu returns to her secluded lodging, her long-awaited repose is shattered: while she rests one day, a group of intruders slip into the house with violent intent. Their attack is as swift and silent as it is inexplicable – and it takes all of her skill to beat them back. Her friend and ally Daijiro soon discovers that the men were not common burglars, but mysterious ronin hunting a ghost from the house’s past. What starts as a puzzling intrusion soon draws him and his father into a tangle of shifting identities, forgotten residents, and shadowy figures whose motives dissolve like mist in the morning light. . .
In The Man in the Mist, the brilliant third instalment in Shotaro Ikenami’s masterful Samurai Detectives series, mystery, swordplay, and human drama entwine to illuminate the secrets of one the most bewitching periods in Japanese history.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 16, 2026
Another very entertaining selection of short stories following the adventures of the father and son samurai, as they seek to look after their friends and keep the good and brave of their home protected.
It's a mix of murder mysteries, blackmail, hostages, rescue missions - there is a wide variety of action to be hand here within the stories.
The characters are developing more and more, becoming real people. I really enjoyed the growth of Mifuyu as she moved on from her infatuation. I just hope she doesn't dissolve into a girly girl should she end up with a certain someone, as some of her behaviour was hinting at. She shouldn't have to abandon who she is just for a relationship.
And why does almost every other female character in this book have to be an 18 year old? It's a very different world and a very different time but some of the choices made are so alien to me. Its a fascinating dip into the Edo period, and the writing is as beautiful and strange as ever.
By this point, the third book in the series, you know exactly what you are getting. If you enjoyed the previous ones, you're going to like this one. If you didn't... well, you won't see anything new here to catch your attention. I enjoy these, and will happily keep reading them, they are fun.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
It's a mix of murder mysteries, blackmail, hostages, rescue missions - there is a wide variety of action to be hand here within the stories.
The characters are developing more and more, becoming real people. I really enjoyed the growth of Mifuyu as she moved on from her infatuation. I just hope she doesn't dissolve into a girly girl should she end up with a certain someone, as some of her behaviour was hinting at. She shouldn't have to abandon who she is just for a relationship.
And why does almost every other female character in this book have to be an 18 year old? It's a very different world and a very different time but some of the choices made are so alien to me. Its a fascinating dip into the Edo period, and the writing is as beautiful and strange as ever.
By this point, the third book in the series, you know exactly what you are getting. If you enjoyed the previous ones, you're going to like this one. If you didn't... well, you won't see anything new here to catch your attention. I enjoy these, and will happily keep reading them, they are fun.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is the third instalment in the rather excellent Samurai Detectives series. With each passing novel the characters grow and develop, attaching themselves to your inner self. I'm a huge fan of this series and would encourage anyone to pick up and enjoy this iconic Japanese series which is packed full of historical detail and great storytelling.
September 14, 2026
While it does little to distinguish itself from other volumes, these bite-sized stories are as charming as ever. Easy to read, humorous, with exciting action scenes, this collection of tales is worth picking up if you're a fan of this particular era. My only complaint was that some of the stories seemed a little too similar. Still, I'm already looking forward to the next volume.
September 22, 2026
Simply Magnificent!
This series of books are outstanding! 16 novels about Kenkaku Shobai have been published in Japan. Why have Penquin only translated 3?!!! I'll be dead before the end of the series!!!!
This series of books are outstanding! 16 novels about Kenkaku Shobai have been published in Japan. Why have Penquin only translated 3?!!! I'll be dead before the end of the series!!!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews