Shinju

Sano Ichiro #1

by Laura Joh Rowland

When beautiful, wealthy Yukiko and low-born artist Noriyoshi are found drowned together in a shinju, or ritual double suicide, everyone believes the culprit was forbidden love. Everyone but newly appointed yoriki Sano Ichiro.

Despite the official verdict and warnings from his superiors, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People suspects the deaths weren't just a tragedy; they were murder. Risking his family's good name and his own life, Sano will search for a killer across every level of society determined to find answers to a mystery no one wants solved. No one but Sano...

As subtle and beautiful as the culture it evokes, Shinju vividly re-creates a world of ornate tearooms and gaudy pleasure-palaces, cloistered mountaintop convents and deathly prisons.

Part love story, part mystery, Shinju is a tour that will dazzle and entertain all who enter its world.

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

422 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 1994

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

[Xabi1990 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prescindible.
Lapidaria palabra para una novela, ¿verdad? Pero no puedo decir otra cosa de esta historia de un detective estatal en el periodo Edo (sobre el 1700) en Tokio, con los poderosos Tokugawa como shogunes.

La ambientación muy bien, el resto no vale gran cosa. Los personajes en particular no valen nada.

Eso sí, el método de la investigación-que no me ha gustado- al menos refleja la profunda subordinación de las castas sociales a sus “superiores” y al famoso camino del Guerrero que regía él comportamiento de los samurais.

El ritmo tampoco logra enganchar apenas.

Así que ya sabéis, no os vengáis arriba que no hemos descubierto una novela equiparable a nuestro idolatrado “El Guerrero a la sombra del Cerezo”.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting start to a mystery series situated in 17th century Japan. The central character is a man who is a samurai, and works as a policeman. He's not comfortable in his role, and felt more comfortable in his previous life as a scholar.

Sano Ichiro, becomes involved in an investigation into what looks like a double suicide. And though the mystery is interesting, with a noble family involved and various colourful commoners, too, and political machinations, what really kept me going was watching as Sano had to balance his samurai teachings, codes and honour against his single-minded pursuit of the truth behind the suicides.

I'll be checking out the next title in the series.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoriki Sano Ichiro left a cushy job as a tutor and history scholar to become Edo's newest senior police commander. This was a time when the higher echelon your family belonged to, the greater your pull in society.

Years ago, Sano's great-grandfather had saved a fellow soldier who just happened to be a very important person. His father was the man that approached the family to make compensation. It was Sano's duty to obey his sire and accept the family's patronage in the form of this highly-prized position. Unfortunately, he was an outsider; he did not have the background or connections that his peers did. He personally witnessed "an endurance of slights, baiting and loneliness."

What Sano didn't know but soon learned was that he was expected to enjoy the perks of his new job but turn his eyes when he was instructed to. Not that he cared, but appearance mattered and the right clothes were critical. And it was important to have others do the dirty work.

This story was a interesting look at 1689 Japan. It was also a different type of mystery and the first in a long series with Sano as both samurai and investigator. Loaded with politics of the day pressing from all angles and the fears and superstitions that were taught from early childhood, Sano's life was not easy stepping into this position. At times, he was consumed with confusion and guilt.

Sano's first major crime was the shinju of a daughter from a prestigious family and a man that appeared to be a commoner. To make matters worse, he was politely told to look the other way and let things slide. But he didn't.

SHINJU was a character-driven mystery starting off as a mild adventure with action building as the plot moved along. The murders eventually morphed into espionage with assassins and a puzzle around every corner. Poor Sano.

I had to get past my preconceived but misunderstood definition of a samurai. I felt a deep empathy for Sano because of outside prejudices and so little support he received from his colleagues. He was constantly belittled. I am going to give myself some time to congest my visit to late seventeenth-century Japan but I will eventually visit with Sano again.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful historical mystery set in feudal Japan of the 17th century. Yoriki [Police Commander] Sano Ichiro is confronted with a supposed shinju [double suicide of two lovers]. Sano, with the help of Dr. Ito, prison doctor, ascertains that there were two murders. Dr. Ito performs an autopsy, which is forbidden by Japanese law at that time, as "Western." Against orders of Sano's superior, Sano sets about finding the culprit. During his investigation, a conspiracy to assassinate the shogun is uncovered and Sano races to foil the plot. When Sano comes face to face with the villain, the ensuing struggle is heartstopping.

Sano is an engaging character and is driven by the samurai code of Bushido which includes duty, filial piety, and searching out the truth at whatever cost. Rowland set out Japanese social mores and culture in her novel. We witness a funeral and a tea ceremony. Descriptions were rich and vivid. These were the best part of the novel and opened my eyes to an unfamiliar culture. We get an insight into the Japanese psyche. I am glad Sano has seventeen other cases that I plan to follow. The author has created an imaginative and creative series.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this first in a series set in 17th Century Japan. It is steeped in historical details of the culture and mores of Shogunate Japan and the Samurai class. Sano Ichiro, a new Yoriki (police administrator), finds himself at odds with his Samurai Way of the Warrior code and his desire to bring a killer to justice. A man and woman are found bound together, who appear to have been drowned in an act of Shinju- a ritual dual suicide. The man is a commoner & the woman a daughter from a wealthy family. Sano is already not well liked in the department as he was given this position as a favor and finds when he wants to investigate this further he receives no support. As he pursues this case as a possible murder, he soon goes against a cardinal tenet of his class- obedience. It will put his life in jeopardy and risk disgrace to his family.

[Monica **can't read fast enough** · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad that I picked this one up to fulfill a reading challenge. It had been sitting on my shelf way too long. Excellent main character, atmospheric writing, and a story that grabbed my attention from the start and kept it the entire time.

Where you can find me:
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[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had a number of friends recommend reading this book, so after a while, I decided to pick it up and give it a chance. I enjoy historical settings and wanted to be immersed into a Rowland's Edo Japan.

Immediately, the reader is introduced to Sano Ichiro, who is not your typical samurai and allows his personal sense of duty and curiosity override his obligation and duty more than an ordinary samurai should. However, his departure from tradition is pointed out as a break from the norm and even he struggles with his break with the Code of Bushido. The reader has a very urgent sense of doubt and a seeking of identity for the character, which the character finds at the end.

I would also like to remark on the other characters you are introduced to throughout the novel. Lady Wisteria, Cherry Eater, Midori, Dr. Ito and many others fill the pages and show promise of being fleshed out in subsequent books.

The setting is intricate and interesting. Rowland is able to introduce it to the reader bit by bit so concepts are not overwhelming, and she goes to effort of explaining new ideas, educating the reader, without feeling like she is putting in a lot of exposition.

The plot has interesting twists and keeps the story moving. When you think things cannot get worse for Sano, they do. Occasionally, you may wish that the character had more self-confidence, but I believe that the character's doubt makes him even more believable.

I've already rushed out and bought Bundori, so I would definitely recommend this book. It is a nice historical mystery with interesting characters and a strong plot.

[Zoey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. The main character, Sano, tired me with his waffling. I understand that Sano was struggling against tradition and expectation, but after reading about three or four of his internal debates over this, it gets old. And the number of times he folds to pressure - or nearly does - to give up his investigation, only to turn right back around and decide that no, he can't give up; that got tiresome too.

[Dawn (& Ron) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old review from a few years ago, with some new comments added including Ron's opinion and our combined thoughts on this first entry in the Sano Ichiro series.

The author transports the reader not only to 17th century Japan but into the mindset of the Samurai ethics and culture. Rowland wraps all this in an intricate mystery of a supposed ritual double suicide, of a noble woman and a commoner, which helps us to further understand the culture. It is the constraints of Japanese society and moral principles and how they affect the investigation that resonated with me.

Sano Ichiro once met is not easily forgotten. His character, strength, modesty, persistence and moral fiber, against his conflicts, fear, insecurity and mistakes make him feel so real. As the reader is propelled to the books conclusion there is the satisfaction of knowing that this is just the beginning of this wonderful series!

I could have rated this higher but having read others in the series, which I have to admit I liked even more, I had to make sure to leave wiggle room. This first book nicely sets up Sano's world and the reader's anticipation for upcoming books in the series.

Ron's thoughts on this read. I really enjoyed getting into the psyche and discipline of a Japanese man and the samurai philosophy. Seeing the inner workings of Sano's mind and how he approached these decisions helped give me a much better understanding. From a man's point of view, I could relate to his battles within himself, between strength and restraint, duty and stubbornness.

There was enough action to satisfy me but if you are expecting samurai sword fights or an action driven plot, you will be disappointed. If you get frustrated when a character doesn't act as you would normally expect and do not approach this with an open mind trying to understand why he is acting differently, you will probably be quite aggravated.

I've always appreciated stories about people who stand up against difficult odds, all in the name of obligation and honor, and for what they believe to be right. What the Japanese do in the name of this duty affects much more than themselves. Honor, especially of ones name, is one of the most important attributes and also a burden. Causing dishonor can follow future generations, never mind what can happen to family and workers if you make a dishonorable decision. The author displays the difficulties of these responsibilities very convincingly, showing how one must think through their actions and consequences, something that is rather foreign to many western readers.

We both agree with a 3-1/2 star rating, rounded up to a four, for this book and surprisingly had similar opinions about it. A lot of times we agree on many issues but will have a couple things where we really vary, not this time. It is certainly worth checking out especially if you really like learning about different cultures and why they believe and act the way they do. To us that is Rowland's strong point making the reader grasp why the code of ethics was so strong in their lives.

[Rie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It is a fascinating look at feudal Japan. The first in a long series I am eager to see more of. Sano Ichiro is the only son of a samurai who runs a martial arts academy. Through patronage and pulled favors, he has been appointed a yoriki -- senior police commander -- in the city of Edo.

He is asked to "investigate" an apparent double suicide or Shinju by his superior, but is really expected to just sweep the whole thing under the rug and make it disappear. A former scholar and teacher, Sano is unable to resist looking deeper for the truth of the matter.

What he discovers is much more than he bargained for. Disgraced and fleeing for his life, Sano still seeks the whole truth -- and he alone may be able to prevent a much greater tragedy.

This is an amazing book. The narrative is rich in detail and description, painting a picture of Ancient Japan that makes you feel a part of it. The sensory details are spread equally among the five instead of neglecting the taste and smell that sometimes trip up an author. As I say, this is a long series, starting in 1993 and continuing until today. I will be immersed in Ancient Japan for some time.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I'm something of a feudal Japanese culture aficionado. I'm not great with dates or names, but I very much understand (even if I don't necessarily approve of) the samurai ethos. When I first read about this series, I thought, "Feudal Japanese noir? That can happen?" And oh yes, it can! Sano Ichiro is the closest thing the era could possibly have to a hard-boiled investigator. Nearly all of his actions and impulses rang true to me. I did have qualms with his devotion to the non-samurai ideals of truth and justice (because truth is not the same as the samurai ideal of honesty, and justice is what the afterlife is for,) but overall, this was a surprisingly accurate, gritty portrayal of the time period and its people's way of thought.

The only thing I didn't really buy was Ogyu's capitulation to Lady Niu. If he's so damn clever, wouldn't it be obvious that out-maneuvering/exposing her would be the best route to self-preservation?

And in a total RPG nerd aside: it was also a great fix for my L5R craving!

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the pop sugar challenge and was really glad I did. This book was beautifully written. Excellent characters, solid plot and kept me engrossed from beginning to the end.

What i really liked was the way she described the Japanese culture in the 17th century it wasn't too descriptive but just right.

This is the first book in the series about a Samurai cop and was good enough to keep one going onto the next.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Feudal Japan, Samurais, honor killings, and a pretty good detective story to boot.

[Santhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed recount of life during the Edo period. While a little slow-paced, it was an interesting plot providing an intriguing peek at an ancient era. A series to continue with..

[Mery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pertama liat cover buku ini di TM bookstore. Woa keren tentang Samurai.
Tapi ternyata setelah baca, buku ini tidak hanya menyajikan tentang Samurai saja. Tapi tentang detektif mencari kebenaran.

Buku ini menceritakan bagaimana seorang putra Ronin (Samurai tak bertuan) bernama Sano Ichiro harus mengemban tugas sebagai seorang Yoriki (Komandan Polisi), sebagai seorang Samurai dia harus selalu mengabdi setia dan patuh terhadap tuannya seperti Samurai lainnya dan tidak jatuh sebagai Ronin seperti ayahnya, namun nalurinya sebagai seorang penegak hukum memaksanya terus mencari kebenaran. Walau kenyataan itu membuatnya harus membangkang tuannya dan mengecewakan ayahnya.

Kasus bermula ketika Niu Yukiko, gadis tertua dari salah satu Klan terhormat di Edo, ditemukan tenggelam di Sungai Sumida bersama seorang seniman jalanan bernama Noriyoshi.

Dengan peninggalan berupa sepucuk surat, Hakim dan Keluarga Yukiko percaya bahwa mereka meninggal karena melakukan SHINJU (Ritual bunuh diri karena Cinta Terlarang). Namun Sano Ichiro, dengan bantuan seorang dokter terbuang yang baik hati dan cerdas bernama Ito menemukan fakta bahwa pasangan tersebut dibunuh.

Dengan mengorbankan harapan besar sang ayah, Sano tetap melakukan penyelidikan terhadap kasus Shinju ini padahal tuannya Hakim Ogyu, telah memaksa menutup kasus ini sebagai Shinju, bukan pembunuhan.

Sepenggal demi sepenggal bukti terkumpul, dan dengan melibatkan Aktor terkenal dan Pesumo jalanan serta Yujo (Pelacur kelas atas), Sano akhirnya menemukan fakta menarik mengenai keterlibatan klan besar dalam pembunuhan ini. Namun, sayangnya Hakim Ogyu memecat Sano karena berani membangkang. Idealisme Sano lah yang tetap membuatnya melanjutkan penyelidikan. Walau mengorbankan tidak sedikit orang-orang tak bersalah yang dikenalnya, akhirnya Sano berhasil mendapatkan bukti-bukti yang mengacu pada, bukan saja pembunuhan Yukiko dan Noriyoshi, intrik politik klan terbesar dan penguasa Edo, Tokugawa.

Apakah yang terjadi? Kenapa sang Hakim begitu antusias menutup kasus ini? Apa keterkaitan Yukiko dan Noriyoshi dalam politik di Edo sehingga mereka terbunuh? Apa Sano berhasil mengungkap semua dan mengembalikan posisi Samurainya?


Keren! Novel ini ceritanya berat tentang pembunuhan diselipkan intrik politik. Tapi penulisannya enak diikuti. Ditambah lagi terkaget kaget pas lihat riwayat penulisnya yang ternyata bukan orang Jepang. Wow. Padahal penggambaran latar tempat dan latar waktu serta sejarahnya detil banget. Belum lagi kebudayaan Jepang yang kental di sini ga hilang sama sekali. Sano Ichiro nya hebat banget. Pinter, ga berputus asa, baik hati, pemberani, ganteng pula. Hehe.

Pertahankan idealisme mu hingga akhirnya kebenaran menyertakan keadilan.

[Ky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lately I have been on a bit of a samurai craze. Starting with finally giving Kurosawa a chance and falling in love with the ideas and stories that can be told with samurai. I've watched so many black and white samurai movies this last year, and played many a good game like Ghost of Tsushima, that I decided to try and track down some books set in historical Japan that involve samurai. It was harder to find some then I thought, and if anyone reading this review has recommendations, feel free to message them to me! This and Taiko are my first two purchases in my quest for Samurai books. And sadly I have to say this is a deeply flawed book.

The first half of this book in my honest opinion is quite bad, the culture and world presented while interesting is overly explained. The detective work is so badly done and the investigation felt like something out of a cliched straight to DVD movie or a side quest in a video game. Having obvious clues that are outright handed to the main character, right down to the main villain literally having a moment where they go, "Oh yes you'll never find x, they're at y now! Muhahahaha!" And then the main character goes to y... And finds x. Every clue he finds is a cliché that you would find in a children's story. Likewise the amount of times the main character has inner monologue about what he is doing and if it's right and if he shouldn't do it is staggering. Genuinely it feels like every chapter we have a recap of the story and if he wants to keep doing what he's doing. Not to mention him having sex thrown at him by a grieving woman and then having her character completely change because of it. Just... Yes I have a lot of problems with this book.

The second half actually speeds up, the author is good at describing action, so when we get past the horribly done detective work and get into action it's quite good, mindless at some times with even more deus ex machina but at the very least, enjoyable. I wanted a good detective story and was prepared to have no action for the book, but found what I got was a horrible detective story that had good action. Admittedly the mystery gets more intriguing in the second half and he's spoon fed less clues.

This wasn't my thing. I'm a person who loves mystery and detectives and noir and the setting. But the actual mystery was so poorly handled it was a slog to get through and laughable at times. The culture and setting is described very well with an obvious amount of research put into it. And the second half does get engaging. But all in all it has too many flaws for me to say that I really enjoyed it or would recommend it. It was ok.

If you want a popcorn movie found on Netflix at 2 am that has a 5/10 on IMDB in book form, then give it a go.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.... What a marvelous book! Talk about culture shock! Talk about world-building! Talk about complex, multi-faceted plotting!

I'm not even sure I can describe this book! It's set in Japan during the Edo period, so everything is very rigid. Filial duty, honor, and service to one's master are all top priorities. The whole society is based on these things, so when personal ambitions, desires, and truth to oneself crop up, there are some major complications that cause shuddering ramifications to all kinds of people from all kinds of walks of life. This society is very fragile, and there is no room for disobedience, even when disobeying is the "right" thing to do. In this story, it is never the right thing to do. So what happens when our protagonist, Sano Ichiro does it? Well, a heck of a lot more than one might expect!

This book is a mystery. It starts out with what seems to be a straightforward murder. I thought Ihad the killer pegged early, and felt certain that I had the motive. This was just another easy mystery wrapped up in a pretty package. PUH!!! This story twists and turns, nothing is as simple as it seems, and bad things happen to characters that in other books would be immune from such things. Plots thicken, consequences become more and more severe, situations become very, very hopeless. The reader is pulled along in this story. I couldn't put this down, and I didn't want it to end. I loved this book, and I hope the next Sano Ichiro book is just as good.

[Anna From Gustine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series of mysteries that take place in 17th century Japan. The protagonist is Sano Ichiro, a former history tutor who becomes a police inspector in Edo, Japan. He has to investigate a "shinju" which is the word for a double suicide of two lovers. But, of course, nothing is what it seems. It never is.

I eventually gave this book three stars because the second half improved dramatically over the first half. I really struggled with the first half. Even though the historical research was great, I was bored. The characters seemed standard for mysteries. I thought the plotting was slow and the villains were pretty easy to identify. All they needed were twirling mustaches. The author introduced supporting characters who were clearly going to be series regulars in a clunky way. It didn’t feel like a natural integration into the overall plot. Finally, the author had a habit of adding questions into the text. They weren’t thoughts, just questions as though to prompt the reader to notice the obvious. How could so and so do such and such? It’s hard to explain, but it was distracting. Clearly a first novel.

But when I arrived at the middle of the book, something so unexpectedly graphic and brutal happened that I was totally taken by surprise and became invested in seeing the killers brought to justice. After that, the story picked up and I raced through to the end.

I have problems committing to series, whether they be television or books, but this one is worth continuing. Laura Joh Rowland could only have improved over time. There are also two compelling reasons to try this series out, even if out of order.

1. The historical research and period are so interesting. I learned so much about 17th century Japan. Did you know that sumo wrestling started as part of a fertility rite at least hundreds of years earlier? Kabuki theater was considered cutting edge and threatening to the older generation? Dissection of bodies was outlawed as being too “Western?” (At least, that's what's in the book!)

2. The protagonist Sano Ichiro. At first, he bored me, but then things started getting so dangerous for him. He kept being thwarted at every turn and I really didn’t know how much worse things could get for him. I also cared about his relationships and loyalties to his family and his friends.

Other readers liked this book much more than I did, but it’s good enough to continue onto Book 2. It was first published in 1994 and the series is now 18 books long. How could it not get any better?

[Brent Thomas]

Quick Review: A quite fun and rewarding read. Rowland does a great job of dropping in enough details about Japan without distracting from the story. Although I will admit feeling the fourth act dragged a little, I never had any problems picking the book up and emerging myself in its world. Also, I think I might just have to rush and pick up book number two in the series.

Spoilers Lurk Below

Analysis: A few years back I tried to write my own little story about set in Japan. (You can read the remnant here and here.) The hardest part for me was trying to figure out how to describe the look of Japan. So much of the fiction I read is more European based and almost takes for granted that its audience will understand the fashion. I feel that fiction set in Japan can't necessarily do the same. It troubled me, and I never really wrapped my head around the problem.

I'm bringing all that up because I am really impressed with how seamlessly most of the descriptions fit into the narrative. It did not get a jargon dump, or feel like a lot of exposition. Nor did it feel to sacrifice the setting by shortening descriptions. What a great Japanese flavor without feeling over-saturated.

Really, the only thing I can remember feeling clunky was when she used the word runin (with a bar over the u that I can't figure out how to produce). I've only only ever encountered the spelling ronin before, so I admit that threw me. That said, this and other words with a similar sound, only happened three or four times, so this is not really a problem. But it did stick out.

My only complaint was that I felt the fourth act (out of five. Because Shakespeare.) dragged. This was the "our hero fails and sinks to his lowest point." Don't get me wrong. It was well written. But it did feel like there were several areas of failure that just kept coming. I couldn't shake my desire to either have them happen quicker or more spaced out rather than in a chunk

By the way, I am not the best at playing the game of mystery novels, and this is a mystery novel. What I mean, is that I don't really care about trying to solve the puzzle before the protagonist. I'd rather let the story unfold before me. And Rowland does unfold that mystery quite nicely. The solution fits, as does the hero's inability to see it.

Wrap Up: This was a well written detective story with a unique setting. It had a great mix of crime, violence, and adventure. Our hero, Sano Ichiro was a man of convictions and faults who was also likable. If you are looking for novels about old Japan, this might be what you are looking for.

[Althea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Japan of the 1670's, Sano Ichiro's elderly, ailing father has pulled some strings to get him appointed yoriki (which seems to be much like a police sergeant). However, from the very start, Sano finds himself in conflict at his job - his superior orders him to quietly bury the embarrassing discovery of the bodies of a wealthy young noblewoman and a commoner known for his erotic artworks - apparently a double suicide based on their doomed love. But Sano has a feeling that this was not suicide but murder - and with the evidence gained through an illegal autopsy and a bit of investigation, his hunch grows even stronger.
However, even as Sano turns up more evidence pointing at a web of blackmail, pornography and prostitution, sadism and even treason, his personal situation grows more and more precarious, as he stands in danger of losing his position, his patron, and even his family honor.
Rowland has jam-packed her book with details and anecdotes of Japan, making for a colorful background - but the story itself seems to be a very modern murder-mystery overlaid against this background, rather than a story that naturally emerges from the time period, characters and culture she has chosen.
Also - it may be a quibble, but her description of a sushi bar at one point in the story describes a style of cuisine and its presentation which I truly believe would not have been present in Japan until around 1800 - over 100 years after the setting of this story. Although I am not an expert on the details of Japanese history, this throws doubt on many of her other historical details. I also have doubts about the women's Sumo sex show.

[Rincewind]

As much as I love the history and the mystery of historical detective fiction, I take mine with two spoonfuls of mystery and one spoon of history. Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro series reverses that order and gives me a different kind of a thriller.

Set in feudal japan, another area I enjoy immensely - thanks to Stan Sakai and Kurosawa, Shinju is our introduction to Sano Ichiro, a Yoriki (Samurai Cop), who holds the code of honor above anything else. Tasked to "investigate" a twin suicide (the titular Shinju), Ichiro keeps going down the rabbithole looking for the truth until he founds the entire government machinery trying to frame him for murder.

The scenery is outstanding and LJ Rowland does a masterful job of presenting 17th century Japan and it's customers. Until the final third of the novel, I was left looking for a little more "mystery" to go with the epic servings of history and culture. The whirlwind action of the final chapters makes up a little, but am hoping I can see some solid detective work done in the next books.

Book 1 of the Sano Ichiro series is like giving a bar of dark chocolate to a guy who is used to white chocolate. He is going to try a few more to see if it keeps getting better.

[Kate Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book being such an unexpected delight makes me give it five stars. It had some of the best pacing I’ve read in a mystery. It balanced character development, action, and dialogue with suspects incredibly well. I enjoyed that Sano (the sleuth) traveled around a fair amount throughout his investigation. Laura Joh Rowland was so skilled at setting the scene and I was able to learn a fair amount about 17th century Japan. This was a nice departure from my typical British mystery. *Warning - there is a fair amount of violence in here - so if that’s not your cup of tea I would steer clear.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being interested in feudal japan and samurai, I find this series of books to be well researched and Rowland is able to portray the setting convincingly. The series starts off a bit rough, but she really hits her stride later in the series, as both the story and her talent blossom. Fans of the CCG Legend of the Five Rings will find this series to be very interesting!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite impressed with this. I got a sense of the time and place without the book being overly preachy or lecturing me. I found the main character believable with sensible motivations and the plot moved along well. If only there had been an author's note at the end.

[📚 Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5ish stars. This book is very hard for me to rate. The first 60% or so of the book is amazing. It's very atmospheric, conjuring completely the streets of 1690 Japan. The detective work is fun and through the police questioning, we get to see many different aspects of this interesting time and place, from a red light district to a sumo match to a martial arts studio. I was enthralled. But then the story changes and the author decides we need gratuitous action of the Steven Seagal variety with none of the interesting things from the first half. It was all chases and sword fights and hiding from bad guys, and I simply couldn't care less at that point. It became fairly clear whodunnit, partly because of how stridently the main character believed he knew what happened. And then the book goes from a detective novel to a political novel with very little to do with the first part of the book. I get that they were somewhat related, but it just felt like the book started out one way then did a complete 180 and turned into a totally different book. I want the ending that goes with those first 60%, not whatever weird alternate ending was grafted on at a later time. I'm hoping the other books in the series are more consistent and are actually mysteries instead of the Jean Claude Van Damme film I just witnessed.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sano Ichiro is a newly appointed yoriki (policeman) in 17th Century Feudal Japan. His father, now becoming old and sick, has called in a favor to get Sano an honored position in the police department. Sano is immediately disliked and resented by his colleagues.

The story begins when the daughter of a powerful Edo family, Lady Yukiko, and a low born artist named Noriyoshi are found bound together in a double love suicide called a Shinju. Sano is assigned to do a cursory investigation of the dishonorable event. Something about the case doesn't seem correct to Sano, so despite orders from his bosses he continues his investigation. Throughout the story Sano jeopardizes his career and family honor to solve the case. He's an idealist in a world of political corruption and feels a real conflict between obedience and honor. He's an unusual and unconventional man of his time, anguished by his sense of Samurai honor.

This mystery had a nicely complex plot that blended Japan's political rivalries and Samurai heritage and culture into a wonderfully readable story. I loved the very detailed atmosphere of Edo and Japan during the rule of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. I thought it was a real page turner and I've already picked up the second of the series, Bundori.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Shinju" - written by Laura Joh Rowland and published in 1994 by HarperCollins. This murder mystery takes place in Edo (Tokyo), Japan in 1689, and the setting was one of the big draws for me. The mystery itself made for a good story - Sano Ichiro, a high-level policeman or Yoriki, is told to settle for a verdict of suicide (Shinju) in the deaths of a wealthy young woman and a low-born artist. However, Sano believes otherwise and mostly on his own runs a behind the scenes investigation which gets him into quite a bit of trouble. His Samurai upbringing both helps and hurts him - "His personal quest was carrying him into a disturbing and unfamiliar world, away from the radiant path of duty, obedience, filial piety and integrity defined by the Way of the Warrior." I'm always interested to read about different Asian cultures, and thought the book was an enjoyable read.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning debut. A friend was giving away books at his wedding. I snatched up Shinju and the next novel. I had no idea what an amazing thriller I had in hand. I studied Japanese swordsmanship and Samurai culture for 7 years, so I was instantly drawn into the world of Sano-san. It's a very interesting time period, too, to choose for a thriller because of the prevailing peace at that time. Joh Rowland made many fascinating and ultimately exciting choices in creating this thriller, pushing Sano-san into deeper and deeper danger. I really loved it. I'm looking forward to reading more of Sano Ichiro's exploits. Hai!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this on a whim, and I'm very glad I did. I really enjoyed the muder-mystery plotline, but really this book shines with the world-building. Laura Joh Rowland does a fantastic job immersing the reader in Edo-era Japan. I loved all of the historical tidbits she dropped in there. One of my favorite things about reading historical fiction is doing a little bit of learning while being entertained. This book was also way more graphic than I expected it to be, and was quite disturbing at times. The characters were good, the action was gripping. Excited to read the next one!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful setting for the whole series. Rich history and characters. Three stars for that. The mystery itself was quite predictable. Reader coul easily guess at early stage this was a beginning to series where a policeman strays from his path to become a private detective. At the age such didn't exist - until now. Will definitely read the series further.