Book Review: The Hell Screen

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Hell Screen     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
I. J. Parker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Akitada Sugawara # 2
St. Martin’s, Aug 2003, $24.95, 352 pp.

With his mother ill and perhaps dying, government clerk Akitada Sugawara returns home to Heian Kyo (now Kyoto). Some things never change in Akitada’ mind as his rancorous mother rips his skin off from almost the moment he arrives.

However, Akitada has bigger problems than surviving the acrimonious Lady S. His sisters turn to Akitada for help. His older sister’s husband is accused of stealing government treasures. His other sister loves Kojiro, a landowner whose social standing is beneath that of the noble Sugawara, making him unsuitable for her. However, worse yet is his sibling pleads with him to help Kojiro, a prime suspect of police inspector Kobe in his investigation of a vicious murder.

THE HELL SCREEN is a strong amateur sleuth eleventh century Japanese mystery that will provide plenty of entertainment for those readers who enjoy something different. Akitada is a strong detective following clues in a methodical manner. It is interesting to notice the contrast between Akitada is Kobe, who resents his rival and prefers fast solutions whether he catches the right culprit or not. This is a strong tale rich with eleventh century Japanese culture though at times the "formal" dialogue feels like a certain female sumo wrestler ran over the reader.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner