Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The Concubine's Tattoo
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Laura Joh Rowland
Class/Genre: Mystery Private Investigator Ethnic Historical
Series: Sano # 4
St. Martin's, Dec 1998, $23.95, 336 pp.
In 1690 Edo, Japan, Sano Inchiro, the Most Honorable Investigator, looks forward to marrying his beloved Lady Ueda Reiko. However, Sano's nuptial bliss is abruptly interrupted when Harume, a favorite concubine of Shogun Tsunayoshi, is murdered by an assailant who placed poison in the lady's tattoo ink.
In his twenty months on the job, Sano has investigated several murders including a Dutch trader in Nagasaki. However, as dangerous as some of them were, Sano realizes that he begins his most perilous case because failure to solve this case would mean dishonoring the Shogun and potentially lead to Sano's death. Making maters more difficult for the Most Honorable Investigator is his new wife refuses to stay at home. Instead she begins her own brand of sleuthing.
With her fourth Sano novel, THE CONCUBINE'S TATTOO, Laura Joh Rowland continues her rapid climb to the top of the historical mystery sub-genre. The story line is filled with intriguing detail into Japanese history and culture without slowing down the who-done-it, which is intimately tied to the culture. In previous tales (see THE WAY OF THE TRAITOR, BUNDORI, and SHINJU) Sano has been a fully developed protagonist. However Reiko adds much personal depth to her spouse's character, turning him into a warmer sleuth. Fans of historical mysteries will shout "Banzai" after reading this deftly developed novel.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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