The Dragon King's Palace (Sano Ichiro Mystery) - Softcover

Rowland, Laura Joh

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312990030 ISBN 13: 9780312990039

Publisher: St Martin's Press, 2004

Synopsis

It is June 1694, and Reiko, the wife of Sano Ichiro; Reiko's friend, Midori; the shogun's mother; and Lady Yanagisawa, the wife of the shogun's powerful second-in-command, are kidnapped and imprisoned in the tower of a ruined palace. The shogun demands quick action so Sano is forced to work with his sworn enemies.

About this title

Review:

"Think James Clavell meets Raymond Chandler." -San Francisco Chronicle"Rowland uses her fine eye for detail to portray the intricate surface and roiling underbelly of life in a tightly structured, controlled society. Her Japan is a mix of Kabuki theater-like stylized formality, palace intrigue, and physical action that would do a martial arts movie proud."-Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)"Rowland's masterful evocation of the period enable the reader to identify with the universal human emotions and drives that propel her characters while absorbing numerous telling details of a different culture and era."-Publishers Weekly"The story line remains fresh though this is Sano's eighth tale because of the insightful look at an era when palace intrigue rivaled Machiavelli and samurai code rules."-Midwest Book Review"A lively dissection of the samurai code of honor, sexual dishonor, palace infighting, and ancient Japanese mores."-Kirkus Reviews

From the Back Cover:

"Rowland has a painter's eye for the minutiae of court life, as well as a politician's ear for intrigue." -The New York Times Book Review

On a whim of the shogun's mother, a procession has left the sweltering heat of Edo, bound for the cooler climate of Mount Fuji. Among her traveling companions are Reiko, the beautiful wife of Sano Ichiro, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People; Reiko's friend Midori, nine months pregnant; and Lady Yanagisawa, the deranged wife of the shogun's powerful second-in-command. None of them look forward to the trip. But their troubles have only begun when their procession is stopped suddenly on a deserted road. The entire retinue is viciously slaughtered and the four women are bound and taken away, imprisoned by a mysterious kidnapper.

Sano now finds himself faced with the most important case of his career. The shogun demands quick action, and under the threat of death, Sano is forced to work with his bitter enemies-Chamberlain Yanagisawa and Police Commissioner Hoshina. The delivery of a ransom note only complicates matters-forcing both Sano and Reiko to take desperate measures.

"The mystery is sharp and suspenseful, but, as usual, it's the beautifully re-created feudal Japan-rich in detail but never overloaded with it-that captures our imagination. This series just keeps getting better and better."-Booklist on The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0312990030
• ISBN 13: 9780312990039
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 372