The Dragon King's Palace (Sano Ichiro Series #8) [NOOK Book]

( 8 )

Overview


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 ...
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The Dragon King's Palace (Sano Ichiro Series #8)

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Overview


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 women are in imminent danger, and the delivery of a ransom note only complicates matters---forcing both Sano and Reiko to take desperate measures. Once again, Laura Joh Rowland's dazzling combination of history and storytelling draws us into a sumptuous and treacherous world.
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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
In Rowland's eighth engrossing 17th-century Japanese mystery (after 2002's The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria), Sano Ichiro, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations and People, is roused in the middle of the night when the shogun's mother and Sano's wife, Reiko, are kidnapped en route to Mount Fuji and their escort slaughtered. The crisis is exacerbated by the identities of the two other abductees: the wife of Sano's primary rival, the chamberlain Yanagisawa, the real power behind the shogun; and the pregnant wife of Sano's chief assistant. Sano's considerable deductive, strategic and diplomatic skills are repeatedly tested as he juggles the caprices of his ruler, who struggles with his figurehead status, Yanagisawa's ambitions for succession and the interests of the court's other power players. The organizer of the crimes, who calls himself the Dragon King after a traditional folk tale, makes an unusual ransom demand that only adds to the mystery of his identity and motivation. While her husband races to put the pieces of the puzzle together before the shogun's recklessness imperils the hostages, Reiko, bright and self-reliant, schemes to free herself and her companions. Rowland's masterful evocation of the period enables 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. Regional author tour. (Apr. 21) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
Events in late 17th-century Japan once again place samurai investigator Sano Ichiro (Black Lotus) in an untenable position. Here, he must work with his political enemies in order to rescue his kidnapped wife, her best friend, the shogun's mother, and the wife of the shogun's next-in-command. Action-packed and lively. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Who can resist the demands of Lady Keisho-in, the shogun's imperious mother? Certainly not Reiko, the feisty wife of Sano the samurai, the shogun's chief investigator; the very pregnant Midori, wife of Hirata, Sano's trusted retainer; or embittered Lady Yanagisawa, the neglected wife of the shogun's second-in-command, chamberlain Yanagisawa (who prefers men, especially police commissioner Hoshino). So the women accompany Lady Keisho-in from Edo to Mount Fuji. Their loyalty is poorly repaid when their entourage is slaughtered and they're kidnapped and imprisoned in a decrepit island fortress. When a ransom note arrives declaring that they will be freed only if the shogun executes Hoshino, the shogun assigns archrivals Yanagisawa and Sano to the abduction while the rest of 17th-century Japan begins maneuvering, since whoever rescues the shogun's mother will surely earn his gratitude. Sano (The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria, 2002, etc.) sends Hirata to investigate the crime site, and he tracks down Hoshino's enemies as Yanagisawa plots his own ascendancy. Meanwhile, the abductor, the seriously demented dragon king, is lusting for beautiful Reiko, whom he has confused with someone named Anemone. As Reiko fights to maintain her honor, Midori gives birth, Lady Yanagisawa drifts in and out of sanity, the shogun's mother vociferously complains, and their menfolk sift through clues until they finally identify the women's location and begin marching on it-to the deep relief of Hoshino. A lively dissection of the samurai code of honor, sexual dishonor, palace infighting, and ancient Japanese mores. Agent: Pam Ahearn/Ahearn Agency
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781429908474
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Publication date: 4/1/2007
  • Series: Sano Ichiro Series , #8
  • Sold by: Macmillan
  • Format: eBook
  • Edition description: First Edition
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 177,107
  • File size: 389 KB

Meet the Author


Laura Joh Rowland, the granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, was educated at the University of Michigan and now lives in New Orleans with her husband. The Dragon King’s Palace is the eighth novel in her widely acclaimed series featuring Sano Ichiro.
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Table of Contents

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 8 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 29, 2005

    Lacking in depth with poorly written dialogue

    This book began very slowly. The story line picked up a little over half way through the book, so I didn't feel that it was a complete waste. However, the dialogue was terrible and the way she wrote the shogun's dialogue was down right insulting to readers and Asians in general. I am thankful that I picked this book up for $1.50 because I would have been truely upset if I had paid the cover price. If you are looking for a good detective novel or a good Asian novel look elsewhere.

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  • Posted December 9, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    delightful seventeenth century Japan

    In 1682 (actually the Genroku Period Year 7) Lady Keisho-in, mother of the shogun, decides to take a trip. The imperial mother demands Reiko (the wife of Sano the samurai chief investigator), the pregnant Midori (the spouse of Sano's assistant Hirata) and Lady Yanagisawa (the wife of the second-in-command Chamberlain Yanagisawa) accompany her from Edo to Mount Fuji. None of the three invitees want to go, but each feels they must as loyalty demands so. The Dragon King attacks their retinue resulting in deaths of the protectors and the four females incarcerated at a ravaged island palace. The Dragon King sends a note to the Shogun demanding the execution of Police Commissioner Hoshina if he wants the return of his mother. The shogun assigns Yanagisawa and Sano to work the kidnapping case, but anyone with ambition sees an opportunity to gain favor by rescuing Lady Keisho. Yanagisawa manipulates the situation to his own benefit, as he prefers men to his wife. The clock ticks closer to a demented individual killing harmless women even Midori who just gave birth in captivity. Though THE DRAGON KING¿S PALACE is typical of a historical abduction mystery, the locale and the characters make this novel unique and wonderful. 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 the samurai code rules. Through the actions, reactions, and thoughts of a deep cast, readers obtain a delightful historical investigative tale whose enchanting center is seventeenth century Japan. Harriet Klausner

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    Posted June 12, 2010

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    Posted September 3, 2009

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