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19th out of 23 books
—
14 voters
The Ronin's Mistress (Sano Ichiro #15)
A brilliant new twist on the fabled tale of the 47 Ronin, from an author with "a painter's eye for the minutiae of court life [and] a politican's ear for intrigue." --The New York Times Book Review
Japan, 1703. On a snowy night, 47 warriors murder the man at the center of the scandal that turned them from samurai into masterless ronin two years before. Clearly this was an
Japan, 1703. On a snowy night, 47 warriors murder the man at the center of the scandal that turned them from samurai into masterless ronin two years before. Clearly this was an
Hardcover, 324 pages
Published
September 13th 2011
by Minotaur Books
(first published 2011)
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Such a fun series, this is a Japanese take on the medieval mystery genre. If you like Cadfael or Sister Frevisse, you may like Sano Ichiro. Rowland captures Japanese landscapes beautifully and mixes in bits of Japanese history and culture that are entertaining. I especially enjoyed the way she tried to explain the mystery of the 47 ronin. She includes the sorts of martial arts duels that recall Miyamoto Musashi, and her ladies are more reminiscent of Onna bugeisha, than they are of typical court...more
In this Sano and Reiko Ichiro feudal Japan mystery we find that the couple live daily with the threat that the Sho-gun will punish them and that punnishment might be losing thier lives. Sano is still in a demoted position of Most Honorable Inspector of Events, Situations, and People while his enemy, Yanagiswa, the current Chaberlain, second in command to the Sho-gun is doing everything in his power to discredit Sana and get him executed or banished. In 1703, two years before this story takes pl...more
One of the things I liked most about this particular story is the picture of Edo in winter - the weather, the clothing, the landscape, etc.
Rowland has chosen to incorporate the legend of the 47 ronin with her series and provides one possibility for the background to the incident, which is renowned in Japanese culture. Sano's well-being and that of his family and retainers is at a low, and the Shogun charges him with discovering the explanation/truth behind the behavior of the 47 ronin, 47 samura...more
Rowland has chosen to incorporate the legend of the 47 ronin with her series and provides one possibility for the background to the incident, which is renowned in Japanese culture. Sano's well-being and that of his family and retainers is at a low, and the Shogun charges him with discovering the explanation/truth behind the behavior of the 47 ronin, 47 samura...more
Sano and Reiko are back and solving mysteries. There is a legend in Japanese history regarding 47 ronin who went to their death after avenging their master. This story fleshes out the back story and gives the reader much more history about Edo and the Tokugawa shogunate. Lord Asano draws his weapon in the Edo Palace, which is forbidden, and he is forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide)as a result and his estate is dissolved, making his samurai warriors into ronin, or masterless samurai. Two ye...more
I received this book for free through a First Reads giveaway.
When I first started this book I did not know it was the latest book in a series when I found out I wasn't sure what to expect. After reading this book I find myself wanting to read more of this series. Honestly I'm not much into Mystery type books but this one kept my attention and was a great read. This book is set in feudal Japan which was one of the drawing points for me. This book doesn't seem to have much reference from the earli...more
When I first started this book I did not know it was the latest book in a series when I found out I wasn't sure what to expect. After reading this book I find myself wanting to read more of this series. Honestly I'm not much into Mystery type books but this one kept my attention and was a great read. This book is set in feudal Japan which was one of the drawing points for me. This book doesn't seem to have much reference from the earli...more
Laura Joh Rowland writes historical fiction right. She's chosen a place and an era, Japan in 1703, and seems to know it as well as you and I know 2011, from fur-lined kimonos to ritual suicide. The Ronin's Mistress is also page-turning suspense: Rowland's hero, the detective and former court chamberlain, Sano, must get to the heart of a bloody vendetta that left the court's master of etiquette decapitated.
Sano's nemesis, the deadly and corrupt Yanagisawa, is now chamberlain and is angling to ge...more
Sano's nemesis, the deadly and corrupt Yanagisawa, is now chamberlain and is angling to ge...more
I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I had never read a book from this series and was not sure what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will read more of the Sano Ichiro series. Set in feudal Japan, Sano Ichiro has only a short time to solve the mystery of why the 47 ronin waited two years to exact their revenge upon the man that was at the center of the scandal that caused them to become masterless ronin. I enjoyed the historical descriptions of feudal Japan and the ch...more
I was very happy to have won this book from the Goodreads giveaways. This is an enjoyable mystery.
Set in 1700's Feudal Japan, Sano Ichiro is given the task of finding the truth behind a murder committed by forty-seven masterless samurai (called ronin.) Other then give us the clue that starts the investigation, the ronin's mistress from the title doesn't really do very much. Sano, his wife and son take the reader from clue to clue in a mannerr equal to any of the great literary detectives. The s...more
Set in 1700's Feudal Japan, Sano Ichiro is given the task of finding the truth behind a murder committed by forty-seven masterless samurai (called ronin.) Other then give us the clue that starts the investigation, the ronin's mistress from the title doesn't really do very much. Sano, his wife and son take the reader from clue to clue in a mannerr equal to any of the great literary detectives. The s...more
I really really enjoyed this case, there were books in this series that i read and thought i would be done with this and not come back but i always do,because even if the cases are not brilliant/interesting all the time, the setting and characters always are.
In this book the case IS interesting though so i enjoyed it even more.
The only thing that somehow got old a bit is how Sano ALWAYS has to be worried about how the case might end his career because Yanagisawa is ALWAYS trying to bring him dow...more
In this book the case IS interesting though so i enjoyed it even more.
The only thing that somehow got old a bit is how Sano ALWAYS has to be worried about how the case might end his career because Yanagisawa is ALWAYS trying to bring him dow...more
although i don't usually read this type of book i was grabbed and pulled into the story from the first page. i found myself intrigued and fasinated by the historical facts in the story and the characters were a joy to get to know and watch them grow into their own.this was a truly wonderful book. the characters were intriguing and full of depth and vitallity. it was very easy to become emotionally connected to each of the characters and to empathize with them and what they were going through. th...more
What can I say about Sano? I LOVE him!!!!!!!!! The palace is full of selfish and corrupt people however, there are people like Sano who live for Bushido and triumph in the end. Using the historical backdrop of the real stories the 47 Ronin - Rowland explains that there are moments in the historical record that have left knowing the unshakeable truth - impossible. Her fictionalized accounting takes the reader through the worlds of poverty, women and palace peculiarities possible but seemingly uni...more
Laura Rowland saved most of the action in The Ronin's Mistress for the last fifty pages with an almost painfully slow build up. In general I thought her writing was fairly mediocre and the story predictable. However, I love her characters and I have been following Sano from book one. I have enjoyed seeing all of the characters develop as they age and can't believe the wimpy Shogun is still in business.
The Ronin's Mistress, like all the preceding books paints a picture, or interpretation, of life...more
The Ronin's Mistress, like all the preceding books paints a picture, or interpretation, of life...more
#15 in Sano Ichiro samurai historical mystery series. Novel opens in February, 1703. The story revolves around the Japanese story of the 47 ronin which the author uses to craft a mystery in which Sano investigates why the incident happened. As usual in this series, Sano's future is at stake as he investigates and everything is complicated by the rivalry between Sano and Yanagisawa who continues to be Sano's antagonist and determined to destroy Sano.
Another exciting mystery set in Feudal Japan. The main characters serve the shogun and are always involved with palace intrigue. This story was about 47 Ronin, which are Samuri that do not have a master. They revenge their master's death, which was very unusual in Japan at that time, causing a big investigation. I have read all the books in this series and I think they continue to improve and are always a fun read.
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Wonderful depiction of life in the 1700s in Japan. The way the samurai code affects daily life for everyone from royalty to servants comes to life. There are times when the story becomes heavy and slow moving because of the details of court life and intrigue. This is part of a series featuring Inspector Sano Ichiro. I'm likely to read other stories in the series.
Lastest in the Sano Ichiro detective series. I think this is about the 11th book or something. I enjoy this series. It is an easy, light read which can be read in a few days. Rowland does a good job of bringing the characters & time to life. She has added a bit of martial art mysticism with one of her characters that I can't say I find very believable. It would be okay of this was a fantasy series of books, but it is meant to be historical fiction so the mysticism is a tad bothersome for me...more
Liked the vivid descriptions of life in the Edo palace in the early 1700's and learning something about the background story - which is true - of the 47 ronins who avenged their master's death. But the story was sort of halfway between soap opera and fairy tale and the mystic warrior thing didn't work for me at all.
The dialog sounds too modern to be realistic. And I doubt that anyone who served an absolute ruler, in this case the Shogun of 18th Century Japan, would survive to be "suspected" of treason long enough to participate in the events covered of this book. Still, it is interesting enough to continue reading.
One of the best books in the series IMO. Laura Joh Rowland's take on the story of the 47 ronin made an excellent addition to the Sano Ichiro mysteries. The ending, which left me breathless and somewhat shocked, made me very glad the next part is already out and I'll be able to read it soon.
set in shogun Japan, early 18th century. a window on the times and politics of Japan during this most interesting period. feudal. a mystery involving the assassination of the head of a noble house, disgraced samurais and ultimately, a threat to the reigning shogun.
Laura Joh Rowland delivers yet another excellent book in the Sano Ichiro series. This time she uses the story of the 47 Ronin as the basis for this book - adding her own little twists and turns - and the results are wonderful.
She has grown tremendously as a writer from her earlier work, and both Sano, and in particular, Reiko, have both become solid characters. Of course, Yanagisawa and his son Yoritomo, are still around wreaking havoc in Sano's life.
But, the character who is starting to beco...more
She has grown tremendously as a writer from her earlier work, and both Sano, and in particular, Reiko, have both become solid characters. Of course, Yanagisawa and his son Yoritomo, are still around wreaking havoc in Sano's life.
But, the character who is starting to beco...more
This is a stronger story than the previous book in the series, but still not up to snuff with where this series used to be. The 47 ronin story does make for an interesting mystery, and I did like that she used so many conflicting stories and perspectives within the narrative, staying in the spirit of the still-mystery surrounding the famous events.
Masahiro is finally getting to be something other than an annoying plot device, though, which is a positive aspect of where this series is going. Up u...more
Masahiro is finally getting to be something other than an annoying plot device, though, which is a positive aspect of where this series is going. Up u...more
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In this episode of Sano's life in court, he must investigate the incidents that make up the famous 47 ronin.
I enjoy the historical atmosphere that Rowland creates in this series.
I enjoy the historical atmosphere that Rowland creates in this series.
Because this book is based on a true story, it has a different feel than a lot of her other books. I really enjoyed it, though, and am now wondering what actually happened with the 47 ronin, even though I like Laura's version.
I happened upon this book at the library. Very interesting look at feudal Japan and a good mystery.
I always enjoy Laura Joh Rowland's books, they are always entertaining and can be educational
1701 Feudal Japan. Sano must decide the fate of 47 ronin after the avenge their master.
Another Sano mystery. An interesting take on the 47 ronin story. I love how she plays with the history.
Sep 08, 2011
Lisa Lucas
marked it as to-read
Won in goodreads giveaway, review coming soon
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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.
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