Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Starred Review. Set in 1700, Rowland's outstanding 13th Sano Ichiro mystery (after 2007's The Snow Empress) finds Sano, whom the shogun raised to the rank of chamberlain several books back, waging a fierce struggle with his chief rival, Lord Matsudaira. The stakes are raised at the outset when Matsudaira's forces almost succeed in killing Sano's wife and occasional sleuthing partner, Reiko. The chamberlain soon suspects that someone else may have been behind the attack, but soon he faces a more daunting task proving his mother innocent of the murder of one of the shogun's cousins, who vanished during the great fire that destroyed much of Edo and whose skeletal remains were just uncovered by chance. Sano must now question everything he thought he knew about his mother, with his own family facing execution should she be found guilty. Rowland has given her hero his greatest challenge yet in this suspenseful look at feudal Japan. (Nov.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Adult/High School Sano Ichiro, second in command to the shogun, is preparing for war against his enemy, Lord Matsudaira. The shogun is weak and unable to rule effectively and the two wage battle behind his back, each wanting to stop the other from gaining more power. In the thick of this enmity, a skeleton is unearthed and discovered to be the body of the shogun's cousin, murdered 40 years earlier. Sano is sent to investigate, only to find that his own mother is implicated. He must not only save her from execution, but also come to terms with the secrets she's held all his life. This turn of events provides Lord Matsudaira with the fodder he needs to try to oust Sano. The story threads are neatly tied up to create a satisfactory ending that leaves readers wanting more about these all-too-human characters. This series stars Sano and his wife, Reiko, who solve mysteries. The book can be read on its own, but it would be a richer experience for teens familiar with the preceding titles. The plot is complicated, with many auxiliary stories taking place alongside the thread of the mystery. Rowland brings Sano, his wife, a cast of supporting characters, and 18th-century Japan to life with a sweet, simple writing style. Connie Williams, Kenilworth Jr. High, Petaluma, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

The Sano Ichiro series continues its resurgence (after a short-lived slump, a few books ago) with its thirteenth installment. The novel takes place in Toyko, in the year 1700. Sano, formerly the shogun's appointed samurai detective, now chamberlain, is trying to avoid going to war against his chief rival for the shogun's favor. When a long-buried skeleton is uncovered and turns out to be a murdered cousin of the shogun, Sano welcomes the chance to put the brewing civil war aside and concentrate on some good, old-fashioned sleuthing. However, when his own mother is arrested for the 43-year-old crime, the investigation shifts from cold case to a race against time to save Sano's family, his reputation, and his future at court. The novel displays Rowland's gifts for seamlessly incorporating period detail and historical information into the traditional mystery format. Fans of historical mysteries-at least those few who haven't already sampled this series-should be enthusiastically steered in Ichiro's direction. Pitt, David. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.