Shinju [Hardcover]

Laura Joh Rowland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 1994

In seventeenth-century Japan, Sano, a teacher and detective, investigates the ritual ""suicide"" drownings of a peasant and a noblewoman, supposed star-crossed lovers, and uncovers an intricate plot of political intrigue and murder. A first novel. 50,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Seventeenth-century Tokyo is the setting for Rowland's debut novel, a murder mystery starring the Senior Police Commander in the district of Edo. Sano Ichiro, a samurai whose academic background puts him at odds with most of his peers, discovers two bodies in the Sumida River, a man and woman bound together in what appears to have been a shinju, or "double love suicide." The man is a peasant, the woman the high-born daughter of an important official. Told by his superior to close the case without an investigation, Sano, suspecting murder, determines to investigate on his own. He orders an illegal autopsy and learns that the victims did not drown but cannot make his discovery known. Amidst many tribulations, he uncovers a trail of corruption and intrigue that ultimately leads him to suspect a member of a royal family. Replete with convincing details, the setting's time and place provide lively and diverting passages; the plot, however, twists only occasionally before its fairly predictable, politically rooted resolution. Rowland crafts a competent mystery her first time out, shows sure command of her background material and demonstrates that she is a writer of depth and potential.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA?Sano Ichiro suspects that a ritual love suicide (shinju) is in reality a double murder, but his boss inexplicably orders him to drop the investigation. As samurai, Sano must obey or dishonor his father. The quest for justice, however, impels him to risk all to uncover the truth. His course causes more deaths and reveals the depravity of a powerful family that plots to assassinate the shogun. Sano is an unlikely, headstrong hero whose talk and stumbling actions endanger others. His repeated weighing of the samurai code of loyalty and duty versus the pursuit of justice slows the plot occasionally, but not seriously. The descriptions of the lives of townspeople, samurai, the privileged class, and inhabitants of the "pleasure district" in 17th-century Edo (Tokyo) are brutal, but rich and sensual, especially the Tea Ceremony and New Year celebrations. YAs who liked James Clavell's Shogun will enjoy Rowland's novel of political intrigue.?Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 367 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (September 20, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679434224
• ISBN-13: 978-0679434221
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

L AURA JOH ROWL AND, the author of thirteen previous Sano Ichiro mysteries 'demonstrating an impressive level of sustained excellence' (Publishers Weekly), lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Historical Detective Story, April 20, 2002

By 

Tracy Davis (California, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shinju (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and now I am hooked! 'Shinju' is a mystery about a supposed ritual double lovers' suicide (the title is the term that is used to refer to that act) that is in actuality a murder. Ichiro Sano, a young man recently appointed 'yoriki'(policeman) is assigned to a cursory investigation of what most of his colleagues and superiors view as a dishonorable and distasteful incident. Sano's takes his duties seriously, however, and almost loses his life -- and more importantly -- his honor in uncovering both a disturbing crime and a treasonous plot. Set against the backdrop of the Tokugawa Shogunate, this novel is educational as well as entertaining, and I really didn't know where the plot would take me as I read; the hero gets in some pretty dangerous situations. Rowland really paints a realistic picture of Japan in the 17th Century, with its dependence on personal obligation and honor. It's both frustrating and eye-opening for the reader to discover that although the hero knows 'whodunnit', his society prohibits him from bringing the guilty party (or in this case 'parties') to justice.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating history, mediocre writing & puzzle, July 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Shinju (Mass Market Paperback)

Rowland is great at making 17th century Japan seem real, and goes into exquisite detail about the material (and, more crassly, moral) circumstances in which her characters live. That alone made the book worth reading, and made me interested in reading Bundori as a follow-up. However, Shinju has serious drawbacks. Anyone who reads mysteries regularly will have no trouble solving Shinju by halfway through the book. The main problem, though, is Rowland's ponderous writing. Her action scenes and urban descriptions are great; but anything about characters' thoughts and motivations gets wordy and dull very fast. Instead of letting readers figure out why characters respond as they do (except for the highly-scrutable inscrutable suspects) she beats to death the possibilities with lists of questions the characters are supposed to have flashing through their minds. In addition, no one moves a muscle in this story without Rowland reporting on its flexion. It's as if she do! ! esn't trust the readers to be as smart as she is. That's annoying. Shinju is a lovely historical tapestry, and compelling as a result. Frankly, I think Rowland should drop the mystery element (which is profoundly unsatisfying) and just write novels of 17th Century Japan. They would probably be great.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Setting, Less Compelling Mystery, July 23, 1999

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shinju (Mass Market Paperback)

A highly detailed series debut set in Tokyo (Edo) circa 1690. The detective is a newly appointed samurai police officer who quickly manages to piss off his boss and underlings by sticking his naively inquisitive nose into various matters, most notably, a ritual lovers' suicide he is ordered not to investigate. Of course our hero has an inner conflict which rages between duty and justice which battles most of the book, as he gets himself deeper and deeper in hot water. The mystery itself is nothing special, and relies on a villain who is more than slightly crazed. The fun in the book is in all the little details about urban Japanese life and customs of the era, as well as the political background. This is presented very fluidly and is well-woven into the plot.