The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (Sano Ichiro Novels) (Hardcover)

by Laura Joh Rowland (Author) "The summons came at dawn..." (more)
Key Phrases: missing courtesan, lean guard, pillow book, Lady Yanagisawa, Lord Mitsuyoshi, Lady Wisteria (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Samurai sleuth Sano Ichiro has a very personal motive in determining who killed the shogun's heir apparent with a hairpin: he's trying to save himself from being executed for the crime.

The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria introduces readers into Yoshiwara, the well-ordered but cruel pleasure quarter of 17th-century Edo (Tokyo), where the corpse of Lord Mitsuyoshi is found sprawled on a bed. The woman with whom he'd spent his final hours, a top-ranking courtesan known as Lady Wisteria, has disappeared, along with her private journal, which might supply clues to her complicity in this slaying. In the absence of both, and with the capricious old shogun ordering that Mitsuyoshi's family not be quizzed about his death, Sano is left to look for assassins among the courtesan's attendants and prominent clients. Meanwhile, Sano's enemies vie for credit in solving the murder (even if they must pin it on Sano), a woman's headless body is found wearing Wisteria's kimono, and Sano's amateur investigator wife, Reiko, threatens to discover the link between her samurai and the enigmatic prostitute.

Laura Joh Rowland cooks up wonderfully knotty plots. Yet it's her renderings of Sano's world--with its Machiavellian politics, exotic fashions, and hierarchical communities--that make her series particularly interesting. Although this seventh installment lacks the cinematic violence of its immediate predecessor, Black Lotus, it still makes you glad to be observing shogunate Japan from afar. --J. Kingston Pierce

From Publishers Weekly
Delicate prose and a plot full of the overtones and undercurrents that shade real life push Rowland's latest historical beyond the standard whodunit. In 17th-century Japan, Sano Ichiro the shogun's "Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People" has had little time to recover from the disturbing events recounted in Black Lotus (2001) when he's called on to solve a murder of deep political consequence. The shogun's cousin and probable heir has been slain in the bedchamber of Lady Wisteria, a high-priced courtesan, who has gone missing. Every step Sano takes brings the possibility of personal ruin, as the shogun's favor is fickle and Sano has powerful, sly political enemies. Self-doubt and mistrust of others are souvenirs of the insidious black lotus case, which continually plagues Sano and those close to him; he doesn't have all of his emotional strength and his enemies are beginning to act more openly. When the murder case stalls, more subtle mysteries capture the reader's attention. How will Sano regain the upper hand against his enemies, or at least hold his ground? How will he get back in the shogun's good graces when all his suspects are being put to death for other crimes? Will he and his wife regain their trust of each other and themselves? All the animosity and fear in this seamless work is put forth in demure language that perfectly suits the culture Rowland portrays. This character- and atmosphere-driven work is sure to expand Rowland's already large fan base.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur; 1st edition (April 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312282621
• ISBN-13: 978-0312282622
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,347,138 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 7 in The Sano Ichiro Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an engaging and suspenseful read, April 19, 2002

By	tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Be prepared to find yourself totally immersed in the goings on of the 17th century Tokugawa court! When the shogun's heir presumptive, Lord Mitsuyoshi, is found murdered in Yoshiwara (Edo's pleasure quarter), Sano Ichiro, the shogun's Most Honourable Investigator of Events, Situations and People, is called in to investigate and to apprehend the murderer.

Unfortunately, Sano has not yet fully recovered from his last dangerous mission ("Black Lotus"), and is still having horrific nightmares about it. And it is beginning to look as if this current investigation is about to unleash more bad memories for Sano to deal with, as the courtesan whose bed Lord Mitsuyoshi was found dead in is none other than that of Lady Wisteria, a woman that Sano himself was entangled with in the very first book in this series, "Shinju." Lady Wisteria is now mysteriously missing, and Sano is sure that she holds the key to solving this murder. Working against time, esp since Edo's new Chief Police Commissioner Hoshina (and enemy of Sano's, previously featured in "The Samurai's Wife") will do anything to solve the case before him, Sano and his trusty aide, Hirata, begin scouring the byways of the pleasure sector, hoping to find clues and the elusive Lady Wisteria. But too many people have far too much to hide. Will Sano be able to discover who Lord Mitsuyoshi's murderer is? Or will Hoshina beat him to the punch?

I love this series. You can always count on Laura Joh Rowland to provide readers (and fans) with a plot that is intricate, full of twists and turns, red herring suspects, and a mystery novel that is steeped in historical fact and ambiance. Another thing I liked about this mystery in particular was the manner in which Reiko, Sano's plucky wife, figured into the plot. In previous books, Reiko's desire to be a full partner in Sano's investigation has been a sore point of contention between them. But events in the "Black Lotus" had shaken and tested not only Sano, but Reiko as well, to the extent that Reiko is no longer as confident and as sure of her abilities and judgement as she would like to be. In "The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria," we see how the events of "Black Lotus" have indeed taken it's toll on Reiko, but how, in spite of everything she still strives to help and counsel Sano, and that, this time around, he does accept her help.

"The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria" is a fascinating and tantalizing read, ad one that should not be missed, esp if you are a historical mystery buff.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous seventeenth century Japanese who-done-it, March 30, 2002

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In a classy Yoshiwara brothel, someone murders the shogun's heir, Lord Matsudaira Mitsuyoshi in the boudoir of Lady Wisteria, who has since vanished. Anyone with ambition or even remote connections in Edo decides to solve the homicide in order to gain favor with the shogun. Though still recuperating from his harrowing previous case, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations and People Samurai Sano Ichiro knows he must investigate because of the importance of the victim.

The antics of police Commissioner Hoshida, lover of the second-highest shogunate official and Sano's enemy, pressures Sano to quickly solve the murder. Still, Sano rejects the pat solution as too convenient and believes the evidence suggests a myriad of suspects with motives and opportunity to kill the shogun's dashing cousin. Reluctantly, especially after her involvement in his previous case, Sano turns to his wife Reiko for help in separating the facts from misinformation and disinformation.

THE PILLOW BOOK OF LADY WISTERIA is a fabulous seventeenth century Japanese who-done-it that will spellbind readers with its insightfully vivid descriptions of the Shogun era in historical Edo (Tokyo). The lead couple remains a wonderfully charming duo who escorts the audience on a sightseeing trip inside a unique police procedural as only this series does. Laura Joh Rowland provides another winning tale by tastefully and cleverly incorporating it into the powerful plot. The pleasure palaces of Yoshiwara though might require a bit of a warning label.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Cut Above the Average Historical Whodunit., April 13, 2003

By	B. Clothier (Tacoma, Wa United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (Sano Ichiro Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro series of mystery novels adds new life to the growing sub-genre of historical fiction. Nearly all-historical mysteries are set in medieval Europe, colonial America or Victorian England. Rowland opens the genre to a new world by setting her novels in ancient Japan. What's more, her ability to strike balance between historical research, plot, and character development creates a solid novel. Many of her counterparts in the historical genre over-use historical data as a means to hide lack of plot and character depth. Rowland's strength of balancing history with plot make `Pillow Book' a cut above the average historical `whodunit'.

`The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria' joins together Sano Ichiro, his wife Reiko and detective Hirata into the investigation of the murder of Lord Matsudaira Mitsuyoshi. Sano is the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People and is commissioned by the shogun to solve the crime. With his wife, Hirata and team of investigators, Sano plunges headfirst into a mystery full of greed, lust, and deception. In the process, `Pillow Book' provides a wondrous glimpse into the world of feudal Japan.

Mitsuyoshi, the shogun's heir and favorite nephew is found dead in Edo's pleasure quarter, Yoshiwara. Mitsuyoshi, known for his careless and often reckless playboy spirit was a client of Lady Wisteria. Wisteria resided in Yoshiwara as a high-priced prostitute servicing Edo's elite class. In her room Mitsuyoshi is found dead, a hairpin stabbed through his eye. To complicate matters for Sano, Lady Wisteria being a potential witness as well as the primary suspect to the crime, has disappeared.

The intrigue of the book intensifies as various enemies of Sano, Reiko and Hirata plot against them for political and personal gain. In a society where duty and honor play a huge roll in personal actions, Sano must work to divide friend from foe if he is to bring Mitsuyoshi's killer to justice. He must protect himself without sacrificing his rank in the Tokagawa regime. As well as, protecting the honor of his family.

Rowland unfolds her story best when using historical data to illustrate Japanese customs and how these customs effect her characters reactions to situations and events. Her books have been criticized since her characters do not act and react the way a modern day American would if put in similar situations. However, one of the joys of a historical novel is to learn about the time period and setting of the story.

For example, sexuality in feudal Japan is not branded with the same censure as in modern-day America. Homosexuality and prostitution do carry the social stigma they do today; conversely, monogamous relationships are not always revered, or desired. Inter-personal relationships in feudal Japan both of a sexual and non-sexual nature operate in a far different convention. Rowland approaches these differences to create conspiracy and turmoil amongst her characters.

The structure of the Tokagawa government also influences how the characters in `Pillow Book' interact with each other. Personal gain, self-preservation, greed and power play a huge roll in the events surrounding the death of Lord Mitsuyoshi. Since justice in feudal Japan is harsh and seemingly cruel to our justice system, it is impossible then to assume the characters would act in a modern-day manner. Rowland's mystery plots depend heavily upon her characters acting and reacting within their culture, and social structure.

In her novel `The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria' Laura Joh Rowland does a remarkable job of opening the mind to a people, and culture that is far-removed from our own. In addition, she manages to write a compelling mystery that is a page-turner. Her characters have depth, and offer insight into a time and place unlike our own. The books portrayal of events, and character interactions reveal the author's knowledge of ancient Japan. Rowland's writing style is smart, sophisticated, highly visual and refreshing. Sano Ichiro and the novel `The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria' offer a breath of fresh air into the increasing popular world of historical fiction. Highly recommended for lovers of mysteries and historical fiction.

About my grading system: I interpret Amazon.com's five-star ranking system as follows: 1 star = far below standards, 2 stars = below standards, 3 stars = meets standards, 4 stars = exceeds standards, 5 stars = far exceeds standards.