The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria

by Laura Joh Rowland

Book Overview

In feudal Japan, passion and secrets lead to murder. . . From A Remote, Exotic World. . . Sano Ichiro, Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People, awakens from a turbulent dream into a real-life nightmare. Lord Matsudaira Mitsuyoshi, the shogun's cousin and heir, has been murdered after a night of debauchery in the city's pleasure quarter... Comes A Danger All Too Close To Home. . . The matter requires Sano's personal attention-more...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312983786
• ISBN13: 9780312983789
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 359 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Her best since Bundori (not counting Dragon King's Palace)

With "The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria," Laura Joh Rowland has achieved the high level of suspense and tension I haven't seen since her first two novels (Shinju and Bundori). Just when I thought this series was losing steam after the clunky and tepid plot of "Black Lotus," Rowland has regained the form that made this atmospheric series so enjoyable to read. Here's hoping her next novel--which I will purchase when it comes out in paperback--won't disappoint.

Revenge is a Dish Best Eaten Cold

This is the seventh of Laura Joh Rowland's stories about Sano Ichiro, the Shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People. It follows the events of its predecessor, 'Black Lotus,' by only three months, set in December of 1693. At this time, the repercussions of Sano's assault on the Black Lotus Temple on his relationship with his wife Reiko are still unresolved. In this unsure state, Sano finds himself facing the task of investigating a noble murder in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter. There is the utmost urgency because the victim is Lord Mitsuyoshi, the Shogun's heir, and the investigation carries with it much personal risk of social disgrace.The crime is complicated with a lack of clear evidence. There are many who could have committed the crime but at first, no one is willing to be caught up in the Shogun's thirst for vengeance. Later, all too many people see this as an opportunity to seek their own advantage with invented accusations, manufactured evidence, and bald-faced lies. All Sano really knows is that Mitsuyoshi was killed with the hairpin of a woman attendant of the courtesan, Lady Wisteria. This lady is missing, and there seems no way to track her down. Worse, Sano was once Wisteria's lover and he fears that Reiko will find out.To make the matter as complicated as possible, Hoshina, the Chief Police Commissioner and beloved of Chamberlain Yanagisawa, chooses this case to mount his own offensive at Sano, who he perceives as a threat to his own and his lover's position. The political maneuvering that surrounds Sano's investigation threatens his completely undoing. If he cannot find the real murderer, Sano and Reiko may fall victim to the suspicions planted in the ailing Shogun's mind.The delicate balance between Sano and Reiko is an important sub-text for the novel. She has lost much confidence since her opposition to her husband in the 'Black Lotus' affair nearly undermined his ability to solve a difficult crime. She is an unusually assertive woman for this time in Japan, and Sano needs her investigative skills. She consents, but does not know if this is an opportunity for healing or disaster. She too must deal with the almost impermeable political atmosphere of the Edo Castle as she threads her way through the case's countless false leads.Rowland seems to have a tremendous grasp of live in Seventeenth Century Japan. However, the oppressive and sometimes chaotic appearance of the Edo social system is almost too grim, as if over-exaggerated. Justice seems to be defined as the will of whoever happens to have the upper hand at that particular time. Many of Rowland's plots depend on this device, and how Sano must overcome almost random obstacles, that often are not a direct part of the case. The author is a very fine writer, but after seven volumes of this kind of frustration, it is no wonder that Sano threatens to quit his job and flee to a saner world. For the first time reader this will be less

Sano's Back

I just finished this book at the DMV, and almost missed my turn! I was down to the last few pages, and was still fascinated. Ms. Rowland returns to her form with this latest Sano adventure. Everytime I had a free moment, I was thrown back into 1600's Japan. Her images and words really came to life and made me feel like I was watching a movie while reading the book. If you have some time and enjoy good writing, please try this book.

an engaging and suspenseful read

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.

fabulous seventeenth century Japanese who-done-it

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