Strange requests!

-

Three Oaths: A Legend of the Five Rings (Daidoji Shin Mysteries #4) by Josh Reynolds     

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Ah! My favorite sleuth from the world of the Five Rings, in the realm of Rokugan—Daidoji Shin, nobleman from the House of Cranes, sent by his house to the City of the Rich Frog to oversee the Daidoji Trading Council merchants. He’s a witty, languid courtier given to all sorts of ne’er do well pursuits; theatre, music, and deplorably ready to embroil himself in various investigative pursuits.

That his personae hides a laser sharpe mind and keen intelligence that’s bored easily has him moving  from one challenge to another, accompanied by a varied group of individuals, from his much put upon samurai, Kasami, a rather seedy character Kitano, to river pirates. Each time he moves himself to undertake an action he somehow comes out on top. That’s not by accident.

Amusing and yet driven, this time Shin’s asked by Lady Akodo Minami, commander of the Lion Garrison, to investigate the legitimacy of a groom, Itagawa Mosu, before an important dynastic wedding between clans. (Politics and empire rules are involved!) The groom had disappeared feared dead, but miraculously returned.  A matter of pirates apparently. The problem is the groom’s behavior has changed, for the better. Another mystery! Shin accepts Minami’s request.

Putting together some of his past investigations Shin is left wondering aloud to Minami if there’s, “An unseen hand, moving unknowing pieces on a board.” Mmm!

Complex and fascinating I was once more drawn into the exploits of the exceptional Shin, who just might be being set up to have his wings clipped. 

Another intriguing read!


An Aconyte ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Things aren’t as they seem!

-
Image
A Murderous Tryst  (Beatrice Hyde-Care Mystery #11) by Lynn Messina    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh my! Bea certainly has a lot to contend with. Bea’s rattled! The Duke has been missing from their bed for a night. When a distraught Bea come downstairs the next morning she finds her beloved husband Damien clasped in the arms of a glamorous female. A female who turns out to be Kesgrave’s first mistress, Mrs. Penelope Taylor! What?! Of course Bea’s heart sinks and she falls back on her painful memories of Aunt Vera’s responses to such a situation. Bea is both shaken and traumatised, but determined not to show it.  It seems Penny has been accused of murder. Actually  Penny’s desperately trying to avoid Newgate.    As a former mistress Penny does the unthinkable thing in society’s eyes. She asks for help from Bea. Bea’s response is just as shocking. She says yes. Kesgrave is as usual inscrutable. Of course this is the beginning of a harebrained chase, complications between Bea  and Amien,  and an investiga
Read more

Women in war—Internment by the Japanese 1942-45.

-
Image
Sisters Under the Rising Sun  by Heather Morris    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fitting tribute to the women interred by the Japanese in Indonesia and Malaya during 1942 until liberation in 1945. Amongst the internees are a group of Australian Army nurses who were not given recognition by the Japanese as members of the armed forces and therefore not prisoners of war according to the Conventions of war.  Sister Vivian Bullwinkle is the only survivor of the massacre of a group of soldiers and nurses on Radji Beach, Bangka Island near Sumatra  in 1942, after the sinking of  HMS Vyner Brooke. There are a number of civilian prisoners in the camps like Norah Chambers and her sister Ena.  Combined, the story of these women interred under terrible conditions, their struggles and achievements are monumental.  Their gifts to their fellows beyond speech. Music plays an important part in uplifting the prisoners’ spirits. It’s truly a privilege to read about their plight, their vows to each other, and their braver
Read more

Darkness and passion in 1750's Venice.

-
Image
Venice in the Moonlight by Elizabeth McKenna This story had me with the first line! The image portrayed is wonderful! A surreal moment! That moment captures with a totally restrained focus the helplessness and seething anger of Marietta Gatti, set against the background of a dysfunctional marriage and family. So much is weighted by so few words. OK so I have just been to the Magritte exhibition at the MoMA, NYC and combining that with Dali, the picture of peas being not squashed but smashed by a silver spoon against the background of  imagined expensive plate is quite fascinating. A despicable husband and an even more terrible mother-in-law have been the bane of Marietta's life for the past 5 years. When released, or rather driven from that life, Marietta returns to Venice to track down her father, a renowned painter. He has never contacted her in all the years of her married isolation. There are many questions to be answered.    En route to Venice from Verona, the publi
Read more