When beautiful, wealthy Yukiko and low-born artist Noriyoshi are found drowned together in a shinju, or ritual double suicide, everyone believes the culprit was forbidden love. Everyone but newly appointed yoriki Sano Ichiro.

Despite the official verdict and warnings from his superiors, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People suspects the deaths weren't just a tragedy -- they were murder. Risking his family's good name and his own life, Sano will search for a killer across every level of society -- determined to find answers to a mystery no one wants solved. No one but Sano...

As subtle and beautiful as the culture it evokes, Shinju vividly re-creates a world of ornate tearooms and gaudy pleasure-palaces, cloistered mountaintop convents and deathly prisons.

Part love story, part mystery, Shinju is a tour that will dazzle and entertain all who enter its world.

adding to the Asian-themed Bookbox!

I found this book in the Asian Themed Bookbox. I like history, tales of foreign lands and I like mysteries. Looks like a perfect story for this book junkie. Thanks for sharing!

I really enjoyed this murder mystery that took place in the 17th Century. It appealed to the historical fiction side of me. I liked not only the story line and characters but I also enjoyed getting a glimpse of feudal Japan and the cultural and social norms of the times. I didn't realize, when I chose this book, that this was the first in a series. I will definitely be looking for the 2nd book in Rowland's Sano Ichiro series. Thanks for sharing!

I'm putting this book in Meekachu07's Paperback Surprise Bookbox. I hope the next reader enjoys this book as much as I did. Happy Travels! Happy Reading!

I am taking this out of the paperback surprise book box.

Samuari Yoriki Sano Ichiro just cannot toe the line. Instead of obeying his superiors, he is constantly craning his neck around looking for the truth. This causes a lot of trouble for both the criminals he is pursuing and for his superiors who don't care about the truth but just want to look good to their superiors and their patrons. Danged inconvient Yoriki Sano Ichiro! Bodies are dropping and Sano Ichiro feels guilty for every one of them, but he chooses to keep seeking the truth, even when it looks like it will result in not only his disgrace but his death. And now? On to bigger and scarier bosses. Good luck Samuari Sano Ichiro.

I will be mailing this off in the "S" bookring today.

I am taking this out of the ABC bookring for "S" books (books beginning with the letter "S"). I don't read mysteries much but the setting in Japan might be an interesting setting.