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Sign up todayThe Cloud Pavilion
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Learn moreJapan, 1701. A woman is brutally attacked within a bamboo prison as clouds swirl around her head. Meanwhile, at Edo Castle, samurai detective turned chamberlain Sano Ichiro is suspicious of his old rival, Yanagisawa, who has been oddly cooperative since returning from exile. But just as Yanagisawa's true motives begin to emerge, Sano's estranged uncle comes to him for help. His daughter has disappeared, and he begs Sano and his wife—who once suffered through the kidnapping of their own son—to find her before it is too late.
Laura Joh Rowland is the author of the acclaimed Sano Ichiro mystery series and the Victorian mystery series, among others.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.
Reviews
“While the crimes (and punishments) described here are vicious and the vision of life in Edo outside the shogun’s gates is grim, the relationship between Sano and his mystery-loving wife, Reiko, is cozily akin to that of Nick and Nora Charles--minus the cocktails and repartee.”
“Entertaining…Rowland creates a well-crafted portrait of an exotic place and time.”
“Rowland’s masterful fourteenth historical to feature Sano Ichiro…Established fans will be pleased by how Rowland has developed Sano’s son, Masahiro, along with other secondary characters they have become attached to, while newcomers should find the people, plot, and early eighteenth-century Japanese setting hard to resist.”
“In 1701 Japan, a young wife and mother is raped and left on the streets of Edo. Chamberlain Sano Ichiro (The Fire Kimono) is asked by his uncle to find the person responsible. The fact that Ichiro's mother was declared dead by her family when she married his father just adds to the antagonism Ichiro feels toward his uncle, and he must also keep a sharp eye on his mortal enemy, Yanagisawa, who is gaining in political strength and readying himself to destroy Ichiro. Verdict: With her fourteenth series historical, Rowland continues to turn out beautifully plotted, suspenseful mysteries.”
“Multiple crimes challenge Chamberlain Sano Ichiro, along with the return of a bitter rival…More crimes follow when Sano’s probe takes him to Edo’s dangerous criminal underworld, but an even greater challenge is keeping control of those around him, all with clashing agendas. Gracefully written and replete with historical detail, more character-driven and linearly plotted than most of its thirteen predecessors, this is a fine entry point for series newbies.”
“Reading this book is like being transported back to Japan in the year 1701—and it’s a wonderful journey. Rowland’s fourteenth mystery in this series comes alive with characters who are larger than life. The imagery and historical descriptions are fresh and interesting, but Rowland keeps the suspense at the forefront, where it belongs.”
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