Review: Betrayal at Iga by Susan Spann

Betrayal at Iga by Susan Spann, July 11, 2017 by Seventh Street Books.
Setting: Kyoto, Japan in the 16th century
Genre: historical mystery
Source: book tour
Rating: 5/5

This is the fifth in the Shinobi mystery series set in 16th century Kyoto, Japan, and featuring the ninja/shinobi Hiro Hattori and the Portuguese Jesuit priest, Father Mateo.

About the book: The mystery novel shows the danger and tension between different samurai clans, their perilous way of life as warriors, and the violence that could erupt between and among them at any time. Hiro has to navigate in this setting and climate, carefully leading his charge, the Portuguese priest, around traps and keeping Fr. Mateo from making life threatening mistakes of protocol in his action or speech.

The plot: In Betrayal at Iga, Hiro takes Fr. Mateo to refuge in Hiro's home village with his clan in the mountains, Iga province. But there is no certain safety here, as a rival clan has arrived for peace talks with Hiro's clan. When the visitor clan's leader is found murdered, tensions and suspicions ratchet up and no one is safe, including Hiro himself, his mother, or even his former lover.

Hiro and Fr. Mateo, through interviews, detection, and observation, are hard pressed to solve the murder or risk the loss of innocent lives.

My review: This is one of the best in the series. The book has a compelling plot, in addition to the intriguing characters and the unusual setting of time and place.

I enjoyed learning about samurai culture, its dangers and its uniqueness in history. The author is able to immerse us in the culture, while giving us a suspenseful murder mystery that keeps us on edge.

Her love of the historical subject is evident in her writing and meticulous research into the time and place. I highly recommend the book, which can be read as a stand-alone novel, as well as the preceding ones, and look forward to the next in the series.

Book beginning: Autumn 1565

Hiro Hattori leaned into the wind that swept down the hill and across his face. He pulled his kimono tighter and glanced at the Portuguese priest beside him. "Remember you must eat everything set before you -."
"- because leaving food on the plate offends the host," Fr. Mateo smiled. " I have attended Japanese feasts before." 

Susan Spann is a transactional publishing attorney and the author of the Shinobi Mysteries, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo. Her debut novel, CLAWS OF THE CAT (Minotaur Books, 2013), was named a Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month. 

Susan has a degree in Asian Studies from Tufts University, where she studied Chinese and Japanese language, history, and culture. Her hobbies include cooking, traditional archery, martial arts, and horseback riding. She lives in northern California with her husband, son, two cats, and an aquarium full of seahorses.

Connect with Susan: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks to TLC Book Tours and the author for a review copy of this novel. For other reviews of the book see the tour schedule. 

Meme: visit Book Beginning at Rose City Reader.

It's Monday: Tahoe Payback and A Paris Apartment

Visit It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Book Date.

Thanks, Todd Borg, for a review copy of Tahoe Payback, August 1. 2017 by Thriller Press.
I'm half way through the book and loving it, learning so much about the beautiful Tahoe area geography, about self defense, fake charities, search and rescue dogs, and so much more. Add a killer plot and you have a great thriller.  

I am also reading the ebook version of A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable, April 22, 2014.

A young antiques appraiser is asked to evaluate a Paris apartment, closed for seventy years, that contains a fortune in valuable art and furniture. Clever plot, a mix of history and art intrigue.

What are you reading this week? 

Review: When the Future Comes Too Soon by Selina Siak Chin Yoke

When the Future Comes Too Soon by Selina Siak Chin Yoke, July 18, 2017, AmazonCrossing
Genre: historical novel set in Malaya, 20th century
Rating: 5/5

I learned a lot about the occupation of Malaya by the Japanese during WWII, the difficulties for the Malayan people, and especially for women raising families during a time of  war and scarcity. The Chinese-Malayan women in the Malayan Series, two novels, show their strength and resilience during times of change and conflict and are well drawn characters in the novels.

I recommend the book for history buffs of the era as well as for those who enjoy novels featuring strong women who must adhere and be subject to multiple cultural traditions and changes at the same time.

Sunday Salon: The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds by Selina Siak Chin Yoke

My newest read is an ebook, The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds , an historical novel by Selina Siak Chin Yoke, the first of two in the Malayan series. 

Goodread's description of the book: 
"Chye Hoon, of mixed Malayan-Chinese descent, begins to appreciate the richness of her traditions, eventually marrying Wong Peng Choon, a Chinese man. Together, they have ten children. At last, she can pass on the stories she has heard—magical tales of men from the sea—and her warrior’s courage, along with her wonderful kueh (cakes).

But the cultural shift towards the West has begun. Chye Hoon finds herself afraid of losing the heritage she so prizes as her children move more and more into the modernising Western world. "

I have just started but find this period of time in Southeast Asia very interesting. 

I finished the Kindle edition of Man Overboard by J.A. Jance, and loved it.

Here's what I said on goodreads:

Two computer experts battle each other on the web in a murder mystery, one trying to find the other to put a stop to him, the other evading, with evil intent. Their struggle is complicated by a third party - an AI, an artificial intelligence online created by one of the men, which develops its own reasoning powers independent of its owner and acts on its own accord during the conflict. The three interact in compelling ways, in a suspenseful and intriguing novel. The themes of cyber bullying, suicide, and artificial intelligence and it's possible consequences, good or bad, are meshed in an intriguing and clever plot. I gave the book five stars! Weatherwise: The days are hot and muggy, with occasional rain. The garden looks good as a result but time outside is limited for me because of the heat. Luckily, we don't have the 100 degree weather of other parts of the country! What are you reading this week?

Visit The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also visit It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Book Date , and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews..

The Child by Fiona Barton: Review

The Child by Fiona Barton, June 27, 2017, Berkley

Genre: psychological thriller, suspense

The Child by Fiona Barton

Book description: 

"As an old house is demolished in a gentrifying section of London, a workman discovers a tiny skeleton, buried for years. For journalist Kate Waters, it s a story that deserves attention. She cobbles together a piece for her newspaper, but at a loss for answers, she can only pose a question: Who is the Building Site Baby?  As Kate investigates, she unearths connections to a crime that rocked the city decades earlier." (publisher)

Book beginning:

Emma

March 20, 2012

My computer is winking at me knowingly when I sit down at my desk. I touch the keyboard, and a photo of Paul appears on my screen. It's the one I took of him on our honeymoon, eyes full of love across a table in the Campo Dei Fiori. I try to smile back at him but as I lean in, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the screen and stop. I hate seeing myself without warning. Don't recognize myself sometimes. You think you know what you look like and there is this stranger looking at you. It can frighten me.

My comments: 
I read and enjoyed the author's previous novel, The Widow, which was almost a purely psychological study in the setting of a mystery. The Child is more plot centered, with an intriguing twist at the end. The action however was a bit slow for a suspense novel and it did not have the fiercely character-driven aspect of The Widow.

I enjoyed it however, and can recommend both books, both as stand-alone novels.

Page 56:
She had already looked at the messages on her phone, but she hoped that in the ten minutes since she'd last glanced at them, there'd have been some reaction to the baby story.

Memes: The Friday 56. Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% of your eReader. Find any sentence that grabs you. Post it, and add your URL post in Linky at Freda's Voice. Also visit Book Beginning at Rose City Reader.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book. 

Sunday Salon: On the Cozy Side

Visit The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also visit It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Book Date , and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews..

After four days of rain, today was gloriously sunny and pleasantly cool. I even spent dusk and early evening in the yard, and happily there were no mosquitoes to ruin the evening!

A few new cozy mysteries on the shelf:

On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen, August 1, 2017, Berkley Books

Wrong Side of the Paw by Laurie Cass, July 27, 2017, Berkley

Dressed to Confess by Diane Vallere, August 1, 2017, Berkley

Chime and Punishment: A Clock Shop Mystery by Julianne Holmes, August 1, 2017, Berkley

I am still reading Skeleton God by Eliot Pattison and The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry and have a few ebooks as well on my reader.

After downsizing by giving many boxes of books to charity and friends, I now have book shelf to spare, thank heavens.

How is your summer?

Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman: Book Beginning

Memes: The Friday 56. Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% of your eReader. Find any sentence that grabs you. Post it, and add your URL post in Linky at Freda's Voice. Also visit Book Beginning at Rose City Reader.

Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman, February 14, 2017, William Morrow, a modern day twist of To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Book beginning:
When my brother was eighteen, he broke his arm in an accident that ended in another young man's death. I wish I could tell you that we mourned the boy who died, but we did not. He was the one with murder in his heart and, sure enough, death found him that night. Funny how that works. 

It happened at the lake. Wilde Lake....

Page 56:
Summer, usually our dullest season, flew after we met Noel. 

I plan to read the book late summer, when this takes place! By the way, it's on Stephen King's list of books to read this summer! See his list of new book recommendations.