The Concubine's Tattoo

Rating:
Summary: a vivid mystery in the era of the Samurai
Review: I picked up the Concubine's Tattoo on a cross-country plane flight. I read it from cover to cover in one afternoon! Laura Joh Rowland's descriptive writing really brings the history of feudal Japan to life. You have a real sense of not only the character's physical features, but of their motivations and feelings. Her descriptions of the inner workings of the Shogun's palace are so exacting, you feel you are really there as one of its inhabitants. Murder, jealousy, political intrigue, honor and love all intertwine to draw you deep into the maelstrom of the Shogunate. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

Rating:
Summary: Tedious
Review: I picked up this book because it promised to be a cunning whodunit set against the exotic backdrop of medieval Japan. Sadly, it is neither. The novel reads like a children's book (albeit a perverse one), with cardboard cutout characters and jaded plot devices instead of the "superb mystery" laid out in a "richly crafted novel" I had hoped for. Worse, it is about as evocative of medieval Japan as a Holstein is of Secretariat. Yes, there are lots of italicized Japanese words for things and a great many unfamiliar names, but replace the horses with cars and "Sano" and "Reiko" with "Sam" and "Rita", and I defy you to to prove to me the novel isn't set in Chicago. All right, I exaggerate, but if a little hyperbole keeps you from spending your money on this book, it's all to the good. If you want to read some really absorbing historical fiction, try Michener. If you want a good mystery, check out Raymond Chandler. There are so many good authors out there; don't waste valuable reading time on this tedious book.

Rating:
Summary: As Painful as Being Slashed with a Samurai's Sword
Review: I picked up this book because the idea of a mystery set in 17th century Japan sounded intriguing but reading it became a dreadful ordeal. Despite the veneer of historical accuracy the language and dialogue used is ridiculously modern. Sano, the novel's samurai detective follows his 'hunches'. Did anyone use the word hunch in 17th century Japan. The book just felt false to me. I felt like I was putting on the cloak of Japan during this period instead of really being immersed in it. A mystery novel like "The Fig Eater's by Jody Shield's truly made me feel like I was existing in the historical period she was writing about. Now if we could get Rowland's plotting together with Shield's feel for history we could get an outstanding mystery novel.

Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: I read the first book in this series, and rather enjoyed dipping into an era not commonly written about. I read The Concubine's Tatoo, and really can't recommend it, or the series now. Part of the pleasure of reading historical mysteries is that willing suspension of disbelief that takes one deep into another era. This series doesn't have that, for me. I really can't believe there would have been a couple like this in Tokugawa Japan, so my attention wanders. And, I regret to say, Reiko is getting on my nerves after only two or three books. I really wanted to like this series, but it eludes me.

Rating:
Summary: Best in the series so far
Review: I read the first three books in this series, SHINJU, BUNDORI, and THE WAY OF THE TRAITOR, mostly because of my voracious appetite for historical mysteries. All three of them had very clear shortcomings, and it seemed as if Rowland was unlikely to overcome her inadequacies as an author. However, this book really marked a turning point. It was far better, thoroughly engaging, and made the whole series up to this point seem like an extended prologue. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Not the best of the series
Review: I started with Shinju and I'm working my way through the whole series. I very much enjoy them, although I think this is the weakest so far -- which doesn't mean it isn't good!

Although I'm glad that a female character (Sano's wife) has been added, I hope it doesn't turn into a "Nancy Drew" type thing. I'm sure there were exceptions to the rule, but the women of the era (as Rowland herself points out time and again)didn't have the freedom to roam around investigating murders. (I'm a big fan of women detective fiction, so it's not that I am against a female character!)

Also, like many other readers here, I found this book's sex scenes a bit too graphic and unnecessary (not to mention out of character for Hirata).

Finally, I hope Rowland eases up on the Chamberlain Yanagisawa character. The problem with a powerful nemesis is that either he IS powerful, and can destroy his adversary -- or he's NOT powerful and therefore not a threat. You can't have it both ways.

But enough of the carping and complaining over minor points. The book, like her previous ones, is a fascinating one that didn't deter me from continuing the series.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Unexpected
Review: I was at the libary browsing for the latest Laurie R. King books (O Jerusalem and A Darker Place). I could only find A Darker Place, I was disappointed, so I decided to keep browsing. Then, I found The Concubine's Tattoo. I found the plot teaser interesting, so I got it. I found it wonderful. I was more interested in the relationship between Reiko and Sano, was at times I found was funny. The mystery was interesting too, but I did find some of it uninteresting. Such as the Shogun's real sexual preference and the Miyagi family kinsmen's sexual behavior. But that's the top of what I don't like, but I did I most of it.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: I would like to comment on the author Laura Rowland. I've read this book and found it very interesting and exciting. It has intrigue, sex, action and great imagination on the author's part. I would reccomend this book for all people who like to read about Japan.

Rating:
Summary: Abusive sex and phony plot devices make this loathesome.
Review: I would not give this book even one star if any lower rating were possible. Anyone who, like me, is a survivor of child sexual abuse, needs to know that this book contains graphic descriptions of abusive sexual assaults of children. Worse, such acts are presented as societal norms. The antagonist, who was abused himself as a child, continues the cycle of violence and abuse on his 14 year old boy lover. To present circumstances such as this in a manner written to be sexually stimulating to the reader, as the author does, makes me thoroughly revolted.

On a technical side, the cliff scene is massively contrived, as Reiko whips out a dagger she's conveniently forgotten until now. Utterly phony.

The author also uses turns of phrase that are 100% modern North American, and totally at odds with the purported setting of 17th century Japan. People in that time period might talk about why a crime was committed, but they would not phrase it as "motive and opportunity." That rings false, as if the character isn't really 17th century Japanese, but only someone pretending to be. And the pretense is unconvincing.

Unlike Ellis Peters, who handles other century settings skillfully and convincingly in her Brother Cadfael mysteries (and has a lyrical way with language besides,) Rowland both fails on accuracy and disgusts on abusiveness.

What a waste of paper is the Concubine's Tattoo.

Rating:
Summary: Filth gilded by history
Review: I'm sorry if this review offends anyone, but I did not care at all for this book. Normally I would not waste my time reviewing a book I didn't like, but this book was so absolutely abysmal, I felt compelled to comment.

I was expecting a a lot more from this book when I picked it up. Historic cultures have always fascinated me, and the book's description promised a look at an intricate and complex society.

After reading about halfway through, however, I had to set the book aside with disgust. True, the book offers a peek at the society and political structure of 17th Century Japan, and the issue of women's rights as expressed by the main character's new wife was compelling reading. Overall, however, the setting was a thin veneer over what seemed like overt and continual attempts at sexual titilation.

Don't get me wrong - I do not consider myself a prude, and appreciate the use of sexuality and eroticism in a story. However, I have a strong objection when sex is presented in a coarse, vulgar way for what seems to me no other reason than appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Do yourself a favor and skip reading this book. I am not familiar with the author's other works -- they may be more along the lines of what I was looking for when I picked up this book -- but I cannot recommend "The Concubine's Tatoo".