Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful read, but....
Review: ...if you look at this latest novel in the series objectively, you see an extremely heavy emphasis on sex, and a somewhat contrived plot...and, definitely, the very obvious setting for future confrontations between the main characters! Ms. Rowland is apparently letting her focus drift a bit to satisfy her publisher.
Rating: 
Summary: Best yet
Review: After having devoured the other 8 books in the series, I found that Perfumed Sleeve gave a refreshing twist to the Sano Ichiro series. It finally gave the reader some relief from the mounting tensions of the previous books and opened up a new chapter in Sano's life. I am waiting with bated breath for Laura Joh Rowlands next book and am curious to see where she takes the new plot line.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply a repeat of her previous books
Review: I think I have read all of Rowland's Ichiro books. They are becoming tiresome. It is roughly the same story told a few different ways, and the outcome is obvious from the beginning. The usual villain appears in each book, and it is clear from the ending of this one that this individual will continue to cause much the same trouble as he has thus far. The character of the villain's wife is simply ridiculous. The main characters that Rowland has created are likeable and interesting, if not particularly representative of feudal Japan. But I'm disappointed in Rowland and likely will pass by her next book. I read this one to the end, but could have put it aside at any time and not cared. I'd read it before in her previous books.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read, but....
Review: I was first introduced to Laura Rowland's series through an online book club that I subscribe to (dearreader.com). The first book I read in the series was The Dragon King Palace and I was immediately hooked. I liked the book so much that I went all over the web to buy used editions of previous books in the series in hardcover for my personal collection. I have so far read 4 of the 9 books: Black Lotus, The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (amazing plot!), The Dragon King Palace, and The Perfumed Sleeve. I'll now go back and read the first 5 books in order. Although it's fine to read these books as stand alone novels, I suggest reading them in order because there are some spoilers about the previous books interspersed in the later ones. Also, you'll become more familiar with the characters and better understand how they relate to each other.I lived in Japan for eight years and yet I have learned so much about Japanese culture through these books. If you liked James Clavell's Shogun and enjoy mysteries full of plot twists, history, and interesting characters, then I think you'll really like this series. Keep on with the great work, Laura! I look forward to reading book 10 next year!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic 17th Century Japan Mystery!
Review: I was first introduced to Laura Rowland's series through an online book club that I subscribe to (dearreader.com). The first book I read in the series was The Dragon King Palace and I was immediately hooked. I liked the book so much that I went all over the web to buy used editions of previous books in the series in hardcover for my personal collection. I have so far read 4 of the 9 books: Black Lotus, The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (amazing plot!), The Dragon King Palace, and The Perfumed Sleeve. I'll now go back and read the first 5 books in order. Although it's fine to read these books as stand alone novels, I suggest reading them in order because there are some spoilers about the previous books interspersed in the later ones. Also, you'll become more familiar with the characters and better understand how they relate to each other. I lived in Japan for eight years and yet I have learned so much about Japanese culture through these books. If you liked James Clavell's Shogun and enjoy mysteries full of plot twists, history, and interesting characters, then I think you'll really like this series. Keep on with the great work, Laura! I look forward to reading book 10 next year!
Rating:
Summary: Wrong genre.....
Review: I've followed the series, finding that Ms. Rowland's characters interest me. Hitherto, her sexual situation depictions have not been so far into gratuity that we couldn't either ignore them, or claim they worked somewhat within the plot, but in this book, we are served an entirely new level of graphicly lurid sex that might well qualify this book as pornographic. She's certainly using this book as a vehicle to explore presenting explicit and detailed accounts of sexual behaviour,(bordering on and crossing over into perverse), including an account of an incident where Reiko,(our heroine, disguised as a maid), is forced to voyeurism of sex that includes insertion of a hard-boiled egg into a woman's genitalia.
While I am not a proponant of censorship- I think you can read whatever you want- I DO think that some note as to graphic content of this kind should be made by the pro reviewers and Amazon's commentary, and I think that Ms. Rowland might do better to decide just what she's offering us here. Is she a mystery writer? Or a purveyor of erotica? This book might best be classified as the latter......
As for the rest of the book, the plot itself is again, of interest,her details are beautifully written and rather prosaic, her characters are fun,(although the mimmering,insipid,melodramatic women sometimes become irritating), but once again,Ms.Rowland indulges in the tiresome device of constant "questionmark endings". Could she have--? Will he find--? Will our hero--? Chapter after chapter, this becomes a bit on the insulting side, and I found myself cringing each time, thinking "how trite, there's a better way."
It's likely that I'll keep buying the series, because I'm a compulsive character follower and enjoy period fiction,(REALLY fiction-this book isn't particularly accurate about Japanese culture, but then, Ms. Rowland isn't Japanese...),like to see how they turn out, but I'm certainly hoping that Ms. Rowland realizes that erotica doesn't excuse a sophomoric writing style and is not a substutute for scenario developement. It's just rather cheap book thickener and I found myself wondering if I wasn't being forced, along with Reiko, into voyeurism, as I kept reading in an effort to not miss something pertinant to the mystery. She might actually consider studying up on period Japanese history between books.......
Will Ms. Rowland continue to escalate her level of graphic erotica? Will she learn that plot complexity and technical accuracy are far more interesting to mystery readers than sexual disgust? Will she ever figure out how to avoid the chronic question mark? Will Amazon identify the sexually explicit books a bit better in future?
???????????????
Rating:
Summary: incredible look at late seventeenth century Japan
Review: In 1694 Edo, violence explodes between supporters of the shogun's cousin Lord Matsudaira and followers of the shogun's second-in-command Chamberlain Yanagisawa as both side lay claim as the successor. This leads to the death of elderly councilman Makino Narisada though his demise seems of natural causes. The deceased's valet asks the shogun's investigator Sano Ichiro, to look into his death. Sano quickly finds clues that make him reconsider his initial thought of old age as the cause. When the political rivals realize that Sano aided by his capable wife investigates, they quickly blame their opponent of committing murder. Sano still has some lingering doubts that a homicide occurred, but finds that he is caught in the midst of deadly secret alliances as other die too. Though the murder investigation sometimes takes a back seat to the incredible look at late seventeenth century Japan, historical mystery readers will find Laura Joh Rowland's latest tale fresh and fascinating. Sano remains one of the great protagonists of the last few years as he tries to walk a path in which two super heavyweights try to pull him into their respective side of the power struggle. The support cast enhances insight into the era and the hero more so than the inquiries. Readers who enjoy a deep insightful examination of a bygone period will want to read PERFUMED SLEEVE and the previous novels of this solid series (see The Dragon King's Palace) Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: another "unputdownable" installment
Review: It's November of 1694, and Japan is bracing itself for a civil war as the opposing factions headed by wily and corrupt Chamberlain Yanagisawa and Lord Matsudaira (the weak shogun's cousin) struggle for power and control. Both men are busy marshaling their forces and rallying their allies. And each man wants Sano Ichiro, the shogun's most honourable investigator, on his side. But Sano is loath to choose a side even though he realizes that he may end up being friendless and without high ranking friends at a very dangerous time by remaining neutral. And then a very strange thing happens. And old enemy of Sano's and ally of Chamberlain Yanagisawa, Senior Elder Makino, dies. But he leaves a letter for Sano, asking that Sano investigate his death just in case he died because he was assassinated. Honour bound, Sano has no choice but to investigate, and quickly comes to the conclusion that Makino died under suspicious circumstances. Was Makino murdered because of personal reasons, or was his a political murder? The suspects number not only Makino's wife and concubine, but also Chamberlain Yanagisawa and Lord Matsudaira. And even before Sano can begin his investigation, everything becomes twice as complicated when both Yanagisawa and Matsudaira try to implicate the other in the murder, and to menace Sano into carrying out the investigation to their own particular satisfaction. With the stakes so high and the lives of his family at stake, Sano, together with his wife, Reiko (who is still recovering from her horrific experience chronicled in "The Dragon King's Palace"), and his henchman, Hirata, will have to be more canny and resolute than ever as they follow every elusive clue in order to discover who murdered Makino and why, and hopefully, keep their heads in such a precarious and dangerous time... Once again, I found myself glued to the seat, unable to put down this latest Sano Ichiro mystery installment until I had reached the last page. While the mystery was not a very perplexing one, the book still proved to be an engrossing and compelling read. The events unfolded at a swift and almost breath-neck speed, and with each new development, the tension grew. As usual, the character portrayals were vivid and believable, as was the descriptions of Edo, and the historical goings-on of the period. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Perfumed Sleeve" from beginning to end, and count it as a worthy installment in a simply brilliant historical mystery series. Indeed, I count Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro mystery novels as one of my top five favourite historical mystery series to be written by an American authour.
Rating:
Summary: Ms. Rowland Keeps Getting Better
Review: Of all the nine books in the series, this is by far the best. Ms. Rowland gives you lessons in culture, morality, mystique, and politics. Its an intriguing read with lots to keep you thinking as well as enjoying. After every book, I start counting the days until another one is published. Ms. Rowland transports you into that world and you actually feel a part of it. Great reading that keeps you on the edge of your seat and ready for more. Hard to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: This series is the best!
Review: Okay, since I am reviewing the ninth book in the series, I am thinking that everyone who reads this is probably at least superficially familiar with these novels. THESE BOOKS ARE THE GREATEST! Every times Laura Joh Rowland releases a new one, I run out and blow $25 on it. I've been reading these books for years now. I can't even BEGIN to tell how wonderful they are! It's like a long, long, LONG soap opera that hooks you and reels you in! And it takes you to places you'd never go. 17th century Japan isn't a place and time you encounter in books often! The plots are ALWAYS interesting, and they keep you at the edge of your seat and turning the pages quickly because everything happens at such a fast pace! I can remember reading "The Black Lotus," and getting in trouble over and over again at school because I couldn't put it down! The teacher would tell me to put it away, and as soon as she turned around, I would start reading it again... (Sad, I know.)
"The Perfumed Sleeve" is no exception to my rants and raves. It's AWESOME!! Yanagisawa, Hirata, Lady Yanagisawa, Yoritomo, Tsunayoshi, Agemaki... I loved all the characters! And the ending was a shock!
If you liked the rest of the series, READ THIS BOOK!
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