Rating: 
Summary: Poor Sano . . .
Review: I started this set and really liked the freshness of it. I thought the author did a good job protraying Sano as a Samuri of his time but ahead of his time in his thoughts of the outside world and his search for truth. As the set continued it was nice to see Sano gaining some allies (Lord knows he has enough enemies) and finding a woman to marry. When Reiko was first introduced I had high hopes for the relationship between Sano and her AND her development into a full fledged character. I had hoped that as Sano broke with the restrictions of his time and culture - all the time walking a very tight rope against disgrace & execution - Reiko would compliment and add to his character. WRONG!! In Black Lotus even though Sano and Reiko have been married for over two years and have a son together Reiko is the same spoiled, indulgent child bride that she was in The Concubines Tattoo & The Samuri's wife. While in the guise of helping her husband with his investigation Reiko takes every opportunity to disobey his wishes and instructions, to side with EVERYONE but her husband & generally make it clear she has far less regard for her marriage and her family than she does for getting her own way. She withholds sex, affection & even conversation from Sano. She endangers not only herself and her husband but their child by constantly doing whatever she wants and whatever her culture forbids her to do. Yes, I want the characters to fight for truth and to try to right the many wrongs evident in their society but you have to balence that battle with enough sense to not have the reader constantly asking "And they don't execute her WHY??" In this book Sano is relegated to the back burner only popping up to give Reiko another instruction/order/appeal for her to ignore. After everything they've been through together you would think she would value the life they built together enough to AT LEAST ONCE put it first. Yes, we get that Reiko was overindulged as a child by her widower father - we get that she can be an asset to Sano's investigation - and we get that she values truth as much as Sano used to in the earlier books but for Heavens sake make the girl grow up a little. At one point when Reiko was certain Sano was going to divorce her I figured she would finally at least attempt to repair some of the damage she had done. Nope - she just kept doing exactly what she wanted regardless of how her actions would affect her family. Finally when things fell down around her and she saw how she had been mistaken and what almost happened to those she cared about she spilled a few tears & Sano forgave her and made it clear he would welcome her help in the future. You'd think that at least Sano - who knows the perils of 16th century Japan - would realize that if she continues the way she did in this book their entire family is not only in danger of disgrace but of execution. Hopefully in the future the series will come back to Sano as the lead character and either have Reiko mature and become a worthy wife and ally to him or religate her to a less central role. I know it's hard to believe from this review but I really like this series and Sano. I just wish Rowland would appreciate him more and give him the worthy role he has earned. Not to mention a worthy mate who could balence and help him without acting like a spoiled two year old in a fit of temper.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best of Sano Ichiro Series
Review: If you are like me who gets bored quickly reading a book, this book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat! And I guarantee you won't be falling asleep. This is a must read for those who crave well-written and detailed murder mystery. The plots are extremely well developed and the style of writing is at Rowland's best! I have read alomst all the Sano Ichiro series and have always admired Rowland's skillful and tasteful writing yet she still amazed me with this latest one. Lush landscape of Medieval Japan and the dynamics of intriguing murder suspects will make you want to finish the book as soon as you start reading. A must read for fans of muder mysteries!
Rating:
Summary: The Best of Sano Ichiro Series
Review: If you are like me who gets bored quickly reading a book, this book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat! And I guarantee you won't be falling asleep. This is a must read for those who crave well-written and detailed murder mystery. The plots are extremely well developed and the style of writing is at Rowland's best! I have read alomst all the Sano Ichiro series and have always admired Rowland's skillful and tasteful writing yet she still amazed me with this latest one. Lush landscape of Medieval Japan and the dynamics of intriguing murder suspects will make you want to finish the book as soon as you start reading. A must read for fans of muder mysteries!
Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: In 1693 Edo, witnesses saw the teenage girl flee and later hide in shock during the fire at the Black Lotus Temple where three bodies are found. Like just about everyone else, the Shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People Sano Ichiro believes that the girl committed homicide. However, Sano's spouse Reiko cannot believe this fifteen-year-old is a cold-blooded killer. Instead, she feels they have captured an abuse victim and that the truth is hidden inside the mysterious BLACK LOTUS sect. As Sano goes down his official investigative path, Reiko travels a different journey with both seeking the truth even if it destroys their marriage. BLACK LOTUS is an incredible seventeenth century Japanese mystery that brings to life the exciting Samurai period. The customs of the various classes augments the depth to a strong who-done-it. The rivalry, competition, and camaraderie between Sano and Reiko provide additional entertainment to this terrific tale. As with the entire series, Laura Joh Rowland has written another triumphant novel that will thrill mystery and historical fiction readers who will feel they traveled back in time. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: An Historical Mystery
Review: In 1693 Japan, Samurai-detective Sano Ichiro, is called in to investigate the remains of a fire in the Black Lotus temple where three people are found dead. Secretly, and against Japanese tradition at the time, Sano has an autopsy done on the three bodies only to discover that they were dead before their bodies were burnt. An orphan girl, Haru, is found near the scene but will not speak to anyone regarding the events. Against his better judgment, Sano asks his wife, Reiko, to assist him in interrogating the girl. Reiko is convinced of the Haru's innocence, despite the fact that she is a pathological liar. Investigating on her own, Reiko causes some stress on her marriage as she discovers that the Temple of the Black Lotus houses some very nasty secrets. The reader is continually on the edge of their seat, guessing what the outcome will be.
Rating:
Summary: The Best in The series!!
Review: Laura Joh Rowland has written another perfect Japanese mystery novel. Yea Reiko disobeys Sano but it keeps this plot going. I do hope though, Reiko stops disobeying Sano in her next Novel, to keep the family together. I read this novel in a week, it keeps you going tell the end. Can't wait until next book comes out!!
Rating:
Summary: a modern failure in medieval settings
Review: Ms Rowland's Black Lotus fails to summon up any the atmosphere you would expect in this context. It is not sufficient to add "-san" to names or replace "gun" by "katana" to transform a modern day novel into investigation in medieval Japan. The relationships between people are all wrong; characters are too simple, archetypal, the plot is feeble and from page 50 everything is already clear. The are several historical inconsistencies, such as the use of kerosene to start a fire...a good idea but poorly executed.
Rating:
Summary: Black Lotus
Review: OK--I've liked the Sano Ichiro novels. I even struggle to overlook MAJOR inaccuracies in Rowland's characterizations of Edo period Japan. I have after all heard of "poetic license"...But enough is enough! After reading it and being somewhat insulted by Ms. Rowland's characterizations of Japanese Buddhism, her historical inaccuracies of starting a "new" Buddhism during the Tokugawa Era are just unforgiveable to anyone who knows anything about feudal Japan. Not bloody likely! I did pick up the next book in the series, and could tolerate the glaring inaccuracies there somewhat better. The plot is in this one is as-predictable as the descriptive phrases that she uses over and over from book to book to bring "character" to them. I swear she has them stored in "auto complete" in her Word program! I do sincerely wish she would come up with some new material because I enjoyed Shinju, inaccuracies and all. Maybe if she kills off Keiko and lets Ichiro back out more?
Rating:
Summary: Black Lotus
Review: OK--I've liked the Sano Ichiro novels. I even struggle to overlook MAJOR inaccuracies in Rowland's characterizations of Edo period Japan. I have after all heard of "poetic license"...But enough is enough! After reading it and being somewhat insulted by Ms. Rowland's characterizations of Japanese Buddhism, her historical inaccuracies of starting a "new" Buddhism during the Tokugawa Era are just unforgiveable to anyone who knows anything about feudal Japan. Not bloody likely! I did pick up the next book in the series, and could tolerate the glaring inaccuracies there somewhat better. The plot is in this one is as-predictable as the descriptive phrases that she uses over and over from book to book to bring "character" to them. I swear she has them stored in "auto complete" in her Word program! I do sincerely wish she would come up with some new material because I enjoyed Shinju, inaccuracies and all. Maybe if she kills off Keiko and lets Ichiro back out more?
Rating:
Summary: Another Fine Piece of Historical Fiction
Review: Sano Ichiro, the Shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations and People, is a remarkable man. Starting as the son of a ronin (a masterless samurai), Sano has risen to his title by dint of hard work, sharp thinking, and unmatched integrity. He and his bright, beautiful wife Reiko have had to pit their wits against criminals and the incredible political machinations of the Shogun's court and the Bakufu, the Japanese bureaucracy. Finally, they have had a short period of peace, time to settle in their roles and have a young son, Masahiro. Unexpectedly, a fire and triple murder at a local Buddhist temple nearly brings this idyllic setting crashing down. Sano has difficulty questioning Haru, a young nurse who was found unconscious at the scene and enlists Reiko in helping to extract Haru's story and determine if she is a suspect or a witness. Haru awakens Reiko's protective instincts and Sano finds his own opinion is in conflict with his wife's. Unlike the typical samurai wife of 17th Century Japan, Reiko is strong-willed and an independent thinker. In short order they are pursuing separate investigations and working at cross purposes. Reiko suspects that the Black Lotus Buddhist sect has deliberately tried to blame Haru for the murders. The nurse and Pious Truth, a young monk, convince her that there are many suspicious activities at the temple. Reiko focuses her investigations on High Priest Anraku, and his two lieutenants, Kumashiro and Abbess Junketsu-in. Sano, on the other hand finds mounting evidence of Haru's dishonesty and complicity. Worse, there is increasing pressure from the Shogun and his council to arrest Haru and bring the case to a swift conclusion before the temple's influential members can cause trouble. Reiko, unable to accept her husband's judgement, actively works against him, removing Haru from the Temple and involving both her father and the Shogun's mother. Before Sano realizes it, Reiko has triggered a series of events that that could easily destroy his career and cause the Shogun to demand his life. The conflict between Reiko and her husband appears unresolvable, and the marriage is on the road to dissolution. Even worse, innocent friends have become involved as well. Unable to completely ingnore Reiko's beliefs, Sano realizes that, whether Haru is innocent or not, the Black Lotus temple is involved in many suspicious activities. The action reaches crisis and it takes all of his energy to protect his family and the city of Edo from the plots of Anraku and his monks. Of all the 'historical' mystery writers, Laura Joh Rowland stands out in her ability to completely capture the society and culture of 17th Century Japan. Her writing seems effortless, and the reader quickly becomes deeply involved in the politics, art, and people of those times. Sano and Reiko are delightful people, surrounded by many intriguing characters. Indeed, Rowland has extended her characterization skills to produce a rich and compelling mystery story that is also a gemlike picture of Japanese life.
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