Island of Exiles (Sugawara Akitada Mysteries, No. 5)

An excellent, enjoyable, and engaging read, this book draws you into the world of 11th century Japan. Sugawara Akitada, a minor government official, is recruited to solve the murder of an exiled prince. The rich characterizations and descriptions are like a window into the past, opening up a new world for western readers. The plot twists and turns and drives the story to the last page. After finishing this last night, I'm looking for the others.

In Island of Exiles, our hero, "Akitada, must undergo a dangerous mission for the Emperor. He does so without the aid of Genbo and Seimei, whose wonderful wise sayings I missed. There is plenty of suspense and danger -- I don't want to reveal the plot, but the ending has some surprises that I had not expected. Parker's insight into feudal Japan is on a par with Van Gulik's Chinese "Judge Dee" series. I'm delighted that she has kept her characters much the same and stayed true to the era by keeping them believable (unlike L. Rowland, who stepped into the 20th century when she made the hero's wife a female Japanese detective -- I don't think so...)

This is another in a series set in 11th C. Japan (Heian era), featuring Sugawara Akitada. Sugawara, descendant of a once illustrious family that suffered after the exile of an ancestor, is currently acting governor of a distant province, Echigo (for an official, tantamount to being exiled himself), struggling to do his duty with little funds and support and hoping to some day return to the capital, despite political enemies working against him. He is becoming known for his ability to solve sensitive crimes, however, and two mysterious officials visit, ordering him to investigate the murder of the exiled Second Prince (brother of the Emperor--found guilty of plotting treason) on the island of Sado. Akitada undertakes a dangerous mission disguised as a prisoner exiled to the island. He has to deal with cruel, corrupt police officials, the weak governor whose son is accused of poisoning the Second Prince, a powerful local lord who is the descendant of an Exile and possible treasonous plots against the Emperor. The historical detail is strong, the aspects of life and culture in the period interesting, the adventure and action exciting, the mystery suitably involved and intriguing. A good over-all read. It is not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the previous books of the Akitada series, but this one in particular really shines. Parker's prose became more and more crisp and concise, action swift, intrigue intricate. Previously I always thought of Robert Van Gulik when reading them, but now I would venture to say that I like the authors voice more. Actually, there's a embedded story about stolen silver bars for which Parker credits Van Gulik himself. "The Island of Exiles" finds the likable hero in pretty severe circumstances, but with some good luck and quick thinking he's able once again to avoid a certain death. Moreover, it shows Akitada as a man not invincible to his own lapses of judgment and all-too human failings. Definitely a page-turner. I missed the lively adventures of Tora and Genba, as well as Seimei's Confucius quotes, but otherwise the "spirit" of the series is all there. Domo-arigato gozaimasu, I.J.-san.