The Snow Empress

Ms. Rowland's latest Sano Ichiro story is as good as the first, and that is quite a compliment! The characters are fully realized, the settings and period details authentic, and the intrigue compels your attention to the last page. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Ms. Rowland writes a very interesting series of Japan in the late 1600's. I am looking forward to the next book.

Make sure you have no other plans when you get this book-totally great and you won't want it to end. One of the best!

Reviewed by Shawn Remfrey This book took me completely by surprise. After reading a few other reviews on this book, I really wasn't looking forward to it. They made it sound like the book was entirely about politics and the plot summaries were always confusing. I found it to be a great story that left me wanting more. I plan to search for the rest of the this series, both before and after this book. Set in feudal Japan, it all begins when a young boy, Masahiro, is kidnapped. His parents of course are crazy with worry. Sano, Masahiro's father, works for the shogun. When he is told to go to a distant land to take care of a political problem, he also finds that his son is being held captive there. Both he and his wife, Reiko, journey toward their son. Meanwhile the place they are heading towards is having severe problems of its own. The ruler of the land has gone completely mad over the murder of his mistress. He is holding both his own people and the natives of the land captive in hopes of finding her true killer. Through torture and threats, everyone is frightened. Once Sano and Reiko land, they find things chaotic and are quickly taken captive of the mad ruler, Lord Matsumae. They strike a deal that Sano will find the true killer of Lord Matsumae's mistress in return for their lives and freedom. Thus begins their long journey to find their son and solve a mystery no one else can solve. The author Laura Joh Rowland is the granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants. She grew up in Michigan where she graduated with a B.S. in microbiology and a Master of Public Health at Michigan State. She resides in New Orleans. She has worked as a chemist, microbiologist, sanitary inspector and quality engineer. Armchair Interviews says: The Snow Empress is the 12th book Rowland has written in the San Ichiro series.

In 1699 in Edo, Masahiro, the son of chamberlain Sano Ichiro and his wife Reiko, vanishes without a trace. At about the same time that his parents are aware of his abduction, Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi summons Sano to the palace. There Sano's enemy Lord Matsudaira accuses him of bombing his villa. Sano believes the bombing is a distraction ploy as his odious foe probably kidnapped his child. Tokugawa sends Sano to the faraway island of Ezogashima, where he is to help Lord Matsumae battle barbarians. Meanwhile Matsudaira confesses that Sano's son has been taken to Ezogashima also. Sano and Reiko accompanied by a small retinue rush to Ezogashima, but meet no cooperation from anyone and almost lose their heads as grieving Lord Matsumae trusts no one since his mistress was murdered; meanwhile his wife mourns the homicide of their daughter. Reiko investigates the murders allegedly committed by the SNOW EMPRESS and the whereabouts of her son while Sano struggles to get through to the apparently insane Matsumae. Ichiro's twelfth historical mystery is an exciting thriller that once again brings to life late seventeenth century Japan. The story line is fast-paced as Sano tries to stay clam in light of his son's kidnapping and the insanity of the Lord he is supposed to help; he would like to harm Matsudaira for the abduction and remove Matsumae from office. However, his volatile wife does not care one iota about political correctness especially when Masahiro is involved. Although placing the lad on the same island that the Shogun sends the hero to makes it easier on the lead couple to work together, fans of the series will enjoy their latest escapades as the Chamberlain and his wife try to rescue their offspring and struggle with obeying their order to help the insane Lord. Harriet Klausner