This is the fourth book in the Hiro Hattori series, but the first I have read.

The story is set in 1565 Japan when you could not throw a stone without hitting a samurai warrior. With the death of the Shogun of Kyoto, everyone is either picking sides for the replacement or trying not to be noticed.

Hiro is duty bound to protect the Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo at all costs, even as the two of them become involved in investigating the murder of a teenage daughter of a family of actors. Not a good way to remain invisible, especially when they have been ordered not to investigate.

While Susan Spann is American, she has a degree in Asian Studies and has read extensively about Japan.

This is a first rate mystery. By the time Hiro unravels all the layers of lies to realize who murdered the girl, we the readers are certain it will never happen.

This is one of the fastest reads I have had in some time. Hard to put down. I’ll give her   5 stars.

Mike Lawrence