Set in Edo, Japan 1689, Shinju published 1994 is Laura Joh Rowland's 1st book in a continuing medieval mystery series. The 11th title Red Chrysanthemum came out in 2006. As is often the case, this initial book is best place to start series. Enjoyable light reading.

This book has wonderful discriptions of Japanese life and culture. The mystery is well done and enjoyable. I thought it started a little slow, but soon picked up and kept me reading.

Awesome awesome awesome!! I loved this book. I've always wanted to learn about the old Japan, and reading this book, Shinju, not only taught me quite a bit about the Edo Period Japan, but it alos satisfied my wanting to read a good mystery too.

Shinju is the first book by Laura Joh Rowland that I've read, and I look forward to reading the rest of her Sano Ichiro series.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries set in foreign locations, and wouldn't mind figuring out what some of those foreign words mean.

I absolutely loved this book! I find Japanese culture and Samurai culture fascinating, and this book did not disappoint. It painted a beautiful picture of Japan in the 17th century, and the story kept me wanting to see what would happen next. A great mystery that I would recommend to anyone!

This is the first in a series about a detective in 17th century Japan. I lliked the cultural and historical references.

The mystery was well-conceived, but took an unfortunate turn into boring political intrigue. The resolution also took a little too long in coming.

This is a very good mystery-thriller set in 17th century Japan. It really brings to life the culture, rituals and different levels of society during the time period. I will read more by this author!

A murder-mystery that has some interesting twists, parlty because of the setting. Gave an interesting view of seventeenth century Japan. I was a bit disappointed overall, I hoped it would be more complex, but I found it instead to be superficial and simplistic.

an exotic and beguiling mystery story: A tour de force of imagination!

I really enjoy this series, history and story tied together in the best way.

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In Japan of the 1670's, Sano Ichiro's elderly, ailing father has pulled some strings to get him appointed yoriki (which seems to be much like a police sergeant). However, from the very start, Sano finds himself in conflict at his job - his superior orders him to quietly bury the embarrassing discovery of the bodies of a wealthy young noblewoman and a commoner known for his erotic artworks - apparently a double suicide based on their doomed love. But Sano has a feeling that this was not suicide but murder - and with the evidence gained through an illegal autopsy and a bit of investigation, his hunch grows even stronger.
However, even as Sano turns up more evidence pointing at a web of blackmail, pornography and prostitution, sadism and even treason, his personal situation grows more and more precarious, as he stands in danger of losing his position, his patron, and even his family honor.
Rowland has jam-packed her book with details and anecdotes of Japan, making for a colorful background - but the story itself seems to be a very modern murder-mystery overlaid against this background, rather than a story that naturally emerges from the time period, characters and culture she has chosen.
Also - it may be a quibble, but her description of a sushi bar at one point in the story describes a style of cuisine and its presentation which I truly believe would not have been present in Japan until around 1800 - over 100 years after the setting of this story. Although I am not an expert on the details of Japanese history, this throws doubt on many of her other historical details. I also have doubts about the women's Sumo sex show.

excellent, intriguing

Good mystery novel set in the Tokugawa period in Japan

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