Historical Ninja Mystery

In 16th century Japan, a ninja named Hiro (more properly called a shinobi) is tasked with protecting Father Mateo, one of the first and only foreigners allowed to live and work in Kyoto. When one of Father Mateo's converts, a beautiful young entertainer named Sayuri, is accused of the murder of one of her patrons, the priest puts his own life on the line to buy time to prove her innocence. Hiro and Father Mateo must find the killer in two days, or else both the priest and Sayuri will be executed. The excellent debut novel The Claws of the Cat by Susan Spann is where mysteries and ancient Japan collide.

Spann's novel is an excellent mystery as well as a skillful introduction to 16th century Japanese culture. It refrains from passing judgement but details such traditions as the bushido code of the samurai and the rigid class system. Characters are rich and full of life, even secondary ones, and the bond between Hiro and Mateo is especially deep. The most singular aspect of this novel, however, is that it is a mystery set in the 16th century - no CSI fingerprinting and blood-spatter analysis here. Hiro uses clues such as the shape of footprints in blood, the potential motive of the killer, and his shinobi skills to solve the murder. It was intriguing to read a story where the detective was both a ninja and had to solve the mystery by using relatively simple (to modern readers) means. If you want to know more about Japanese culture and love an old-fashioned whodunit, you will enjoy this gripping mystery.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian