The story begins when fire destroys a small cottage on the temple grounds of the Black Lotus, a mysterious Buddhist sect that has flourished under the charismatic leadership of Anraku. Three bodies are discovered, that of a man who is soon identified as a high-ranking police commander and a woman and young child; arson appears to be the cause. A terrified teenaged girl is found nearby; Haru, a novice in the sect, but she is unable to answer any questions. After further investigation it is determined that the three victims died not from the fire but were murdered before it was set.

Sano thinks that perhaps Haru will be more comfortable with a woman’s gentle questioning so asks his wife to assist him. Reiko, who has begun to chafe at the restrictions imposed by motherhood and society, is glad to become involved. Haru insists that she remembers nothing of the fire and is happy with her life at the temple. Reiko believes her story and offers her support and protection. Reiko is convinced that the secretive leaders of the Black Lotus sect know more than they have revealed. Her convictions are reinforced when a young monk confides horrifying details of life in the temple.

Sano is under political pressure to make a quick arrest in the case. Haru is the only suspect, but he is not convinced of her guilt. When he discovers she has lied about many aspects of her life, it becomes increasingly likely that Haru will be charged. Reiko and Sano soon find themselves in strong opposition regarding Haru and the Black Lotus sect. A murder-arson case now threatens their marriage and possibly the lives of many.

The solution to the crime is only one level of Black Lotus. The mysteries in this series play out against the backdrop of court intrigue. Sano has reached a truce with his former nemesis, Chamberlain Yanagisawa, who is temporarily away from court, but there are many others who see Sano’s downfall as their opportunity to rise in position and power. At the same time, conflict arises at home between Sano and Reiko over her refusal to act in traditional fashion.

While the mystery is satisfyingly intricate with a generous supply of potential villains, the true strength of this series rests on the effectiveness of its character development and use of setting. The main characters are complex and multi-dimensional. Sano is an admirable hero with all the requisite virtues. Reiko, who sometimes seems to act more like a woman from three hundred years in the future, makes a suitable mate and investigative partner for him. Furthermore, many of the secondary characters are nearly as well developed.

One of the charms of the series is its vivid recreation of another time and culture. Late 17th century Japan is an uncommon setting for a work of mystery fiction, but the author has so seamlessly woven the setting into her narrative that readers will quickly find themselves absorbed in the plot and scarcely aware of foreign elements.

My sole reservation to giving an all-out recommendation to Black Lotus is that the revelation of the facts behind the murders is packaged too neatly and too conveniently at the end of the book, and I had doubts about the likelihood of the circumstances under which they were revealed.

I do recommend all the books in this series including this most recent installment to fans of historical mysteries. With its unusual setting and interesting characters, this series has staying power and offers hours of reading enjoyment. I, for one, will be eagerly awaiting future books.

--Lesley Dunlap