The Concubine's Tattoo

The Shogun's palace hides many secrets-lovers, rivals, seducers, schemers-and a cunning, brilliant killer...A richly crafted novel set in seventeenth-century Japan, "The Concubine's Tattoo" unfolds with all the excitement of a superb murder mystery and a sweeping, sensuous portrait of an exotic land. Sano Ichiro, the Shogun's most honorable investigator, is summoned to the imperial palace to find the murderer of Harume, a young concubine poisoned while applying a lover's tattoo. Sano's...
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The Shogun's palace hides many secrets-lovers, rivals, seducers, schemers-and a cunning, brilliant killer...A richly crafted novel set in seventeenth-century Japan, "The Concubine's Tattoo" unfolds with all the excitement of a superb murder mystery and a sweeping, sensuous portrait of an exotic land. Sano Ichiro, the Shogun's most honorable investigator, is summoned to the imperial palace to find the murderer of Harume, a young concubine poisoned while applying a lover's tattoo. Sano's new bride, Reiko, insists on helping him with the case. Reiko's samurai blood and warrior's skill alarm her new husband, who expected a docile wife. But Reiko is only the first of many surprises...As subtle the finest lacquered screen, as powerful as the slash of the sword, "The Concubine's Tattoo" vividly brings to life a story of murder, jealousy, sexual intrigues and political storms that keeps us in its spell until the final, shattering scene.