With no income and a growing family to support, Akitada desperately plunges into the investigation of this crime, aided by his faithful servant Tora, inadvertently placing not only his own life, but also the lives of his wife and child, in grave danger .
Death on an Autumn River
In this ninth novel in the Akitada series, Akitada takes a river journey to Naniwa to unmask officials selling information to pirates. Accompanied by a very young and naïve clerk, he witnesses the recovery of the body of a drowned child prostitute. Her image follows him even as his own problems and disasters multiply in Naniwa. Someone is sabotaging his investigation. His young clerk disappears. Akitada is attacked by two thugs, and armed men brutalize his family in the capital. When Tora joins his master, they both fall into the hands of the pirates and must fight a bloody battle to escape. Even after his official assignment is completed, it is the tragic story of the dead girl that will haunt Akitada most.
The Emperor's Woman
She was intended to be the emperor’s concubine, but she died at the bottom of a cliff near Prince Atsuhira’s private villa. The palace covered up the scandal. Months later, Akitada is drawn into the case when his best friend is accused of plotting against the emperor. Atsuhira, his alleged co-conspirator, refuses to defend himself. The mystery of the lady’s death unravels slowly, bringing danger to Akitada, whose household is already threatened by an ill-fated relationship between Genba and a prostitute which leads to his arrest for the brothel keeper’s murder.
Surrounded by a cast ranging from outcasts and assassins to noblewomen serving in the inner apartments of the imperial palace, Akitada not only delves into murky palace secrets, but his efforts to solve two murders require him to examine the many roles played by women in his society.
The Short Stories
Akitada and the Way of Justice
NEW: A collection of eleven Akitada stories, arranged chronologically for his career, is now available as a Kindle Exclusive. Eleven stories, arranged chronologically, illustrate Akitada’s career. The cases are diverse, with clues ranging from moon cakes and Chinese lutes to feral cats and incense competitions. They have previously appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery magazine, and the first story won the Shamus Award.
Instruments of Murder (October 1997)
This is the first of the Akitada stories to appear in print and tells how Akitada is called away from his flute practice – much to the relief of his family – to rescue Tora who has been arrested for the murder of a wrestler. Akitada’s investigation takes him among ordinary people with extraordinary passions.
The Curio Dealer’s Wife (November 1997)
She is on tiptoe, trying to catch a glimpse of her children over the fence, when Akitada first sees her. Her strange tale about a man who, claiming to be her lost husband, has driven her out and taken over her family and her husband’s business causes Akitada to discover a vicious murder.
A Master of Go (December 1998)
Akitada arrives for his lesson with a master of go and finds the police investigating his murder. None of the old man’s earlier visitors appears to have a motive. In a contest of wits with Kobe, the police captain, Akitada solves the crime by studying the game board and applying the go lessons learned from the master.
Akitada’s First Case (July/August 1999)
Akitada, newly dismissed from his first job as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice, confides his troubles to a disappointed petitioner who hires him to find his missing daughter. His first investigation reveals that the young woman was murdered in the secret villa of a high-ranking nobleman and forces him to make a dangerous accusation.
Rain At Rashomon (January 2000)
While waiting under the wide eaves of the city gate Rashomon during a heavy rain, Akitada, overhears two men discussing murder. A month later he recognizes one of the voices again during the murder trial of a poor vagrant. The voice, however, is not that of the accused, but of one of the constables. Akitada sets out to uncover a plot within a plot.
The New Year’s Gift (April 2001)
A former maid brings Akitada a small carved turtle as a New Year’s gift and begs him to help her husband who has been arrested for the murder of his adoptive father. He had a motive and was seen by a neighbor. Akitada discovers that others also had motives and left clues. One just had to look in the right places.
Welcoming the Paddy God (December 2001)
A middle-aged Akitada runs into his old friend Kobe, now Police Superintendent, who invites him to meet a monk who has confessed to an unspeakable rape-murder of a peasant girl. Though the prisoner appears depraved and repulsive, neither Kobe nor Akitada are quite satisfied. The subsequent investigation takes Akitada to a peasant village and a strange clue involving rice planting and the worship of the paddy god.
Death and Cherry Blossoms (June 2002)
Sent to deliver marriage contracts to a nobleman’s villa outside the capital, young Akitada hopes for a pleasant outing among cherry blossoms, but finds a murdered bride, unrequited love, and shocking family secrets. The O-Bon Cat (February 2003)
On the eve of the festival that welcomes back the spirits of the dead, Akitada encounters a lost deaf-mute boy who reminds him of his little son who has died recently. The child briefly fills an emotional void for him but is taken away, leaving behind only the clue of a feral cat and an abandoned lakeside villa. Obsessed with the double loss, Akitada pursues the trail, and uncovers a tragic story of murder and abandonment.
The Kamo Horse (October 2003)
Broke and in disgrace, Akitada ponders the inequities of fortune when Wataru, a handsome and wealthy young nobleman not only weds the most beautiful lady at court, but also wins the great Kamo race on the emperor's own horse. But the much beloved Lady Kesa is found murdered in her husband's bed and the "lucky" Wataru is the only suspect. Akitada uncovers a tragic web of court intrigue, broken promises, greed, and obsessive love.
The Tanabata Magpie (September 2005)
A junior clerk in the Ministry of Justice is arrested for the murder of a wealthy man, whose daughter he has been courting. The case looks black against him. Akitada, who does not like the clerk, procrastinates, but the young man's suicide fills him with self-reproach and sends him belatedly on a complicated search for the real killer.
Moon Cakes (January/February 2007)
When a hermit carrying an imperial heir’s compromising letter disappears in a famous temple, Akitada not only solves this case but also the apparent suicide of a monk and the strange behavior of the temple cat. The Incense Murders (September 2009)
In this story, a young Akitada is forced by his mother to visit a detested cousin where he uncovers an ingenious plot but ends up being charged with murder.
The Water Sprite (September 2011)
A maid has disappeared, and her parents want blood money from her employer. Akitada, much against his will, has been ordered to investigate rumors that a water sprite residing in a nearby pond is to blame. Fox Magic (September 2011)
Sugawara Akitada, junior clerk in the Ministry of Justice, attempts in vain to convince his boss that a murder has occurred when the minister's neighbor claims a shape-shifting fox has attacked him.
Main Characters
(Japanese family names precede first names. Only nobles have two names.)
SUGAWARA AKITADA
Nobleman, a minor government official
books: all
AKIKO
The older of, Akitada’s sisters, married to Toshikage
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
GENBA
Akitada’s retainer, former wrestler
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 03 BLACK ARROW, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
HANAE & YUKI
Tora’s wife and baby son
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
HIRATA
Professor of law and Akitda’s surrogate father
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
HITOMARO
Akitada’s lieutenant
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
KOBE
Captain of the Heian Kyo Metropolitan Police
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 05 THE HELL SCREEN, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
LADY SUGAWARA
The widowed Sugawara matriarch
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
SADENARI
Akitada’s clerk
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
SEIMEI
Family retainer of the Sugawaras and Akitada's trusted companion
books: all
TAMAKO
Professor Hirata’s daughter and later Akitada’s bride
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 03 BLACK ARROW, 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
TORA
Akitada’s retainer, former soldier, deserter
books: all
YASUKO
Akitada ‘s little daughter
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
YORINAGA (YORI)
Akitada’s infant son
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
YOSHIKO
The younger of Akitada s sisters
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
Other Characters
ABBOT GENSHIN
Head of the Eastern Mountain Temple
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
ABBOT SHOKAN
abbot of the Seikan-ji temple
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
AKOGI
a young trainee in the Hananoya
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
location: EGUCHI
AUNTIE
The manageress of the Willow wine house
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
location:
AYAKO
Higekuro’s older daughter, also a teacher of martial arts
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
BOSHU
Sunada’s agent
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
CAPTAIN YUKINARI
Commandant of the provincial garrison
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
CHIKAMURA
An elderly man whose house has been taken by thugs
books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location:
CHOBEI, KAORU
Two sergeants of constables
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
DANJURO
An actor with Uemon’s troupe
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
DR INABE (ALSO, A CAT)
a physician
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: OTSU
DR. MASAYOSHI
Coroner
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
DR. OGATA
physician and medical officer for the prisoners
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
EIKAN AND ANCHO
Two monks
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
FUHITO
Lord Kiyowara’s major-domo
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Murder Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
FUJIWARA
Professor of history at the Imperial University
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
location:
FUJIWARA KANEIE
the Minister of Justice
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
FUJIWARA KOSEHIRA
Nobleman in the capital; Akitada's best friend
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location:
FUJIWARA MOTOSUKE
Governor of Kazusa province; cousin of Kosehira
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
FUJIWARA SADANORI
a powerful nobleman and relative of the chancellor
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
FUJIWARA TAKEKO
the lady of the River Mansion
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
location: EGUCHI
FUKUDA AND HARIMA
two poor, elderly people
books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER
location: EGUCHI
GENZO AND MINORU
scribes for Yutaka
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
GOLD
An acrobat
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
GOTO
A fishmonger
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
HAMAYA
Head clerk of the provincial administration
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
HANAE
a pretty dancer from the amusement quarter
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
HARADA
The drunken bookkeeper of Yasaburo
books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN
location:
HARU
Proprietor of the Bamboo Grove restaurant
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
HARUKO
Koichi’s daughter
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
HASEO
a huge burly prisoner
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
HIDEO
Servant to the old lord
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
HIDESATO
An unemployed soldier
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
HIGEKURO
Crippled instructor in martial arts
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
HISAMATSU
A judge
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
HITOMARO
An unemployed swordsman
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
location:
HOKKO
The abbot of the Buddhist temple
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
Hoshina
Jirokichi’s girlfriend; owner of a wine shop
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Arson Case, Heian Kyo (The Capitol City)
IHARA
Police lieutenant, Tora's curse
books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location:
IKUGORO
Sergeant of constables
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
INSPECTOR OSAWA
Tax inspector
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
ISHIKAWA
Graduate student at the Imperial University
books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
location:
ISHIKAWA
Mrs’ Ishikawa’s son, steward to Lord Sadanori
books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR
location: OTSU
JASMIN
A prostitute
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
JIROKICHI
burglar, aka ‘the Rat’
books: 08 THE
FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
JISAI
A peddler
books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL
location:
JISEI
crippled prisoner
books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES
location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)
KAIBARA
Steward to the Uesugi family
books: 03 BLACK ARROW
location:
KANEHARU
a small merchant
books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS
location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)
KATA
An infamous owner of a martial arts school
books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD
location:
KATSU