Synopses & Reviews
DEADLY SECRETIt is a lost art, passed down by the ancients in great secrecy: Dim-mak. It is death, by the lightest touch of a finger. Sano Ichiro, tenuous in the new regime as the shogun's second-in-command, does not have the luxury of skepticism?another senior official is dead, a fingerprint lightly glazed into his skin.
DEADLY CRIMESano's wife Reiko has an investigation of her own: a beautiful, proud, and hopelessly poor woman has confessed to murdering her family. Yet the pieces do not fit, and as Reiko looks deeper into the woman's life as a hinin?a moral outcast, shunned by the world?inexplicable connections appear between her investigation and Sano's.
DEADLY TOUCHAs Reiko's questions spiral her further into the squalor of life as a hinin, Sano and Hirata?his most loyal samurai?pursure their prey, uncovering an intricate tapestry of betrayal woven into the highest levels of the new regime. But they are no match for the one who has mastered dim-mak, a warrior who will strike all those who cross him or his path?even Reiko.
"Sano may carry a sword and wear a kimono, but you'll immediately recognize him as an ancestor of Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade."
--The Denver Post
Review
"Sano may carry a sword and wear a kimono, but you'll immediately recognize him as an ancestor of Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade."
--The Denver Post "Evocative detail and suspense...Rowland's characters remain fresh."--Publishers Weekly
"A welcome breath of fresh air."--Booklist
"Elegantly told and interspersed with delicious bits of history." --Kirkus Reviews
"Rowland delivers an unforgettable portrayal of the Edo of 400 years ago.... [T]he action is worthy of a beautiful Asian martial-arts movie...graceful, angry, and unbound."--The Times Picayune
"[A] tough-minded, edgy, intelligent, and literate thriller." --Flint Journal
Review
“Sano may carry a sword and wear a kimono, but youll immediately recognize him as an ancestor of Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade.”
—The Denver Post “Evocative detail and suspense...Rowlands characters remain fresh.”—Publishers Weekly
“A welcome breath of fresh air.”—Booklist
“Elegantly told and interspersed with delicious bits of history.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Rowland delivers an unforgettable portrayal of the Edo of 400 years ago…. [T]he action is worthy of a beautiful Asian martial-arts movie…graceful, angry, and unbound.”—The Times Picayune
“[A] tough-minded, edgy, intelligent, and literate thriller.” —Flint Journal
Review
“Sano may carry a sword and wear a kimono, but youll immediately recognize him as an ancestor of Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade.”
—The Denver Post “Evocative detail and suspense...Rowlands characters remain fresh.”—Publishers Weekly
“A welcome breath of fresh air.”—Booklist
“Elegantly told and interspersed with delicious bits of history.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Rowland delivers an unforgettable portrayal of the Edo of 400 years ago…. [T]he action is worthy of a beautiful Asian martial-arts movie…graceful, angry, and unbound.”—The Times Picayune
“[A] tough-minded, edgy, intelligent, and literate thriller.” —Flint Journal
Synopsis
It is a lost art, passed down by the ancients in great secrecy:
Dim-mak. It is death, by the lightest touch of a finger
. Sano Ichiro, tenuous in the new regime as the shoguns second-in-command, does not have the luxury of skepticism?another senior official is dead, a fingerprint lightly glazed into his skin.
Sanos wife Reiko has an investigation of her own: a beautiful, proud, and hopelessly poor woman has confessed to murdering her family. Yet the pieces do not fit, and as Reiko looks deeper into the womans life as a hinin?a moral outcast, shunned by the world?inexplicable connections appear between her investigation and Sanos.
As Reikos questions spiral her further into the squalor of life as a hinin, Sano and Hirata?his most loyal samurai?pursure their prey, uncovering an intricate tapestry of betrayal woven into the highest levels of the new regime. But they are no match for the one who has mastered dim-mak, a warrior who will strike all those who cross him or his path?even Reiko.
Synopsis
It is a lost art, passed down by the ancients in great secrecy:
Dim-mak. It is death, by the lightest touch of a finger
. Sano Ichiro, tenuous in the new regime as the shogun's second-in-command, does not have the luxury of skepticism?another senior official is dead, a fingerprint lightly glazed into his skin.
Sano's wife Reiko has an investigation of her own: a beautiful, proud, and hopelessly poor woman has confessed to murdering her family. Yet the pieces do not fit, and as Reiko looks deeper into the woman's life as a hinin?a moral outcast, shunned by the world?inexplicable connections appear between her investigation and Sano's.
As Reiko's questions spiral her further into the squalor of life as a hinin, Sano and Hirata?his most loyal samurai?pursure their prey, uncovering an intricate tapestry of betrayal woven into the highest levels of the new regime. But they are no match for the one who has mastered dim-mak, a warrior who will strike all those who cross him or his path?even Reiko.
About the Author
Laura Joh Rowland, the granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, was educated at the University of Michigan and now lives in New Orleans with her husband. The Assassin's Touch is the tenth book in her widely acclaimed series featuring Sano Ichiro.