Susan Spann (Claws of the Cat, Blade of the Samurai) continues her Hiro Hattori series with The Ninja's Daughter. Unbeknownst to anyone, Hiro is a shinobi, a master ninja, with the mission of protecting a Portuguese priest, Father Mateo, from the many dangers of 16th-century Kyoto. Father Mateo cannot overlook injustice, and he and Hiro, ostensibly his translator, have become adept at solving crimes; particularly those that yoriki (members of the samurai police force) find beneath them.
In this case, when Emi, the daughter of an actor, is strangled near the river, Hiro and Father Mateo want to solve the crime--even after being forbidden to do so, because "no investigation is required" for the death of someone as low-caste as she. Sneakily, to avoid being arrested for breaking the command of the local yoriki, Hiro and Father Mateo delve into the secrets of the actors' guilds and Emi's past.
Susan Spann's novels capture the vibrant intricacies of life and etiquette in feudal Japan. With such detailed protocol, where every word must be uttered delicately, Hiro and Father Mateo must tread very carefully in order to solve the mystery of Emi's death. Further complicating their investigation is the political tumult in Kyoto following the death of the region's shogun, putting the sleuths' lives in danger as yoriki and other samurai jockey for positions of honor. A captivating glimpse into an era unfamiliar to many Westerners, The Ninja's Daughter is sure to fascinate both mystery and historical fiction lovers. --Jessica Howard, blogger at Quirky Bookworm