Rating: 
Summary: Wedded Bliss?
Review: After putting off his arranged marriage for a couple of novels, Rowland's latest Sano Ichiro mystery finds the detective married to Reiko, the daughter of a samurai. The wedding is barely over when a murder is discovered -- one of the Shogun's concubines has been apparently poisoned while applying a tatoo to a rather intimate area of her body. No honeymoon for Sano -- and, as the book continues -- possibly no wedded bliss, either, for Reiko turns out to have her own ideas on the murder and on life in general. These ideas are radically different from Sano's view of women and marriage. In previous novels, after all, he's been around, to say the least. This novel is one of the more explicit in the series, and even Sano's trusty assistant, Hirata, has an interesting encounter with another of the Shogun's women. In fact, women figure prominently in this novel, from concubines, to wives, to mothers; by the end, Sano gains a new appreciation for the role of women in Japanese society, and especially for the courage of his new wife.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Too Bad
Review: First book written by Laura Joh Rowland that I've read. As a lover of mystery and history, I was quite intrigued by the story of a Japanese 17th century investigator under the ruling of a shogun. Basically Sano Ichiro, our courageous and justice obsessed investigator, is instructed by the shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, to find out who murdered his concubine, Lady Harume. That's the main plot; there are other sub-plots for Sano to figure out as well. The author gives detailed descriptions about 17th century Japan; the customs, the people and the harsh life which awaits the women. It's not that hard to figure out the murderer and I enjoyed reading the book. However the sex scenes could be cut down; does nothing for the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the third with expanded characters
Review: I liked this one better than the third book. Sano is back home and getting married. Of course as soon as he is married he is called to investigate the death of one of the Shogun's concubines. I like this story. Rowland expands the characters of Sano and his sidekick Hirata, she also adds the character of Reiko as his non-submissive, untraditional wife. The addition of other characters in Sano's inner circle and adding depth to them adds to the story. The same adding of characters also threatens to take away from the overall series because along with Reiko other characters are also added. You can see the possibility of having too many characters coming into a story and making it more confusing or convoluted. But for this book it works. I give it a B on the StuPage.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best of the series
Review: I started with Shinju and I'm working my way through the whole series. I very much enjoy them, although I think this is the weakest so far -- which doesn't mean it isn't good! Although I'm glad that a female character (Sano's wife) has been added, I hope it doesn't turn into a "Nancy Drew" type thing. I'm sure there were exceptions to the rule, but the women of the era (as Rowland herself points out time and again)didn't have the freedom to roam around investigating murders. (I'm a big fan of women detective fiction, so it's not that I am against a female character!) Also, like many other readers here, I found this book's sex scenes a bit too graphic and unnecessary (not to mention out of character for Hirata). Finally, I hope Rowland eases up on the Chamberlain Yanagisawa character. The problem with a powerful nemesis is that either he IS powerful, and can destroy his adversary -- or he's NOT powerful and therefore not a threat. You can't have it both ways. But enough of the carping and complaining over minor points. The book, like her previous ones, is a fascinating one that didn't deter me from continuing the series.
Rating:
Summary: General agreement with other reviewers...
Review: I've enjoyed the Sano Ichiro series, having read the first four (up through _The Concubine's Tattoo_) and I really must agree with other reviewers who have observed the mature sexual content of the fourth book. As a reader, I can handle a small amount of this sort of thing as long as it's small enough so as to not interfere with the plot (and my enjoyment of the story), but in this book it was too much. Having not read the other books in the series I am not sure if subsequent novels continue this trend, but if that's the case I'd rather not waste my time. Apart from that I truly enjoy the authentic historical flavor of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Good story, but not if you like your mysteries asexual
Review: Laura Joh Rowland develops her characters throughout the series, so you might want to start with an earlier one (Shinju, for example) to get a feeling for the characters. This novel develops some of the minor characters such as the ruling family, and the story moves along well even though you are treated to the usual lavish detail about everything going on. That said, this story revolves around sex in ways some of the earlier ones didn't. From the first page you're invited into some pretty intimate situations, some of them more kinky than you expect. Some readers will be offended, others will not.
Rating:
Summary: Was Everyone In The Shogun's Palace Really Like This?
Review: THE CONCUBINE'S TATTOO is part of a series of mysteries chronicling the adventures of Sano Ichiro, who investigates matters of intrigue in the shogun's household. In this particular volume, it is the death of Lady Harume, a beloved concubine of the shogun (who is known as a homosexual) which he is called upon to investigate. Unfortunately, this tragedy occurs right in the middle (quite literally) of Sano's wedding to the lovely Reiko, daughter of a magistrate. Of course, Yanagisawa, his nemesis is not only a prime suspect, but also determined to sabotage the case in every way that he can. The case becomes only more intense when it is discovered that the concubine was, in fact, pregnant with what could have been the heir to the shogun's throne. Thus, the murder was a treasonous act. Suspects include a rival concubine, the shogun's mother, and a jealous army officer, as well as an old lover and his wife. Meanwhile, troubles on the home-front are trying Sano's patience. His wife is not the lovely lotus-blossom he expected her to be. Rather than the submissive, blackened-tooth, demure maiden he expected, she is a headstrong willful lass who demands to help Sano in his investigation. He does not wish to be tyrannical, yet he is eager to break his wife's spirit. Ultimately, hanging over his head throughout all of this is the fear that not only will he be killed for failing to solve this case, but that naming the wrong suspect could lead to his execution for blasphemous libel. This book's strength lays not so much in its plot but in its historical details. It is interesting to hear Rowland's descriptions of the lush and sumptuous shogunate palaces of Kyoto. This is far more of a work of historical fiction than a work of mystery. Frankly, when I read a mystery, I expect the conclusion to be one that is utterly unexpected and has me gasping at its cunning and subtlety with which it was revealed. In this book, the conclusion was fairly ordinary. I can't say I predicted it, but nor was it totally unexpected. The author simply gave us a list of suspects and picked one to be the culprit. Another problem with this book was its mature content. Rather than sleuthing, this book is filled with page after page of erotica and bizarre graphic sex. Basically every character in this book is into something kinky with the exception of our noble hero and his wife who gratify us with typical, yet perfectly executed sex. This isn't what I was expecting to be reading in a mystery novel, and I felt it bordered on pornography--especially given that most of the sex was extraneous to the plot. What I can say for this book is that I read it two years ago and still remember it quite clearly. The concept of a Japanese, shogunate detective in a mystery series is commendable, and Ms. Rowland certainly knows her facts about Japan. I would just hope that she might be willing to put more intricacies into her plots and spend less time delving into the sexual exploits of minor characters.
Rating:
Summary: Rich and Textured
Review: The Concubine's Tattoo offers everything that I need in a mystery. It is set in an exotic, fascinating era, 17th century Japan. It has an engaging mystery, about the death of one of Shoguns concubines, Harume while she is illicitly tattooing her lovers' name in a secret place and there are many possible suspects. The main characters in the story are interesting and sympathetic people. She opens the story at the lead character, Sano Ichiro's arranged wedding to Reiko, a Japanese woman with a mind of her own. The untimely death of Harume interrupts the wedding festivities and immediately set Sano and Reiko in conflict because of their different ideas of were a woman' s place is. There are many great subplots woven throughout the story and Rowland has managed to make Ichiro's enemy, Chamberlain Yanagisawa, a richly drawn and sympathetic character without losing his menace. Actually all of the important secondary characters are given a nice depth, as well as the main characters. This was the fourth book in a Series of books about San Ichiro's work as the Shoguns investigator and the first that I have read. I am not a regular mystery reader, the plots are usually a bit to predictable for me and I do not like the genre enough to put up with shoddy writing. This book however, and I hope the series, was engaging on several different levels. While it is a stand-alone book it definitely peaked my interest in finding and reading all of the books in this series. This is an author that I look forward to enjoying for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing historical mystery
Review: This is the fourth book in the Sano Ichiro series, and probably the best of the three that I've read. Ichiro is ordered by the Shogun to investigate the death of his favorite concubine, and it soon becomes clear that the death is a result of poison. As always in this series, Ichiro is playing a delicate game trapped between the weak and stupid Shogun and his powerful enemy Chamberlain Yanigasawi. Yanigasawi is the Shogun's lover and favorite, but, since the Shogun trusts Ichiro, can only act against Ichiro in ways the Shogun doesn't notice. Since the Shogun is less than observant, that still leaves him with quite a few options. The book stands well on its own; I think it woud be unnecessary to read the earlier installments of the series before reading this one. This book adds the character of Ichiro's wife, Reiko, who is eager to take her own role in Ichiro's investigations. The presence of Reiko adds interesting complications and allows the Ichiro character to develop further, but from my own limited knowledge of the period, I doubt that either her independence, her Nancy Drew spunkishness, or Ichiro's relatively easy acceptance of it are at all realistic. The plot involves a good deal of sex, some of it kinky, as other readers have observed. I found it all appropriate - there is no explicit content just thrown in for its own sake without furthering the story - but it may be too much for some readers. The mystery is done well, with several vivid characters introduced as suspects, and Ichiro facing a dangerous dilemma when the evidence seems to point to the Shogun's mother, who it would certainly be fatal to accuse. Several readers have commented on the historical realism of the setting. It is always risky to read historical novels and expect to get real history, and this series is no exception. At one point in this book, the Shogun is portrayed reading the classic chinese novel, "The Dream of Red Mansions". That book in fact wasn't written until over half a century after this story takes place. I suspect that Rowland intended an earlier classic novel of chinese decadence and erotica, the Ch'in P'ing Mei. If a person like myself, with no special knowledge of the period in question, can spot a careless blunder like that, how many inaccuracies would a real expert catch? Probably quite a few - for instance, one reviewer of this series has stated that the teahouses which play a prominent role in this and other installments, while very popular in later Japan, wouldn't have existed at the time this story is set in.
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing historical mystery
Review: This is the fourth book in the Sano Ichiro series, and probably the best of the three that I've read. Ichiro is ordered by the Shogun to investigate the death of his favorite concubine, and it soon becomes clear that the death is a result of poison. As always in this series, Ichiro is playing a delicate game trapped between the weak and stupid Shogun and his powerful enemy Chamberlain Yanigasawi. Yanigasawi is the Shogun's lover and favorite, but, since the Shogun trusts Ichiro, can only act against Ichiro in ways the Shogun doesn't notice. Since the Shogun is less than observant, that still leaves him with quite a few options. The book stands well on its own; I think it woud be unnecessary to read the earlier installments of the series before reading this one. This book adds the character of Ichiro's wife, Reiko, who is eager to take her own role in Ichiro's investigations. The presence of Reiko adds interesting complications and allows the Ichiro character to develop further, but from my own limited knowledge of the period, I doubt that either her independence, her Nancy Drew spunkishness, or Ichiro's relatively easy acceptance of it are at all realistic. The plot involves a good deal of sex, some of it kinky, as other readers have observed. I found it all appropriate - there is no explicit content just thrown in for its own sake without furthering the story - but it may be too much for some readers. The mystery is done well, with several vivid characters introduced as suspects, and Ichiro facing a dangerous dilemma when the evidence seems to point to the Shogun's mother, who it would certainly be fatal to accuse. Several readers have commented on the historical realism of the setting. It is always risky to read historical novels and expect to get real history, and this series is no exception. At one point in this book, the Shogun is portrayed reading the classic chinese novel, "The Dream of Red Mansions". That book in fact wasn't written until over half a century after this story takes place. I suspect that Rowland intended an earlier classic novel of chinese decadence and erotica, the Ch'in P'ing Mei. If a person like myself, with no special knowledge of the period in question, can spot a careless blunder like that, how many inaccuracies would a real expert catch? Probably quite a few - for instance, one reviewer of this series has stated that the teahouses which play a prominent role in this and other installments, while very popular in later Japan, wouldn't have existed at the time this story is set in.
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