Sometimes, nothing is as satiating as a pulp-tastic revenge-plot splatterfest—and that’s one reason why I love the homage Quentin Tarantino paid to Hong Kong gangster flicks, Japanese chanbara (samurai period-pieces) films, and spaghetti westerns in the Kill Bill series. But that’s not the only reason. Buried beneath the gore-fest of violence and vengeance is a…
Historical mystery novels serve as a reminder that the good old days weren’t always that good. Especially for the folks accused or convicted of crimes. My Sano Ichiro samurai mystery series is set in 17th – 18th century Japan, occurring later in Japan’s 700-year “medieval” era. As I research and write my books, I constantly…
I’m a reader because of Nancy Drew. Back in the Dark Ages when young adult fiction consisted of Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume, it was Nancy who got me reading. I liked the puzzle. I liked following the story and trying to unravel the mystery right along with Nancy, even if she did get…
