The Hangman’s Secret is the third book in Laura Joh Rowland’s Victorian Mystery series. The Hangman’s Secret is a brutal assault on the senses. Photographer Sarah Bain is no stranger to the London underworld, nor are her associates, Lord Hugh Staunton, and Mick O’Reilly. Sarah works exclusively for powerful newspaper baron Sir Gerald Mariner. She photographs…
Every Wednesday, we here at Criminal Element will put together a list of Staff Picks of the books that published the day before—sharing the ones that we are looking forward to reading the most! This week, we have a new Veronica Speedwell Mystery from Deanna Raybourn and an exciting debut from Jane Harper. See what…
The Iris Fan by Laura Joh Rowland is the 18th mystery and finale of this acclaimed series set in feudal Japan, featuring the recently demoted Sano Ichirō whose last case will involve a brutal attack on the shogunate itself (available December 9, 2014). Japan, 1709. The shogun is old and ailing. Amid the ever-treacherous intrigue…
The Shogun's Daughter by Laura Joh Rowland is the seventeenth novel featuring samurai sleuth Sano Ichirō of the court of the shogun in 17th Century Edo (available September 17, 2013). When the daughter of the shogun dies of smallpox, a power struggle erupts among the court, since she did not live to bear him heirs.…
Despite its name, Romantic Times reviews far more than just romance novels. This is likely because—much like crime fiction fans—romance fans read in many genres. They've just announced their full list of reviewer's choice awards, and we've posted the ones that apply to us! Winners in each category are in bold. Congratulations, one and all!…
The Incense Game by Laura Joh Rowland is the 16th book in the Sano Ichiro series. Set in feudal Japan, it follows the career of a samurai who struggles with the conflict between his adherence to the code of Bushido and his personal sense of integrity (available September 18, 2012). With this series, Laura Joh…
While perusing the bookshelves in the mystery section of my local Barnes and Noble, I noticed an interesting trend, that of the Literary Sleuth. Mystery novels featuring Jane Austen, Dorothy Parker, Daphne du Maurier, Louisa May Alcott and Charlotte Bronte, to name just a few. Well besides being real life literary icons whose books are…
Japan, 1703. On a snowy night, 47 warriors murder the man at the center of the scandal that turned them from samurai into masterless ronin two years before. Clearly this was an act of revenge—but why did they wait so long? And is there any reason they should not immediately be ordered to commit…
