Book Review: Trial on Mount Koya by Susan Spann

Author: Susan Spann
Title: Trial on Mount Koya (Shinobi Mystery #6)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery
Publication: ebook
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Jesuit Father Mateo head up to Mount Koya, only to find themselves embroiled in yet another mystery, this time in a Shingon Buddhist temple atop one of Japan's most sacred peaks.

November, 1565: Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo travel to a Buddhist temple at the summit of Mount Koya, carrying a secret message for an Iga spy posing as a priest on the sacred mountain. When a snowstorm strikes the peak, a killer begins murdering the temple's priests and posing them as Buddhist judges of the afterlife--the Kings of Hell. Hiro and Father Mateo must unravel the mystery before the remaining priests--including Father Mateo--become unwilling members of the killer's grisly council of the dead.

This is the 6th book in the series. I have really enjoyed this series so far. I have not read the first three books of the series...I really must find them and read them one day. 

This would do okay as a stand-alone, but there is a lot of references to the previous book so I would encourage at least reading the 5th book. In this adventure, Hiro and Father Mateo travel to a Buddhist temple on Mount Koya. During their stay there, murder happens and they become entrusted to solve it. They really can't go anywhere without this happening to them I swear! Things become more complex when other murders around the temple start happening. Who did it and why? 

The mystery was good! I had my guess and I was wrong. Kuddos! I honestly did not expect the murder AT all. However, after Hiro explains it...it did seem obvious. 

As per usual, I like our crew. I like Hiro even more because of his dedication to that dang cat. It is honestly cute and very honorable. Father Mateo is such a good soul. He is still so clueless in some aspects even though he has lived in Japan for years now. He means no harm, but he sometimes forgets where he is at. 

The story was waaaaaaaay slower than previously. They are stuck on this mountain so we missed some of the usual political mystery as well. It took me longer than normal to get into this story. It felt like a bridge to the next book. I am excited to see what happens next. So yes, not as good as the previous two books, but it was necessary for the next book to happen. 

A good mystery, but the story was not as good as the others overall. Much slower and missing that political drama/mystery from the previous ones. I am excited to see what happens next! I really need to read the other two books before this next one comes out...maybe I'll just bite the bullet and buy them since I cannot find them at libraries. -_- I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

Book Review: Betrayal at Iga by Susan Spann

Author: Susan Spann
Title: Betrayal at Iga (Shinobi Mystery #5) 
Genre: Historical Fiction and Mystery
Pages: 248
Published: July 2017
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher)

Autumn, 1565: After fleeing Kyoto, master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo take refuge with Hiro s ninja clan in the mountains of Iga province. But when an ambassador from the rival Koga clan is murdered during peace negotiations, Hiro and Father Mateo must find the killer in time to prevent a war between the ninja clans. 

With every suspect a trained assassin, and the evidence incriminating not only Hiro s commander, the infamous ninja Hattori Hanz, but also Hiro s mother and his former lover, the detectives must struggle to find the truth in a village where deceit is a cultivated art. As tensions rise, the killer strikes again, and Hiro finds himself forced to choose between his family and his honor.

This is the fifth book in the series. I read the 4th one (I still need to back track and read the others) and I think you should at least read that one before this one. 

The mystery duo Hiro and Mateo continue. We get to learn more about Hiro and that made me happy. It was nice to see where he came from and how he became who he is. It was nice to get to know more about one of our heroes. I do admit I have a wee crush on Hiro. ;D

I liked the mystery too. It took a long time for me to guess who the murder is, but I did figure it out. Lots of subtle, under-the-table hints and clues. Looking back I am mad at myself for not figuring it out a few pages sooner. Kuddos for the author. 

I love the writing style of the author. She really knows how to weave characters, mysteries, and the world. Beautiful and I want to read more. 

My only issue with the story was how dragged out it felt. There was a lot of repeating information that we, the readers, already knew. But that is my only complaint. 

I can't wait to read more. I need to back up and read the other ones. I encourage reading book 1. Out of five stars, I'll give this 4 stars. 

Book Review: The Ninja's Daughter by Susan Spann

Author: Susan Spann
Title: The Ninja's Daughter (Shinobi Mystery #4)
Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery
Pages: 230
First Published: August 2nd 2016
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for an honest and unbiased opinion)

Autumn, 1565: When an actor's daughter is murdered on the banks of Kyoto's Kamo River, master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo are the victim's only hope for justice. 

As political tensions rise in the wake of the shogun's recent death, and rival warlords threaten war, the Kyoto police forbid an investigation of the killing, to keep the peace--but Hiro has a personal connection to the girl, and must avenge her. The secret investigation leads Hiro and Father Mateo deep into the exclusive world of Kyoto's theater guilds, where they quickly learn that nothing, and no one, is as it seems. With only a mysterious golden coin to guide them, the investigators uncover a forbidden love affair, a missing mask, and a dangerous link to corruption within the Kyoto police department that leaves Hiro and Father Mateo running for their lives.

Here I go again reading a series out of order. I swear - I am notorious for this. I will have to go back and read the others, because I want to know how we got here. I want to know more about the other crimes Hiro and Father Mateo have solved. I want more backstory about Hiro as well. 

This does decent as a stand alone. There are some references to past events and some characters from the other books have made an appearance. There were a couple of moments I was confused and didn't understand, but overall, the author did a good job keeping the reader informed. 

What a good mystery! I had two suspects on my list about halfway through and one of my suspects was the murderer. 

The author also did a good job with bringing Japan to life. Such a different world and I love it. I am glad that Father Mateo wasn't an expert on the culture still, because there are so many rules and norms that Japan followed at the time. They were SUPER class driven and it is impossible to know them all if you were not raised there. So kuddos for making it realistic that Father Mateo did not know all. 

My question, though, is how did Hiro know Portuguese? Seems like a random language to know especially with Japan having closed borders for SO long. Perhaps the answer is in one of the other books. THUS why I need to read them. 

This certainly was a book I could not put down. I had this finished in two sittings. I had to know what was going to happen next! SO GOOD! I recommend anyone who wants to read this to read the first book first. ;) But if you want to be bad and read this, then feel free, because it does well as a standalone. However, the ending was cliff-hanger-ish and I want to read the next book that comes out! 

Out of five stars, I stamp this with 5.