A mystery set in Tokugawa era Japan. Fun with interesting historical details if you like this setting, probably less so if you don't. ( )

One of the best stories ever - a deep soul and great sensitivity, combined with steel blades and ferocious killing. Amazing fun! ( )

L'histoire du samouraï vagabond (un rônin) dans le Japon du début du XVIIème siècle. Le cadre de l'action est bien décrit d'un point de vue culturel et historique, et l'auteur le rend très accessible, parsemant le récit de quelques mots et expressions en japonais qui lui donnent une couleur locale. L'histoire est plaisante mais l'intrigue est un peu trop légère pour rendre le récit vraiment intéressant. Donc, un livre dépaysant et intéressant mais qui manque de profondeur. ( )

It's like Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo or Sanjuro in print. ( )

First book in the Samurai series.

The writing is very good, and the main character, Kaze, is done well, There is a good bit about Japan at the time. The information is woven in well, so there is no huge block of data to read.

The story of the series is the search for the 7-9 year old daughter of Kaze's dead master. They were on the losing side in the battle to determine who would be Shogun. They are all dead and Kaze can't join them until he rescues their young daughter, sold off by a vengeful winning lord.

Each book has a story about a mystery that Kaze encounters on his journey around the land looking for the girl. The book mystery is very light and easily solved. The book would be unsatisfying if it weren't for Kaze and the cultural and historical info.

This book is about a dead body found at the crossroads of a rural area. It is a group of small hamlets which are all ruled by the same citified, clueless, uninterested Samurai lord. Chaos, disorder and bandits are the result. The headman just picks a peasant to be guilty and plans to execute him. Kaze searches to find the true killer. ( )