In Tokyo, 1698: Sano Ichiro, the samurai detective who has risen to become the shogun's second-in-command, is investigating rumours of a plot to overthrow the ruling regime. But conspiracy theories travel far too close to home when Sano discovers that Lord Mori, heir to the shogun, has been found murdered in his own bed...with Sano's pregnant wife, Reiko, lying naked beside him. Was Reiko Lord Mori's scorned mistress, and vengeful assassin, as Lady Mori alleges? Or is she involved in a stunning hoax with her husband - as the ghost of Lord Mori has charged? Now, in a desperate race against time, Sano must find the real killer or face execution for treason...unless he can solve the mystery of the Red Chrtsanthemum.

Author Biography

Laura Joh Rowland, the granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, grew up in Michigan and was educated at the University of Michigan. She and her husband, Marty, settled in New Orleans and have recently returned there after Hurricane Katrina. "Red Chrysanthemum" is the eleventh in her highly acclaimed series of thrillers featuring Sano Ichiro.