The Red Chrysanthemum — Laura Joh Rowland

THE TRUTH IS DRENCHED IN BLOOD...

Tokyo, 1698: Sano Ichiro, the samurai detective who has risen to become the shogun's second-in-command, is investigating rumors of a plot to overthrow the ruling regime. He discovers that Lord Mori, a political opponent, 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. In this tale of intrigue and treachery that draws on the tradition of the classic film Rashomon, he faces execution for treason ...unless he can solve the mystery of the Red CHRYSANTHEMUM