Sugawara Akitada Compendium

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Sugawara Akitada Compendium Page 2

by Ingrid J Parker


  With no income and a growing family to support, Akitada desperately plunges into the investigation of this crime, aided by his faithful servant Tora, inadvertently placing not only his own life, but also the lives of his wife and child, in grave danger .

  Death on an Autumn River

  In this ninth novel in the Akitada series, Akitada takes a river journey to Naniwa to unmask officials selling information to pirates. Accompanied by a very young and naïve clerk, he witnesses the recovery of the body of a drowned child prostitute. Her image follows him even as his own problems and disasters multiply in Naniwa. Someone is sabotaging his investigation. His young clerk disappears. Akitada is attacked by two thugs, and armed men brutalize his family in the capital. When Tora joins his master, they both fall into the hands of the pirates and must fight a bloody battle to escape. Even after his official assignment is completed, it is the tragic story of the dead girl that will haunt Akitada most.

  The Emperor's Woman

  She was intended to be the emperor’s concubine, but she died at the bottom of a cliff near Prince Atsuhira’s private villa. The palace covered up the scandal. Months later, Akitada is drawn into the case when his best friend is accused of plotting against the emperor. Atsuhira, his alleged co-conspirator, refuses to defend himself. The mystery of the lady’s death unravels slowly, bringing danger to Akitada, whose household is already threatened by an ill-fated relationship between Genba and a prostitute which leads to his arrest for the brothel keeper’s murder.

  Surrounded by a cast ranging from outcasts and assassins to noblewomen serving in the inner apartments of the imperial palace, Akitada not only delves into murky palace secrets, but his efforts to solve two murders require him to examine the many roles played by women in his society.

  The Short Stories

  Akitada and the Way of Justice

  NEW: A collection of eleven Akitada stories, arranged chronologically for his career, is now available as a Kindle Exclusive. Eleven stories, arranged chronologically, illustrate Akitada’s career. The cases are diverse, with clues ranging from moon cakes and Chinese lutes to feral cats and incense competitions. They have previously appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery magazine, and the first story won the Shamus Award.

  Instruments of Murder (October 1997)

  This is the first of the Akitada stories to appear in print and tells how Akitada is called away from his flute practice – much to the relief of his family – to rescue Tora who has been arrested for the murder of a wrestler. Akitada’s investigation takes him among ordinary people with extraordinary passions.

  The Curio Dealer’s Wife (November 1997)

  She is on tiptoe, trying to catch a glimpse of her children over the fence, when Akitada first sees her. Her strange tale about a man who, claiming to be her lost husband, has driven her out and taken over her family and her husband’s business causes Akitada to discover a vicious murder.

  A Master of Go (December 1998)

  Akitada arrives for his lesson with a master of go and finds the police investigating his murder. None of the old man’s earlier visitors appears to have a motive. In a contest of wits with Kobe, the police captain, Akitada solves the crime by studying the game board and applying the go lessons learned from the master.

  Akitada’s First Case (July/August 1999)

  Akitada, newly dismissed from his first job as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice, confides his troubles to a disappointed petitioner who hires him to find his missing daughter. His first investigation reveals that the young woman was murdered in the secret villa of a high-ranking nobleman and forces him to make a dangerous accusation.

  Rain At Rashomon (January 2000)

  While waiting under the wide eaves of the city gate Rashomon during a heavy rain, Akitada, overhears two men discussing murder. A month later he recognizes one of the voices again during the murder trial of a poor vagrant. The voice, however, is not that of the accused, but of one of the constables. Akitada sets out to uncover a plot within a plot.

  The New Year’s Gift (April 2001)

  A former maid brings Akitada a small carved turtle as a New Year’s gift and begs him to help her husband who has been arrested for the murder of his adoptive father. He had a motive and was seen by a neighbor. Akitada discovers that others also had motives and left clues. One just had to look in the right places.

  Welcoming the Paddy God (December 2001)

  A middle-aged Akitada runs into his old friend Kobe, now Police Superintendent, who invites him to meet a monk who has confessed to an unspeakable rape-murder of a peasant girl. Though the prisoner appears depraved and repulsive, neither Kobe nor Akitada are quite satisfied. The subsequent investigation takes Akitada to a peasant village and a strange clue involving rice planting and the worship of the paddy god.

  Death and Cherry Blossoms (June 2002)

  Sent to deliver marriage contracts to a nobleman’s villa outside the capital, young Akitada hopes for a pleasant outing among cherry blossoms, but finds a murdered bride, unrequited love, and shocking family secrets. The O-Bon Cat (February 2003)

  On the eve of the festival that welcomes back the spirits of the dead, Akitada encounters a lost deaf-mute boy who reminds him of his little son who has died recently. The child briefly fills an emotional void for him but is taken away, leaving behind only the clue of a feral cat and an abandoned lakeside villa. Obsessed with the double loss, Akitada pursues the trail, and uncovers a tragic story of murder and abandonment.

  The Kamo Horse (October 2003)

  Broke and in disgrace, Akitada ponders the inequities of fortune when Wataru, a handsome and wealthy young nobleman not only weds the most beautiful lady at court, but also wins the great Kamo race on the emperor's own horse. But the much beloved Lady Kesa is found murdered in her husband's bed and the "lucky" Wataru is the only suspect. Akitada uncovers a tragic web of court intrigue, broken promises, greed, and obsessive love.

  The Tanabata Magpie (September 2005)

  A junior clerk in the Ministry of Justice is arrested for the murder of a wealthy man, whose daughter he has been courting. The case looks black against him. Akitada, who does not like the clerk, procrastinates, but the young man's suicide fills him with self-reproach and sends him belatedly on a complicated search for the real killer.

  Moon Cakes (January/February 2007)

  When a hermit carrying an imperial heir’s compromising letter disappears in a famous temple, Akitada not only solves this case but also the apparent suicide of a monk and the strange behavior of the temple cat. The Incense Murders (September 2009)

  In this story, a young Akitada is forced by his mother to visit a detested cousin where he uncovers an ingenious plot but ends up being charged with murder.

  The Water Sprite (September 2011)

  A maid has disappeared, and her parents want blood money from her employer. Akitada, much against his will, has been ordered to investigate rumors that a water sprite residing in a nearby pond is to blame. Fox Magic (September 2011)

  Sugawara Akitada, junior clerk in the Ministry of Justice, attempts in vain to convince his boss that a murder has occurred when the minister's neighbor claims a shape-shifting fox has attacked him.

  Main Characters

  (Japanese family names precede first names. Only nobles have two names.)

  SUGAWARA AKITADA

  Nobleman, a minor government official

  books: all

  AKIKO

  The older of, Akitada’s sisters, married to Toshikage

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  GENBA

  Akitada’s retainer, former wrestler

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 03 BLACK ARROW, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  HANAE & YUKI

  Tora’s wife and baby son

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  HIRATA

  Professor of law and Akitda’s surrogate father

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE
r />   HITOMARO

  Akitada’s lieutenant

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  KOBE

  Captain of the Heian Kyo Metropolitan Police

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 05 THE HELL SCREEN, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  LADY SUGAWARA

  The widowed Sugawara matriarch

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  SADENARI

  Akitada’s clerk

  books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  SEIMEI

  Family retainer of the Sugawaras and Akitada's trusted companion

  books: all

  TAMAKO

  Professor Hirata’s daughter and later Akitada’s bride

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE, 03 BLACK ARROW, 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD, 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR, 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS, 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  TORA

  Akitada’s retainer, former soldier, deserter

  books: all

  YASUKO

  Akitada ‘s little daughter

  books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  YORINAGA (YORI)

  Akitada’s infant son

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD

  YOSHIKO

  The younger of Akitada s sisters

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  Other Characters

  ABBOT GENSHIN

  Head of the Eastern Mountain Temple

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  location:

  ABBOT SHOKAN

  abbot of the Seikan-ji temple

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  AKOGI

  a young trainee in the Hananoya

  books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  location: EGUCHI

  AUNTIE

  The manageress of the Willow wine house

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE

  location:

  AYAKO

  Higekuro’s older daughter, also a teacher of martial arts

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  BOSHU

  Sunada’s agent

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  CAPTAIN YUKINARI

  Commandant of the provincial garrison

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  CHIKAMURA

  An elderly man whose house has been taken by thugs

  books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD

  location:

  CHOBEI, KAORU

  Two sergeants of constables

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  DANJURO

  An actor with Uemon’s troupe

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  location:

  DR INABE (ALSO, A CAT)

  a physician

  books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR

  location: OTSU

  DR. MASAYOSHI

  Coroner

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  location:

  DR. OGATA

  physician and medical officer for the prisoners

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  EIKAN AND ANCHO

  Two monks

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  location:

  FUHITO

  Lord Kiyowara’s major-domo

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: Murder Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  FUJIWARA

  Professor of history at the Imperial University

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE

  location:

  FUJIWARA KANEIE

  the Minister of Justice

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  FUJIWARA KOSEHIRA

  Nobleman in the capital; Akitada's best friend

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD

  location:

  FUJIWARA MOTOSUKE

  Governor of Kazusa province; cousin of Kosehira

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  FUJIWARA SADANORI

  a powerful nobleman and relative of the chancellor

  books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR

  location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  FUJIWARA TAKEKO

  the lady of the River Mansion

  books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  location: EGUCHI

  FUKUDA AND HARIMA

  two poor, elderly people

  books: 09 DEATH ON AN AUTUMN RIVER

  location: EGUCHI

  GENZO AND MINORU

  scribes for Yutaka

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  GOLD

  An acrobat

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  location:

  GOTO

  A fishmonger

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  HAMAYA

  Head clerk of the provincial administration

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  HANAE

  a pretty dancer from the amusement quarter

  books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR

  location: HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  HARADA

  The drunken bookkeeper of Yasaburo

  books: 05 THE HELL SCREEN

  location:

  HARU

  Proprietor of the Bamboo Grove restaurant

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  HARUKO

  Koichi’s daughter

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  HASEO

  a huge burly prisoner

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES, 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  HIDEO

  Servant to the old lord

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  HIDESATO

  An unemployed soldier

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  HIGEKURO

  Crippled instructor in martial arts

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  HISAMATSU

  A judge

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  HITOMARO

  An unemployed swordsman

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE

  location:

  HOKKO

  The abbot of the Buddhist temple

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  Hoshina

  Jirokichi’s girlfriend; owner of a wine shop

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: Arson Case, Heian Kyo (The Capitol City)

  IHARA

  Police lieutenant, Tora's curse

  books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD

  location:

  IKUGORO

  Sergeant of constables

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  INSPECTOR OSAWA

  Tax inspector

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  ISHIKAWA

  Graduate student at the Imperial University

  books: 02 - RASHOMON GATE

  location:

  ISHIKAWA

  Mrs’ Ishikawa’s son, steward to Lord Sadanori

  books: 07 THE MASUDA AFFAIR

  location: OTSU

  JASMIN

  A prostitute

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  JIROKICHI

  burglar, aka ‘the Rat’

  books: 08 THE
FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  JISAI

  A peddler

  books: 01 - THE DRAGON SCROLL

  location:

  JISEI

  crippled prisoner

  books: 04 ISLAND OF EXILES

  location: SADOSHIMA (Sado Island)

  KAIBARA

  Steward to the Uesugi family

  books: 03 BLACK ARROW

  location:

  KANEHARU

  a small merchant

  books: 08 THE FIRES OF THE GODS

  location: Arson Case, HEIAN KYO (The Capitol City)

  KATA

  An infamous owner of a martial arts school

  books: 06 THE CONVICT'S SWORD

  location:

  KATSU

 

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