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JADE PALACE VENDETTA by Dale Furutani William Morrow & Co., July 1999 263 pages $Out of Print ISBN: 0688158188

Furutani's Samurai mystery series is one of the most unique in the mystery genre. It follows a structure that is more often used in science fiction, the trilogy. Jade Palace Vendetta is the second installment in the trilogy, with Death at the Crossroads the first. The series' protagonist, Matsuyama Kaze, is a ronin (without a master) samurai following a quest in 1603 Japan. He has pledged to his dying master that he will find her young daughter who has been abducted in the feudal wars of the time. The clues to her whereabouts are slim indeed, but he doggedly pursues every lead over the course of several years. As he does so, he faces much adversity and many adventures.

As Kaze continues his quest, he runs across a merchant who is about to be killed by a rogue band of thieves. Kaze is a master swordsman and dispatches the group handily. At the time, merchants were viewed as lower class while the samurai were at an elevated level of society. Kaze is fascinated by this particular merchant because of his obsessive love of his wife, Yuchan. At the time, marriages were arranged and passionate love for one's mate was quite unusual. The merchant has ensconced Yuchan in a jade palace on his premises and appears to support her in a very luxurious lifestyle.

But, of course, all is not as it appears. Kaze has to overcome great evil, and he does so by following the samurai code. He never kills anyone who does not deserve it, but many people are deserving in this tale! The book concludes with another piece of information about the young girl he is seeking, albeit disturbing, which will serve as the new direction for his quest in the last book of the series.

This book is a work of art, in more ways than one. In addition to the excellent characterization and interesting plot, each chapter is preceded by a haiku verse that relates to its content. The cover artwork is gorgeous. I most appreciated how Furutani seamlessly wove in facts about the legends and culture of the time, as well as the unique moral perspective possessed by the samurai class. The prose is poetic and the book highly recommended.

Reviewed by Maddy Van Hertbruggen, August 2002

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)

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