Rashomon Gate
Rashomon Gate is a charmingly illustrated mystery of 11th century Japan. The hero, Akitada Sugawara, is an amateur detective who has been asked by one of his former professors to assist in an investigation of blackmail before the poor, struggling Imperial university is ruined by scandal. Under the cover of a teaching assistant, Akitada returns to his alma mater. As part of the faculty, he encounters academic jealousy, corruption, the disappearance of a student’s grandfather, and more than one on-campus murder. Akitada must tap dance around an obstacle course of red herrings before he is able to solve the mystery. An added complication to Akitada’s personal life is his apparently unrequited love for Tamako, the daughter of his professor.
Shamus Award-winning author I. J. Parker has written a compelling mystery with an intelligent, sympathetic hero. Rashomon Gate opens with the discovery of a headless corpse, with which the author cleverly draws the reader into the story. Ms. Parker knows the customs of the period and has provided notes as well as a list of characters.
