IN DARKNESS, DEATH

Adventure (and honor) in the land of ancient Japan—in the world of ninjas and the Shogun—will intrigue young readers who will find themselves fascinated with the details. The Hooblers first introduced Judge Ooka to readers in The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn (1999) and The Demon in the Teahouse (2001). The judge lived during the eighth Shogun of the Tokugawa family, who ruled Japan in the early 1700s. Traditional tales have established Judge Ooka as the Sherlock Holmes of Japan. This tale solidifies that reputation as the judge and his fictional foster son, Seikei, seek to solve the murder of a prominent lord. From the beginning, the two knew that a ninja had committed the murder, but the Shogun requested Ooka to find the person who ordered the assassination. To solve the mystery, the two travel the country to the Etchu Province and obtain permission to enter onto Mount Miwa. There Seikei confronts the answer and the danger of their quest. Honor and respect play a large part in the actions of all the characters in this first-rate mystery. Well-plotted and fast-paced—a great read. (author’s note) (Fiction. 10-13)