This is book 2 of the Sano Ichiro mystery series set in 17th-century Edo, Japan. The mystery is a bit weak and things can get overdramatic, but I find the world and its inhabitants to be so compelling. Protagonist Ichiro is noble, smart, compassionate, and yet flawed. His adherence to the bushido code is unflinching. but leads to poor decisions at times. You want to shake him! But he also shows self-doubt and gets scared to death. I just love him!