Although separated by miles, culture and language, if the two were to meet and could pool resources - ahh how the annals of criminal justice would be filled with their exploits and wrong-doers would quake in terror! I.J. Parker’s Akitada is the Asian answer to Cadfael with echoes of 6th century China’s Judge Dee. How delightful that her characters formerly confined to short stories in “ Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine” appear in a novel at last.

His former law professor asks Akitada to work undercover at his old university to investigate suspicions about class ranks. In a society so permeated with rigid social strata as 11th century Japan, this is very important. As he observes the faculty and tries to sort out their internecine quarrels, ambitions, and rivalries, he soon realizes his mentor’s fears are well founded. Following an acrimonious poetry contest one of the professors is discovered hanging from a statue of Confucius while another is missing as are two students. Soon after, a young woman’s body is found on the grounds where the contest was held and no one admits to knowing her.

Add to this a ruthlessly ambitious noble uncle who abandons his young nephew at the university, forcibly marries the boy’s sister and claims the head of the family was taken to heaven while at prayer and you have a great reading adventure before you. Akitada and his highwayman turned assistant set out to solve these puzzles and do it well.

The author provides a list of characters for those who stumble over the Japanese names and includes helpful historical notes. Modern wood cuts in the medieval style provide even more authenticity. I found the plot well done and the characters and situations credible. In her previous short stories Akitada matures and reflects back on his life so this full length prequel was welcome.

I enjoy historical mysteries in which the characters and sleuths are contemporary to their setting. I don’t want Freudian psychological terminology or modern forensic science in the wrong century. Call me a purist but that is my standard. Parker’s characters are believable in their actions, motives, and dialogue and I found it hard to stop at a chapter’s end. When I finished the book I was somewhat disoriented to realize I was back in the 21st century. I hope she keeps writing and look forward to meeting my “new “friends at Roshomon Gate.

--Jane Davis