Books in Akitada Mysteries series

On a visit to a remote mountain region with his children, Akitada hopes to find some peace after the break-up of his marriage. Instead they become involved almost immediately in the random violence that plagues the peasants of the valley. Farmers are murdered, rice stores are burned, and young girls disappear. The local policeman seems honest, but soon Akitada fears to trust anyone. When his retainer is arrested for murder and his daughter threatened by a gang of bandits, he fights back. Powerless and far from court, he must confront the ruthless villain behind the crimes.

A.D. 1030. Senior Secretary Sugawara Akitada is recovering from a knife wound and still reeling from the loss of his wife. When the Council of State orders an investigation of the claims of two warring temples, he is sent to Otsu to clear up the matter. As it happens, Akitada’s best friend Kosehira is governor there and welcomes Akitada into his large and cheerful family in hopes of healing his mind and body.But almost immediately, the murder of a judge interferes with both the official assignment and the planned relaxation. When other murders follow and the local authorities express endless faith in his skills, Akitada gets on the trail of a serial killer.Meanwhile, the violence simmering among the monks escalates. When Tora is attacked and held by them, Akitada must use his diplomacy to release him, but the incident sends Tora and Saburo on a desperate and dangerous mission in the mountains. To make matters worse, the lonely Akitada has fallen in love with his friend’s nineteen-year-old daughter, an impossible situation that nearly drives him to distraction.

Lady Candling lives next door to Pip and Bets, and owns some very expensive, pedigree Siamese cats. When her most famous cat, Dark Queen, goes missing, the gardener's help, Luke seems the obvious suspect. Mr Goon and Mr Tupping, Lady Candling's gardener are sure he's the culprit, as he was digging by the cat house all alone when Dark Queen disappeared. The Five Find-Outers must solve the mystery to clear the name of their friend Luke. Strangely, Dark Queen soon reappears, dirty and tired, but unhurt. And stranger still, she disappears again a few days later, once more when only Luke could have done it. Piecing together clues of pale paint, turps and some wellington boots, the Five Find-Outers prove, once more with the help of Inspector Jenks, not only that Luke is innocent, but that Mr Tupping took Dark Queen and deliberately tried to frame Luke for the crime.Book Details:Format: PaperbackPublication Date: 1/1/2003Pages: 224