What do You think about The Way Of The Traitor (2001)?
This is the third book in Rowland's historical mystery series featuring Sano Ichiro, a former police chief in late 17th century Japan who is now working as a detective for the Tokugawa regime. The Way of the Traitor centered around the murder of a Dutch trader in the harbor city of Nagasaki. There, the European traders are confined to the island of Deshima and allowed extremely limited contact with the Japanese. Sano's investigation leads him into great danger due to the complex politics and intrigue going on in Nagasaki.While this book had its interesting points, I didn't like it as much as the previous two novels in the series. I like the way the setting and circumstances of the murder allow Rowland to take a look at 17th century Japan's isolationist policies regarding the western world. Rowland is fairly critical of them, pointing out how the isolationism put the nation at a technological disadvantage and how the political situation resulting from the isolationism bred corruption, deceit, and suspicion. On the other hand, I thought the way Rowland set up the story was a little heavy-handed and contrived. I also thought the way the plot played out focused a bit too much on the perils Sano faced and not enough on the investigation of the murder. There was perhaps too much action at the expense of dete4ctive work and mystery solving. I still liked reading about the characters and the historical setting, though.
—Carol
This third book in the series definitely got mixed reviews from Goodreads readers. I have read Rowland's books out of order, just because I bought them when I saw them. That having been said, The Way of the Traitor takes place in 1690 in Nagasaki, Sano Ichiro having been sent there by the evil lover of the Shogun. The Tokugawa regime is more corrupt than moral Sano can stand and so his life is constantly in danger. As the Shogun's chief detective, he arrives to find a prominent Dutch sailor has been killed and it is up to him to find out who is to blame. The governor of Nagasaki tells him it better be a barbarian and not a Japanese but Sano is determined to get to the truth of the murder even if it means the Dutch declare war on Japan.
—Nancy
2.5 stars.What I liked:1) The setting--Nagasaki in the 1600s, at a time when Japan was beginning to have trade relations with the Western world. This allowed for the exploration of some interesting tension between the Japanese and the Dutch traders, and Laura Joh Rowland did a great job of highlighting and explaining these tensions.2) Hirata's refusal to allow Sano to sideline him for his protection.What I didn't like:1) Sano's stupidity and naiveté! This man just bumbled from one self-made crisis to another. A man this clumsy in his investigations has no business being the Shogun's chief investigator! 2) The repetitiveness of the writing. From Sano's repetitive naval gazing, to the constant re-outlining of who the bad guys could be and what their motivation(s) might have been, I really did not feel like this novel was going anywhere most of the time. 3) Again, the device of someone always being out to get Sano. I get that we need roadblocks in order to keep the story tense, but crimony! Enough with the dastardly villain trying to take out personal revenge on Sano!
—Amy
