The Dragon King’s Palace, by Laura Joh Rowland

Time for another adventure with Sano Ichiro, the shogun’s Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People. We’re back once again in Edo, Japan, and it’s June, 1694.  Lady Keisho-in, the shogun’s crabby, demanding mother, has decided to make a trek to Mount Fuji and she wants Reiko, Sano’s wife, to accompany her—along with Reiko’s friend Midori, who is nine months pregnant.  Also along is Lady Yanagisawa, the wife of Chamberlain Yanagisawa, one of Sano’s enemies at the palace.  The procession gets under way and is making slow progress until the fourth day, when it is attacked by a band of maurauders.  Lady Keisho-in and her three companions are abducted and locked up in an abandoned castle and the shogun receives a ransom note demanding the death of his chief of police. The shogun would be happy to comply to save his mother but Sano and Chamberlain Yanagisawa convince him the four women will be killed as soon as he fulfills the ransom demand.  The shogun agrees to wait—but not for very long—and adds the caveat that both of them will be put to death if they fail to save his mother.  Sano and Chamberlain Yanagisawa must put aside their differences and work together—to save their wives and themselves.  This was a worthy addition to an interesting and fun series.
 

Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane

Shutter Island is a small island off the New England coast and the home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane.  U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck Aule have been sent to the island to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando, a prisoner locked up on the island for murdering her children.  Rachel has somehow escaped her heavily guarded room and even though the island is very small, she has managed to avoid being found.  Teddy is partnered with Chuck for the first time and they are just getting to know each other.  Teddy is also still trying to cope with the death of his wife in a fire at their apartment.  As Teddy and Chuck investigate Rachel’s escape, they are confronted with not only questions about her disappearance but also questions about just what is going on at the hospital—with its very secretive staff.  This book, coming after the author’s wonderful Mystic River, has been getting mixed reviews but I really liked it—and it kept me guessing right up to the surprise ending.
 

Ties that Bind, by Phillip Margolin

Portland, Oregon lawyer Amanda Jaffe is keeping a low profile after battling the psychopathic surgeon in Wild Justice.  That case has left her gun shy and she is seeing a shrink to try to overcome being afraid.  She’d like to stay out of the limelight at least for awhile but an irresistible new case drops in her lap.  Jon Dupre, who runs a call-girl service, has been arrested for the murder of U. S. senator Harold Travis, the likely Republican nominee for president.  He is also accused of viciously killing his first lawyer during their initial meeting at the jail.  Now, nobody wants to represent him because of the danger and the hopelessness of the case.  Amanda initially doesn’t want the case, either, but she agrees to take it at the urging of her father.  With the help of Kate Ross, her investigator, Amanda uncovers some evidence that points to Dupre’s innocence in both of the murders.  But, she has also put herself into danger once again as she digs deeper into the events surrounding the deaths.  This was an enjoyable legal suspense novel and a nice addition to the series.
 

Off the Chart, by James W. Hall

Anybody out there miss John D. McDonald and his wonderful character Travis McGee?  I know I do.  Helping to somewhat fill the gap is Mr. Hall with his character of Thorn, who lives on Blackwater Sound in the Florida Keys and seems to be always going up against shady characters while he tries to live a quiet life making and selling fishing lures.   Thorn has been rather foot loose but this twelfth outing finds him somewhat settled down with Alexandra, the Miami crime scene photographer he met in the previous book, Blackwater Sound.  Things are going so well that Thorn is building an addition to his house for Alexandra’s elderly father.  Everything’s peachy until a rich developer with a criminal past and a penchant for pirates decides he wants to develop Thorn’s property.  When Thorn turns down his offer of three million dollars, the developer stages a pirate raid on a yacht and kidnaps the young daughter of Thorn’s best friend, Sugarman.  Thorn supposedly will get the girl back if he signs over his land.  Not trusting this pirate one bit, Thorn and Sugarman, with the help of Alexandra, must somehow find the girl before time runs out.  A nice addition to this Florida suspense series.
 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling

The long-awaited fifth volume in this series finds Harry Potter back at Hogwarts after a dismal, lonely summer with his muggle relatives.  Before he returns to school, though, he is introduced to a secret group of wizards called the Order of the Phoenix, which is battling the evil Lord Voldemort, who has returned and is gathering his forces.  Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic refuses to acknowledge Voldemort’s return and is actively trying to discredit Harry and the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.  The ministry has installed the truly horrible Dolores Umbridge as Hogwart's new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor.  She is also a spy for the ministry and will make the fifth year at Hogwarts a challenge and a trial for Harry, Ron, and Hermione—who are maturing and trying to get ready for the upcoming second war against Lord Voldemort.  This is a wonderful continuation to this enjoyable series with lots of magic, adventure, and suspense.  Terrific for both young and old muggles.
 
 
 

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