Publication Date: July 14, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Formats: eBook, Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9781250027061
Pages: 304
Series: Shinobi Mysteries (Volume 3)
Genre: Historical Mystery
August 1565: When a rival artisan turns up dead outside Ginjiro's brewery, and all the evidence implicates the brewer, master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo must find the killer before the magistrate executes Ginjiro and seizes the brewery, leaving his wife and daughter destitute. A missing merchant, a vicious debt collector, and a female moneylender join Ginjiro and the victim's spendthrift son on the suspect list. But with Kyoto on alert in the wake of the shogun's recent death, a rival shinobi on the prowl, and samurai threatening Hiro and Father Mateo at every turn, Ginjiro's life is not the only one in danger. Will Hiro and Father Mateo unravel the clues in time to save Ginjiro's life, or will the shadows gathering over Kyoto consume the detectives as well as the brewer? Flask of the Drunken Master is the latest entry in Susan Spann's thrilling 16th century Japanese mystery series, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and Jesuit Father Mateo.
Praise for Claws of the Cat
"Spann matches period detail with a well-developed whodunit plot in her promising debut, the first in a new series set in 16th-century Japan."Shinobi Mystery Series Titles
Book One: Claws of the Cat (Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month) Book Two: Blade of the Samurai Book Three: Flask of the Drunken MasterFlask of the Drunken Master Available at
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
During my recent trip to Japan, I had the chance to
observe another form of holy foolery—in the form of the traditional passage
through the Buddha’s Nostril at Todai-ji. Todai-ji (“Ji” means “Temple”) is a
Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, which houses the world’s largest bronze statue
of the Buddha Vairocana—or, in Japanese, “Daibutsu.” The statue is 49 feet tall
and weighs over 500 tons.
I took one look at the tiny hole and elected to
bypass enlightenment in favor of dignity. I’m willing to play the fool at
times, but I’d rather not be remembered for getting stuck in Daibutsu’s
nostril. However, my son—who had spent the previous three months on a study
abroad program at a college in Kyoto—opted to take the challenge.
He prevailed…and received a standing ovation from the
dozens of onlookers crowded around to watch the 6’2” American try to wiggle
through the Buddha’s nose.
Susan Spann writes
the Shinobi Mysteries, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his
Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo. Her debut novel, CLAWS OF THE CAT
(Minotaur Books, 2013), was a Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month and a
finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel. BLADE
OF THE SAMURAI released in
2014, and her third novel, FLASK
OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER, releases on
July 14, 2015. Susan is also a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on
publishing law and business. When not writing or practicing law, she raises
seahorses and rare corals in her marine aquarium. .
The Giant Buddha and the Holy Fool
Japanese stories often contain a “foolish wise
man”—often a monk—who seems to be crazy but now and then reveals a nugget of
wisdom. This plays a large part in Zen culture, because many practitioners of
Zen Buddhism believe that the “holy fool” has discovered the keys to releasing
ego, desire, and attachment to the world – an important principle of Zen.
When I set out to write a mystery series set in
Medieval Japan, I wanted to include a “holy fool,” both to parallel Japanese
stories and also because I like reading books with characters whose depths are
difficult to plumb. Is the monk truly foolish? Or is the real fool the person
who takes him at face value?
In the first Shinobi Mystery, Claws of the Cat, I introduced Suke, a somewhat silly, freeloading
monk who hangs around Ginjiro’s sake brewery, offering blessings to anyone kind
enough to buy him a drink (a thousand blessings for a flask…). His balding
head, toothless grin, and joyful spirit made him a favorite with me—and,
fortunately, also with readers.
However, I knew from the start that Suke had more to
do and say than merely sit on the floor and beg for sake. His kind-hearted,
generous nature makes him loyal to those who show him kindness, even if his
bumbling makes him a less than efficient “helper.” That’s why I knew that when
Ginjiro the brewer ended up accused of murder—the basis for the newest Shinobi
Mystery, Flask of the Drunken Master—Suke
would stop at nothing to help my ninja detective, Hiro, clear Ginjiro’s name.
Unfortunately for Hiro, Suke’s investigative skills
are about as sharp as a bowling ball, and he acts with all the subtlety of a tiger
in a teahouse.
The result? An investigation that forces Hiro to
juggle an amorous female debt collector, the dead man’s vengeful (but
irresponsible) son, and a well-intentioned but often clueless monk determined
to “help” at every turn.
Holy Fools, Batman.
During my recent trip to Japan, I had the chance to
observe another form of holy foolery—in the form of the traditional passage
through the Buddha’s Nostril at Todai-ji. Todai-ji (“Ji” means “Temple”) is a
Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, which houses the world’s largest bronze statue
of the Buddha Vairocana—or, in Japanese, “Daibutsu.” The statue is 49 feet tall
and weighs over 500 tons.
A pillar inside the shrine that houses the Buddha
has a hole the size of the Buddha’s nostril (square, and 18” in diameter) carved
in the bottom. Legend and tradition say that anyone who can pass through the
Buddha’s nostril will have a long and prosperous life and find enlightenment. People
line up for the chance to attempt the feat.
For obvious reasons, most of the people who manage
the passage are under five feet tall, and slender of build. The day we went to
Todaiji, a businessman got stuck in the pillar and had to be extracted by his
friends, with the help of the temple guards.
I took one look at the tiny hole and elected to
bypass enlightenment in favor of dignity. I’m willing to play the fool at
times, but I’d rather not be remembered for getting stuck in Daibutsu’s
nostril. However, my son—who had spent the previous three months on a study
abroad program at a college in Kyoto—opted to take the challenge.
He prevailed…and received a standing ovation from the
dozens of onlookers crowded around to watch the 6’2” American try to wiggle
through the Buddha’s nose.
Which proves that sometimes the holy fool turns out
to know what he’s doing after all.
Susan Spann writes
the Shinobi Mysteries, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his
Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo. Her debut novel, CLAWS OF THE CAT
(Minotaur Books, 2013), was a Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month and a
finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel. BLADE
OF THE SAMURAI released in
2014, and her third novel, FLASK
OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER, releases on
July 14, 2015. Susan is also a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on
publishing law and business. When not writing or practicing law, she raises
seahorses and rare corals in her marine aquarium. .
[Text and Photographs © 2015 Susan
Spann]
Social Links
Flask of the Drunken Master Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, July 6Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, July 7
Review at Book Babe
Wednesday, July 8
Guest Post & Giveaway at To Read, Or Not to Read
Spotlight & Giveaway at Raven Haired Girl
Thursday, July 9
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Friday, July 10
Guest Post & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Monday, July 13
Guest Post at Shelf Full of Books
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book
Tuesday, July 14
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog
Thursday, July 16
Excerpt & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Friday, July 17 Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Monday, July 20
Guest Post & Giveaway at Booklover Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 22
Guest Post at Book Nerd
Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway at Queen of All She Reads
Thursday, July 23
Interview & Excerpt at Jorie Loves a Story
Friday, July 24
Guest Post at Book Dilettante
Monday, July 27
Guest Post at Reading the Past
Tuesday, July 28
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, July 30
Guest Post & Excerpt at at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Monday, August 3
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Tuesday, August 4
Review at A Book Geek
Wednesday, August 5
Guest Post at Editing Pen
Thursday, August 6
Review at Diana's Book Reviews
Friday, August 7
Guest Post at Boom Baby Reviews
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