Ghost Hero

Ghost Hero is the eleventh installment in the Sano Ichirō detective series set in feudal Japan. The novel follows Sano, who has been demoted from his position as the shogun's second-in-command and must now investigate a murder while navigating political intrigue. The case centers on the death of a famous painter whose ghost is said to be creating new works of art that are appearing in the marketplace. Sano teams up with his wife Reiko and his teenage son Masahiro to uncover the truth behind these mysterious paintings and their connection to corruption within the shogunate. Together with his allies, Sano races against time to solve the crime while avoiding the schemes of his longtime rival, Lord Matsudaira. Their investigation takes them through the bustling streets of Edo and into the secretive world of art dealers and collectors. The story explores themes of honor, family loyalty, and the intersection of art and power in Japanese society. Through its historical setting and complex character relationships, the novel presents a portrait of a society in transition and the personal costs of maintaining integrity in a corrupt system.

Readers found this to be a lighter entry in the Lydia Chin mystery series, focusing more on art forgery and family dynamics than intense danger. The book maintains the established rapport between Lydia and Bill Smith while introducing a new PI character, Jack Lee. Liked: - Cultural details about Chinese art and history - Complex relationship dynamics between the three investigators - Humorous exchanges between characters - Fast pacing and tight plotting Disliked: - Less suspense compared to previous books in the series - Some found the art fraud plot less engaging - Multiple readers noted the ending felt rushed - New character Jack Lee received mixed feedback Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) "The art history elements were fascinating but the stakes never felt high enough," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another Amazon reviewer praised "the authentic portrayal of New York's Chinese-American community" but wished for "more action sequences."

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro This thriller follows an art forger who becomes entangled in the investigation of a museum heist with connections to historical art crimes.

The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer A dual-timeline mystery connects a present-day art historian to the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre.

The Bone Vault by Linda Fairstein An investigation into a murder at the Metropolitan Museum of Art uncovers secrets about stolen artifacts and international art smuggling.

Still Life by Louise Penny A murder investigation in a small art community reveals connections between stolen paintings and long-buried secrets.

The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva Art restoration expert and spy Gabriel Allon traces a stolen Rembrandt painting through a web of international crime and deception.

🗽 "Ghost Hero" merges three different genres - mystery, art crime, and private detective fiction - while exploring contemporary Chinese political tensions through the lens of modern-day New York City. 🎨 The novel centers around forgeries of contemporary Chinese art, a real-world issue that costs the art market billions of dollars annually and has become increasingly sophisticated with advancing technology. 👥 The book features an unusual investigative trio - Japanese-American detective Lydia Chin, her partner Bill Smith, and a rival PI named Jack Lee - all working the same case from different angles. 📚 This is the eleventh book in Laura Joh Rowland's Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series, but marks a significant departure from earlier entries by focusing on contemporary Chinese art rather than traditional crime scenarios. 🖋️ Author Laura Joh Rowland worked as an industrial engineer in aerospace operations before becoming a full-time writer, and often incorporates her technical knowledge into the detailed procedural aspects of her mysteries.