The Dragon Scroll

I really like the way Parker writes about ancient Japan. Knowing a bit about Japan, I feel it's quite authentic in terms of culture and scene, while also being somewhat modern in terms of how she relates the characters' thoughts and feelings to us, a modern audience. After I read this book, Parker went on my "buy on sight" list, and I've read the entire series, in order. Now I always pre-order her work... At some point, I'll probably read the whole series again in one gulp.

First Line: There were two watchers in the garden that night.

When author I.J. Parker contacted me about reading her latest historical mystery, The Masuda Affair, I thought honesty would be the best policy. Explaining that I tend to be a stickler for reading mystery series in order, I did say that I had a copy of her first Sugawara Akitada mystery on my shelves, and I'd be more than happy to read and review it. That was quite all right with the author, and I'm grateful that the author gave me the tiny shove I needed to begin this series.

Like many other people in the late 1970s, I devoured James Clavell's Shōgun. I loved the characters, the story, the history-- and the mini-series based upon Clavell's novel cemented my new found interest show more in Japanese history.

Author I.J. Parker's mystery series is set in eleventh-century Japan, roughly 500 years before Clavell's novel. In The Dragon Scroll, young Sugawara Akitada is an impoverished nobleman and a government clerk in the Ministry of Justice. His first assignment is to travel to the remote province of Kazusa to track down the thieves who have stolen the last three years' worth of tax shipments. To be blunt about it, he's being set up to fail.

Traveling along the Tokaido Road with his older family retainer, Seimei, the two are soon joined by Tora, a young working class man who, for some unknown reason, doesn't have the papers necessary to travel within Japan. Against the mutterings of Seimei, Akitada decides to trust Tora and obtains a set of identity papers for him.

In no time, the three men are in the capital of Kazusa. The former governor of the province requests a meeting with Akitada, but before that can take place, the man is murdered. Akitada finds himself beset by bandits, rogues, and shifty politicians, but he is determined to bring both thieves and murderers to justice.

This book has a wonderful sense of pace-- and a wonderful cast of characters. Akitada, Seimei and Tora play off each other very well, and Parker puts a sharp sense of humor to good use. Her descriptive powers remind me of Japanese woodcuts, like in this scene:

"Above them the wind swept ragged smoky clouds along; before them the charcoal-dark ocean boiled and subsided with a continuous roar, vomiting up dirty yellow foam and swallowing it again; and all about them swirled and blew the spray and the everlasting rain, tearing at their cloaks and slapping the wet, salt-laden wisps of their hats against their stinging cheeks."

Parker has told a story with such a strong sense of time and place and populated it with characters who are smart enough, funny enough and cantankerous enough to live on the page. I have to know what happens to Akitada and Seimei and Tora next. I have to.

The only bad thing about being given the necessary push to read this first book in the series is that now I want to read them all, one right after the other. Books have always been my "Lay's Potato Chips". show less

I'm tempted to give this book all five possible stars because it is actually sheds light on the universal human condition while it explores a mind bending mystery and puts itself in the everyday life of the period, right down to the grinding poverty, hunger, and filth of Japan before the Shogun and before the Samurai. A bright but low-ranking government clerk, Sugawara Akitada, is given what is considered an impossible task because there is no need to waste the time of an important person to investigate what cannot be found out. He travels to the provincial capital where, for three years, the province's taxes owed to the emperor have left the governor and simply disappeared before reaching the proper authority. By sticking to his strict show more education of manners and treatment toward others yet feeling softness for those whose condition is worse than his own (and that is almost everyone), Akitada keeps his eyes and mind open and listens to what he can learn, he does a thorough job of investigating the situation in the provincial capital as he solves the mystery of the missing tax money as well as the murders of three women and brings down the evil men masquerading as Buddist priests. He finds and loses love, as any good detective should, and picks up a new assistant who is sure to be prominent and helpful in future adventures. Of course, Akitada is rewarded, but not nearly as much as he should be by plotting officials who decide the fate of those below him (Isn't that just the way it goes?), but goes cheerfully on his way toward his future in spite of his harping mother and chiding supervisors. I can't wait to be with him again. show less

I was intrigued by Parker's mysteries set in medieval Japan - a place where my reading has seldom taken me. Sugawara Akitada, a lowly government official was sent on an impossible mission because he was expendable. This had a good plot with lots of action, delightful characters, and unexpected humour.

The likable but not yet ept Akitada, is in way over his head but determined to do his best. He has a lot to learn, but being smart actually does, mostly. Not quite up to the Judge Dee mysteries I loved decades ago, but worthwhile.

I read this book completely out of order. This is chronologically the first book in the Sugawara series, though not the first story. It helps explain some things that happen in later books.

The series is set in 11th century Japan. The main character, Sugawara Akitada, is a minor official with a nose for trouble. In this first book, he is sent on an impossible mission to locate three missing tax shipments. Along the way, he meets his trusty sidekick, Tora, solves several murders, puts down a rebellion and recovers the taxes.

Parker has a good command of her subject and it is a pleasure to read her mysteries. I don't think the writing on this book was quite as tight as some of her other novels, but it was a good, fast-paced read. As with show more her other stories she weaves the historical aspects of Japanese culture into the story without bludgeoning the reader with her knowledge. It all seems to flow as part of the story. show less

This was a pretty good start to a series.  The main character was kind of flat, but I see his potential for later so I'm okay with it.  Tora started out with a bang, and I was glad because he is my favorite character in the series.  The storyline was good, but Parker went a round about way for resolving all the loose threads.  It wasn't a bad ending, I just think it needed a little more editing.  Overall, I really enjoyed it!