Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 7/12/2013 + 2719 more book reviews

I am about 60% through this book, the second in a series, and the plot just seems to be a variant of the first book. Sano is investigating deaths and a powerful person is obstructing his investigation. Sano is having a difficult time as he adheres to the Code of Bushido, which prevents him from openly fighting his superiors. That being said, it is still interesting but I don't know if I will read any more of this series.

While sex is discussed and referred to both this and the first book, the unwilling use of girls and boys, women and men as sexual objects is part of the historical record and has a place. However, in this book, a good part of a chapter describes, in some detail, the sexual abuse, oral and anal sex, of a 14-year-old boy by an older man. I failed to see how this added to the story. If this is what occurs in only the second book of a series, I will not be reading more by this author.

LATER: I finished the book. More sex, male and female rape and otherwise. I have nothing against sex. I just do not see how graphical descriptions of it, or inclusion where it is not necessary need to be in a mystery novel. Prudish I am not. I just have the belief that when an author needs to do this, then he or she has run out of ideas.

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