more and more unfavorable. Meanwhile, confined to the security of the house due to danger of attacks, Reiko is at last able to help in the investigation by trying to get more information from Etsuko, and from Etsuko's loyal longtime maid, Hana. Reiko is also struggling to win back the affections of her young daughter, Akiko, who became alienated from Reiko when Reiko and her husband left her behind to go to Ezogashima to rescue her son, Masahiro, as told in the previous novel (The Snow Empress). Sano's trusted assistant Hirata also returns from a long absence to find that his wife and children have become strangers to him. Amidst the investigation, Yanagisawa plots with his son Yoritomo to bring down both Sano and Matsudaira. References The Fire Kimono, , 2008 American novels American mystery novels Novels set in Japan American historical novels Japan in non-Japanese culture Historical mystery novels