THE INCENSE GAME by LAURA JOH ROWLAND(St. Martin's Press

"THE EARTH TREMBLED as if a massive, restless dragon were uncoiling beneath the city.On the black expanse of the Sumida River, the creaking. Wind chimes tinkled in the icy air. At two hours, before midnight, the few soldiers patrolling the streets reined in their skittish horses. Sleepers tossed, troubled by bad dreams."

"Reiko and Masahiro pondered the implications of what they'd heard. Reiko said, "I was about to offer to go to the Hosokawa estate and talk to the women who live there." That was her strength as a detective--she could go places where a man wouldn't be welcome and question people who would hide information from Sano."