Flask of the Drunken Master by Susan Spann Excerpt and Giveaway
Publication Date: July 14, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Formats: eBook, Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9781250027061
Pages: 304
Series: Shinobi Mysteries (Volume 3)
Genre: Historical Mystery
August 1565: When a rival artisan turns up dead outside Ginjiro's brewery, and all the evidence implicates the brewer, master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo must find the killer before the magistrate executes Ginjiro and seizes the brewery, leaving his wife and daughter destitute. A missing merchant, a vicious debt collector, and a female moneylender join Ginjiro and the victim's spendthrift son on the suspect list. But with Kyoto on alert in the wake of the shogun's recent death, a rival shinobi on the prowl, and samurai threatening Hiro and Father Mateo at every turn, Ginjiro's life is not the only one in danger.
Will Hiro and Father Mateo unravel the clues in time to save Ginjiro's life, or will the shadows gathering over Kyoto consume the detectives as well as the brewer?
Flask of the Drunken Master is the latest entry in Susan Spann's thrilling 16th century Japanese mystery series, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and Jesuit Father Mateo.
Excerpt
A Deer and a Monk Walk
into a Bar...
During my recent research trip to Japan, I spent a night on
Miyajima, a sacred island off the coast of Hiroshima. The island is home to
several Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, as well as several hundred sacred deer
(sika, in Japanese) whose protected
status leaves them with no fear of humans.
The deer wander the island unimpeded. Many are so tame that
they approach the visitors, hoping for a handout or a scratch behind the ears.
(Signs do warn that the deer are wild, and ask the tourists not to feed them,
but it’s clear the deer would rather we ignored the signs.)
After spending a lovely, misty morning climbing Miyajima’s
sacred mountain (Mt. Mizen)—and getting caught in a rainstorm on the way
down—my son and I decided to have lunch in one of the lovely little restaurants
that line Miyajima’s shoreline. After making our choice, we approached the
door…and a deer attempted to follow us inside.
The antlered interloper met us several feet from the
entrance, matched my pace, and would have followed me all the way to the table
had the restaurant owner not stopped him at the door.
The owner welcomed us with a bow and a greeting, stepped in
front of the deer, and scratched the animal’s floppy ears the way he would welcome
a favorite dog. As he did, he backed the deer out over the threshold and into
the street in front of the shop, where he gave it a final pat, told it to stay,
and returned inside. The sliding doors closed behind him, leaving the deer to
watch us through the glass.
Which it did, through our entire meal.
The scene repeated itself each time a customer entered the
restaurant. The deer attempted to join the party, the owner diverted it with
affection, and the deer resumed its watch at the restaurant door.
The deer’s behavior—and that of the owner—reminded me of
Ginjiro the sake brewer and Suke the monk, two of my favorite characters from
my newest mystery, Flask of the Drunken
Master. Suke the monk spends most of his time in a corner of Ginjiro’s sake
shop, begging food and drinks from the patrons. At times, Ginjiro considers Suke
a nuisance, but he also cares for the vagrant monk. I saw a similar kindness in
the restaurant owner’s relationship with the deer. He clearly cared for the
animal deeply, despite its annoying determination to beg a lunch from his
patrons.
When a rival brewer turns up dead in the alley behind
Ginjiro’s brewery, Suke the monk attempts to return Ginjiro’s kindness by
proving the brewer’s innocence. Unfortunately, Suke’s investigative skills have
all the grace and subtlety of a deer set loose in a teahouse…and Hiro, my ninja
detective, must find a way to solve the murder despite—and perhaps with the aid
of—Suke’s well-intentioned blundering.
Suke was one of the readers’ favorite characters in the
first Shinobi Mystery, Claws of the Cat,
and he’s one of my favorites too. I’m glad that Flask of the Drunken Master gives him a chance to shine.
Susan Spann writes
the Shinobi Mysteries, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his Portuguese
Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo. Her debut novel, CLAWS OF THE CAT (Minotaur
Books, 2013), was a Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month and a finalist
for the Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel. BLADE OF THE
SAMURAI released in 2014, and her third novel, FLASK
OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER, releases on July 14, 2015. Susan
is also a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on publishing law and
business. When not writing or practicing law, she raises seahorses and rare
corals in her marine aquarium. You can find her online at http://www.SusanSpann.com,
on Twitter (@SusanSpann), and on Facebook (SusanSpannAuthor).
[Text and Photographs © 2015 Susan Spann]
Praise for Claws of the Cat
"Spann matches period detail with a well-developed whodunit plot in her promising debut, the first in a new series set in 16th-century Japan."
Shinobi Mystery Series Titles
Book One: Claws of the Cat (Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month)
Book Two: Blade of the Samurai
Book Three: Flask of the Drunken Master
Flask of the Drunken Master Available at
About the Author
Susan Spann acquired her love of books and reading during her preschool days in Santa Monica, California. As a child she read everything from National Geographic to Agatha Christie. In high school, she once turned a short-story assignment into a full-length fantasy novel (which, fortunately, will never see the light of day).A yearning to experience different cultures sent Susan to Tufts University in Boston, where she immersed herself in the history and culture of China and Japan. After earning an undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, Susan diverted to law school. She returned to California to practice law, where her continuing love of books has led her to specialize in intellectual property, business and publishing contracts.
Susan’s interest in Japanese history, martial arts, and mystery inspired her to write the Shinobi Mystery series featuring Hiro Hattori, a sixteenth-century ninja who brings murderers to justice with the help of Father Mateo, a Portuguese Jesuit priest. When not writing or representing clients, Susan enjoys traditional archery, martial arts, horseback riding, online gaming, and raising seahorses and rare corals in her highly distracting marine aquarium. Susan lives in Sacramento with her husband, son, three cats, one bird, and a multitude of assorted aquatic creatures.
For more information please visit Susan Spann’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Flask of the Drunken Master Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, July 6
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, July 7
Review at Book Babe
Wednesday, July 8
Guest Post & Giveaway at To Read, Or Not to Read
Spotlight & Giveaway at Raven Haired Girl
Thursday, July 9
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Friday, July 10
Guest Post & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Monday, July 13
Guest Post at Shelf Full of Books
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book
Tuesday, July 14
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog
Thursday, July 16
Excerpt & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Friday, July 17
Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Monday, July 20
Guest Post & Giveaway at Booklover Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 22
Guest Post at Book Nerd
Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway at Queen of All She Reads
Thursday, July 23
Interview & Excerpt at Jorie Loves a Story
Friday, July 24
Guest Post at Book Dilettante
Monday, July 27
Guest Post at Reading the Past
Tuesday, July 28
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, July 30
Guest Post & Excerpt at at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Monday, August 3
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Tuesday, August 4
Review at A Book Geek
Wednesday, August 5
Guest Post at Editing Pen
Thursday, August 6
Review at Diana's Book Reviews
Friday, August 7
Guest Post at Boom Baby Reviews
interesting sounding
ReplyDeleteHi! I love historical mysteries, and this one sounds fantastic. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this fascinating novel which is intriguing and special. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteGreat story about the deer, they look so friendly but like all wild animals we should always be careful. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
ReplyDeleteyou make it all come alive - the elements of the trip, the elements in your books. Looking forward to "Flask"
ReplyDeleteI've been interested in reading this author's work for a long time. Thanks for participating in this tour and letting me know about her new release with this great feature -- and for this great opportunity to read the book for free. Best wishes, Kara S
ReplyDeleteYour deer pics are cute
ReplyDelete