The Demon in the Teahouse

By Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

Rating: 4 1/4 stars

Reviewed by Noelle

This is second book in the Japanese mystery series about Seikei and Judge Ooka, following The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn (see review). This time, fires and murders are happening in the city of Edo and on the pleasure island of Yoshiwara where geishas ply their trade of entertaining men with song, stories and dance. The dead are all geishas, and there appears to be a link to the most famous geisha of all, Umae. Judge Ooka assigns Seikei to get a job in the teahouse where Umae entertains to see if he can turn up any clues or connections in the crimes. But Seikei's role causes him to come under suspicion himself, and to even get arrested! But as the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, the Judge and Seikei figure out who the next likely victim will be, and Seikei becomes the only thing standing between her and certain death. Another exciting and extremely interesting story from the Hoobler team! More sequels to follow!