THE FIRE KIMONO

Many will listeners will remember Bernadette Dunne’s work on MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, which serves her well in creating the setting of seventeenth-century Japan in this historical mystery, part of a series. The intrigue continues between Sano Ichiro, whom the shogun earlier raised to the rank of chamberlain, and his longtime rival, Lord Matsudaira. Sano’s wife and detective partner, Reiko, is also involved in the story. Dunne tells this story in graceful and genteel tones. The characters represent a broad spectrum—from toddlers to octogenarians, as well as both genders. Dunne creates unique personas for each, providing continuity in an otherwise winding narrative that alternates between the present and scenes that occurred 43 years earlier. M.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]