The Ninja's Illusion
THE NINJA'S ILLUSION A Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery by Gigi Pandian Henery Press General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 03 Oct 2017
Review
Don’t be put off by the slow start to The Ninja’s Illusion. It takes a bit of time to get to the meat of the mystery, but once you are there the novel becomes impossible to put down. Jaya Jones is a treasure hunter/researcher. Alone she isn’t that exceptional but together with her unusual friends and associates that is another matter entirely. Jaya travels to Japan to meet up with her friend Sanjay who is performing with Japan’s most controversial magician, Akira. Akira intends to perform the impossible - a rope trick that was witnessed long ago and no one has been able to perform since. But his show preparations are first plagued with sabotage, and then murder. The situation is desperate but Jaya is determined to unravel the mystery before Sanjay unravels. What does the impossible illusion have to do with a missing ship and a potential treasure? Seemingly nothing, but as Jaya is quick to learn - in the world of magic there are connections present that may appear invisible to the casual viewer.
I wasn't too impressed by the beginning, but as I went deeper in the novel, the characters and situation became far more interesting. I enjoyed Gigi Pandian’s approach to this nontraditional mystery. It was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the multitude of formulaic cozies. If you are looking for a light mystery that has little violence and a unique plot, The Ninja’s Illusion is a good choice.
4 / 5
I received a copy of The Ninja’s Illusion from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
“A beautifully complex, fast-paced mystery—a well-crafted blend of modern magic and ancient secrets, full of compelling characters and set in one of Japan’s most beautiful—and mysterious—locations.” – Susan Spann, Author of the Hiro Hattori Mysteries A fabled illusion performed by a stage magician who claims to possess real supernatural powers. A treasure from the colonial era in India when international supremacies vied for power. A phantom trading ship lost over 200 years ago. And a ninja whose murderous intentions in present-day Japan connect the deeds of a long-dead trader who was much more than he seemed… When Jaya travels from San Francisco to Japan with her stage magician best friend Sanjay—a.k.a. The Hindi Houdini—for his Japanese debut, she jumps at the chance to pursue her own research that could solve a tantalizing centuries-old mystery. With the colorful autumn leaves of historic Kyoto falling around her, Jaya soon loses sight of what’s real and what’s a deception. A mysterious ninja attempts sabotage on Sanjay’s trick, along with Japan’s most controversial magician, Akira. Ancient folklore blurs the lines between illusion and reality when a magician’s assistant appears to be a kitsune, a mythical fox spirit. As tricks escalate to murder, Jaya and her friends must unravel secrets hidden in the ancient capital of Japan, before one of their own becomes the next victim. Books in the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery Series: FOOL'S GOLD (novella in OTHER PEOPLE'S BAGGAGE) ARTIFACT (#1) PIRATE VISHNU (#2) QUICKSAND (#3) MICHELANGELO’S GHOST (#4) THE NINJA’S ILLUSION (#5)
