In Island of Exiles is a 2007 detective novel by I. J. Parker

I. J. Parker

Ingrid J. Parker is a detective/mystery writer, best known for creating Sugawara Akitada, who solved crimes in Heian era of ancient Japan. She was born and raised in Germany.She was the winner of Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award for Best P.I...

. The story follows Sugawara Akitada

Sugawara Akitada

is a fictional character and a hero in a series of detective/mystery novels written by I. J. Parker, set in the Heian period of ancient Japan.-Introduction:The character lived in 11th century Japan, and came from a family of scholar-officials...

, who is assigned by two shadowy officials to investigate the fatal poisoning on penal colony

Penal colony

A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general populace by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory...

 on Sado Island of the exiled and disgraced Prince Okisada. The suspect is the son of the local governor, the officials thought he might have been framed as part of a treasonous plot. Akitada is forced to carry out an undercover investigation, taking on the guise of a convict sentenced to exile on the island. It becomes a perilous task, as the convicts on the island were treated "cheaper than dirt", expendable slaves to work the mines.

Locations covered in the novel

: Sado Island in the Sea of Japan

Sea of Japan

The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...

 : A town on . : Main port city and provincial capital on Sawata Bay.

• Minato : Village between and the northeast coast (modern Ryotsu). : Village by the Ogura River near the southern mountains, where Prince Okisada had his residence.
• Temple of the True Lotus : A Buddhist temple and monastery a mile up the mountain from Tsukahara.
• Echigo : Northern province of Japan, located in modern Niigata
  Niigata Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
  
  . Known as "snow country".

Dramatis Personae

• Prince Okisada - an older brother of the current emperor. He was exiled after failing to overthrow the incumbent ruler.
• Taira Takamune - devoted tutor of Prince Okisada who followed him into exile.
• Professor Sakamoto - retired professor of classics. He moved to Sado Island to write its history.
• Mutobe Toshikata - Governor of Sado Island.
• Mutobe Toshito - Son of the governor.
• Shunsei - A young Buddhist monk at the monastery of Temple of the True Lotus, and a lover of the prince.
• Yoshimine Taketsuna - New exile arrival at Sado.
• Jisei : Prisoner released from digging "badger holes".
• Haseo : Taciturn prisoner with a scarred back. Not originally from the lower classes.
• Ogata : Alcoholic physician and coroner.
• Wada : Local police authority.
• Yamada : Superintendent of the prison and "Valuables Office".
• Masako : Yamada's daughter, childhood beau of Toshito.
• Shijo Yukata : Head of the provincial archives.
• Genzo : A scribe at the archives.
• Ribata : A mysterious nun with a secret past.
• Osawa : Tax inspector.
• Kumo Sanetomo : Local landowner and appointed high constable of Sado island.
• Kita : Kumo's mine foreman.
• Takao : Landlady of Minato Inn who got Osawa's attention.
• Haru : Owner of lake restaurant named Bamboo Grove, famous for dishes from fresh catches by her husband.
• Nakatomi : Prince's physician.
• Taimai : Crippled porter.
• Oyoshi : Sister of Taimai, hostel keeper and mother of many children.
• Little Flower : Prostitute with stunted growth.
• Ikugoro : Wada's sergeant of constables.

External references

• I. J. Parker's Island of Exiles