Readers say...
The setting, using the Tokaido Road as a backdrop, is fascinating and has lead me to do some research on my own, wanting to know more about Hiroshige and his art. —C. Mallonee
The setting is richly imagined, and the mystery keeps you guessing with clever twists and red herrings. The introduction of a new ally adds fresh energy, while the deepening investigation into the mysterious group targeting artists raises the stakes even higher. The blend of murder mystery, time travel, and genuine emotion makes this a compelling page-turner that leaves you eager for the next adventure. —Cleardark
Book 4: The Three Deaths of Hiroshige
Someone is trying to murder a famous Japanese artist on a treacherous mountain road, and the only woman who can save him doesn't know whom to trust.
A Treacherous Road. A Friendship on the Rocks. A Killer Walking Beside Her.
When Jade Beckham decides to jump time from the modern day to Japan in 1832, she's determined to join the legendary artist Utagawa Hiroshige on his journey along the ancient Tōkaidō Road. Her mission is to discover whether the mysterious forces threatening history's greatest artists have reached Japan.
But the journey turns deadly when a series of suspicious accidents threatens Hiroshige's life. Someone traveling with the party wants the artist dead, and Jade suspects the killer is hiding in plain sight.
As the travelers struggle through relentless rain, rugged mountain passes, and unfamiliar villages, Jade begins investigating a bewildering collection of suspects, contradictory clues, and carefully concealed motives. Complicating matters is a dangerously attractive stranger whose intentions are impossible to decipher.
Then Jade discovers that her best friend Ivey has secretly followed her through the mirror. Their once-close friendship is fractured by mistrust and broken promises, and the tension between them threatens to undermine Jade's investigation.
But the greatest danger may be Jade's own judgment. As new evidence emerges, she begins to suspect she's misunderstood the clues from the very beginning and placed her trust in precisely the wrong person.
To save Hiroshige and survive the treacherous Tōkaidō Road, Jade must uncover the would-be killer before another attempt succeeds and before her own mistakes cost someone their life.
The Three Deaths of Hiroshige is the fourth Jade Beckham Mystery, a richly atmospheric historical whodunit blending murder, Japanese history and culture, famous artists, dangerous secrets, and a whisper of time travel.
Free on Kindle Unlimited, $3.99 for the ebook, and $13.99 for paperback.
Keep scrolling for a visual trip along the Tokaido Road, both in 1832 and today.
Paintings In the Book
During the 1832 imperial expedition from Edo to Kyoto (the red line on the map below), Utagawa Hiroshige sketched numerous scenes along the way. From these, he created a set of woodblock prints documenting the experience. Although the journey took place in the spring, you can see that the artist brought more diversity to the collection by portraying other seasons as well. Before starting to write the book, I studied this series—published as The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833–1834)—to get authentic ideas for events and situations that occurred during the trip.
The Artist Who Inspired the Book
Relatively little is known about Utagawa Hiroshige's personal life. He was born into a noble family and was supposed to assume his father's role as the fire chief of the shogun's palace in Edo (now Tokyo), but his love for art, poetry, and calligraphy took him in a different direction. The shogun employed him as an official court artist throughout his life. Hiroshige was one of the last artists to work in the ukiyo-e tradition, adding a number of significant innovations to the art of woodblock printing.
Funny Side Note
By sheer coincidence, my sister and brother-in-law went to Japan while I was writing the book. When they returned from their trip, they showed me these pictures of this ancient road they had heard about and gone to see. Wouldn't you know, it was the Tokaido Road?! Here are a few of their pix of the remains of this ancient highway.
