Trial on Mount Koya (A hiro Hattori mystery) by Susan Spann

Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo travel to a Buddhist temple at the summit of Mount Koya.  They are carrying a secret message but have no idea they are entering a murder plot and will not be able to leave right away...

This Kindle edition was shared with me for a review (thank you).  It will be published July 3rd.  

This story is set back in the 1600's and shares the many historical interests of those days.  Ninjas, priets, buddahists and more, who all have their own interests and beliefs don't mix well.  Fights are not fights in a temple.  They lose their tempers but hold them well until night time.  Then they find the abbot knifed to death.  Who and why?

Since Hattori and Mateo are new, they are suspected.  So are those who disagreed with the victim.  There are plenty of suspects but he was praying alone.

I found the whole story a bit confusing.  With no Japanese background and no historical knowledge to depend on, it got a bit hard to follow.  At the end, justice prevails and almost everyone is dead.  Ninja are dangerous!