The ninth netsuke

MYLAR COVER. FIRST U.S. EDITION. 1982 St. Martin's Press hardcover, James Melville (A Sort of Samurai). Investigating the scene of the crime (accompanied by his embarrassed wife, Hanae, so as not to arouse suspicion), Superintendent Tetsuo Otani is surprised by a small ivory figure -- a netsuke -- hidden in the love suite. As it is clearly very old and possibly quite valuable, Otani pockets the netsuke as evidence...and sets in motion a national scandal.