The Ninja's Illusion

A Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, Book 5

By: Gigi Pandian

Narrated by: Allyson Ryan

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2017 Gigi Pandian (P)2017 Tantor

Did not disappoint!

Super good and i can't wait for the next book! As usual through this book we are able to explore history and another culture. All while experiencing a a thrilling mystery with fun twists and turns.

Great

I love the 4th Maya Jones book. I wish the hallmark murders and mysteries channel would pick it up

The Ninja's Illusion

As I have come to expect since Book 1, this story had an interesting mystery with just the right amount of historical details to add flavor. I also appreciate the beautiful countries that the author gives us insight into with each new book. I am really invested in the core characters in this series so it was wonderful revisiting many of the beloved characters from previous books as well as
meeting new ones.

I have loved Jaya and Lane from the moment they met in Book 1 because they make an incredible couple and team. This was evident when Lane was able to help Jaya see the answers she had but hadn't yet pieced together.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series because I have so many questions that I am hoping will get answered. I am also looking forward to both Lane's and Jaya's reaction to the reappearance of the expected guest at Jaya'a home.

Not as good

I have listened to all of Gigi Pandian's audible books and enjoyed them all. Unfortunately this one just wasn't as good as the others. I also find books that end on a cliff hanger to be extremely irritating. I may listen to the next one only because I have enjoyed the others so much. I hope it will be back to her standards.

HISTORY, MYSTERY, AND MAGICIANS,OH MY!

I am loving this series and all the great characters that keep showing up again. What a treat it is to have so many characters fleshed out so fully that you feel part of their gang.
The culture and history that is so skillfully woven into the mystery makes me wish that I had had teachers who could bring it all to life as well as Gigi does, every time. I hope Hiro shows up again, soon.
Allyson does a great job with the many characters, and I look forward to more from her, but I wish she could edit out the New York accent that keeps creeping in. Words like “foe erd” for forward, for example, are jarring.
I also love the peeks behind the curtains into the world of magicians.
Gigi’s books are so much fun, because they are endlessly unpredictable.
Now I’m plugging in book 6, “The Glass thief” and heading off with Jaya again. I can’t wait!

Quite Entertaining

I listened to the first two books and enjoyed them very much. I was short on credits and cash so I chose the best reviewed one out of the remaining 3 and bought this one. I’m glad I did. I always pay attention to reviews and in my experience with over 1,300 audible books, most are on the money. There are some reviewers I have completely disagreed with but I went with my gut.
This was a great adventure and a slowly evolving mystery, with a wonderful ending. Jaya is getting, smarter, bolder, stronger and hearing her grow and evolve as a professor and woman is wonderful!
All the usual characters are present, some more than others and the ending was a perfect set up for the next adventure, NOT a cliffhanger, you will no doubt be satisfied.
Now for Allyson Ryan. I have discovered via this series a new favorite reader. She is wonderful. She pronounces and enunciates wonderfully and accents, at least to my ears are fairly genuine. She reads life into every character no ambiguities. Ms. Ryan and Ms. Pandian a very dynamic duo indeed!

This is now my favorite series!!

Ugh…I love this series completely and totally. I know that is not much of a review but I have reviewed all of the other books in detail. They just keep getting better! Listen to this book and this series!!

Say No to Virtual Voice

The only really nice thing about this book is listening to a real human being. Evidently Audible is moving toward computer generated voices, throwing American voice entertainers out of work and saving money.

Ehhh

I hate when authors put dumb live triangles in a story for “tension” the one in this series was completely pointless 🙄🙄, and just left a bad taste. Jaya and Sanjay were just fine as best friends and the author should have left well enough alone. Jaya is in Japan to assist Sanjay in his show and do some research for a professor. The main headliner of the show is killed and it’s somehow connected to her research. The book was okay, Jaya spent to much time with the dumb who do I choose troupe.