The Ninja’s Illusion

Book 5 of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries

A fabled illusion performed by a stage magician who claims to possess real supernatural powers and a treasure from the colonial era leads Jaya and her best friend Sanjay, aka The Hindi Houdini, to Kyoto, Japan.

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.


Praise for The Ninja’s Illusion

Long-listed for the ALA (American Library Association) 2018 Reading List.

“In Pandian’s highly entertaining, fast-paced fifth outing for spunky historian Jaya Jones, Jaya flies from her native San Francisco to Kyoto, Japan…As usual, Pandian dishes up authentic history and cultural tidbits along with a first-class mystery. She also adds just the right light touch of romance.”
—Publishers Weekly