Well, I'm late to this discussion - I had a crazy month at work with travel and training two new employees, which didn't leave much spare time. But finally got into it, and read it on a plane home last week.
I have to say that I had read this a looooong time ago, in a tattered and fragile old-style "pocket book" paperback, which I definitely remember had an awesome pulp-ish cover. I didn't remember the book super favorably, although I remember even way back then it opened my eyes to some east Asian history that I hadn't really understood before reading it prompted me to do a little extra encyclopedia reading - yes, that long ago!
I'm happy to say that I liked it better this time, possibly because I have done some travel in east Asia in the years between, so I appreciated the settings more than before. And settings are for me (like BelleZora and issybird) really important. I can forgive a lot if the settings ring true. Even the story seemed better this time too, though. I think when I was young, "redemption" stories didn't resonate with me; now that I'm older, I think I have a bit more empathy.
I also share others' comments that Mr Moto doesn't seem to be the lead character, and I'm trying to remember the two or three other Moto titles I read and whether that is the case in them as well. But, I can't remember, so will probably have to (re)read at least one or two more
, maybe all since they are not expensive.
Anyway, I'm glad the book club got me to re-read this one!