It's really pleasing to see this series moving on to a new level as Massey isn't afraid to make some major changes in her characters lives. I'm very much looking forward to finding out what happens next and I also think that the writing and the plots have both stepped up a gear in the last couple of books in the series.

Sixth in the Rei Shimura mystery series, featuring a half American/half Japanese amateur sleuth who is also an antiques dealer. Rei lives in Tokyo, but the beginning of this story takes place in San Francisco where the story opens with Rei celebrating Christmas with her parents there. Rei’s on-again, off-again beau, Scottish lawyer Hugh Glendinning has proposed and Rei’s accepted, much to her mother’s delight. Her father is a bit more reticent about things, though, and when Hugh and Rei are drawn into a murder mystery that centers around two clients of Hugh’s—one in Tokyo, one in San Francisco--things get even more uncomfortable. To top it off, an old flame of Rei’s from high school days ends up as a translator working with Hugh on his case, and he’s not someone Rei enjoys spending time with at all. In fact, Rei begins to wonder if Eric might be involved with the big business that Hugh’s case is going to be opposing—did they hire someone to shut up the old folks Hugh and Rei had interviewed? Rei is also investigating her family’s history and discovers that her father had sold a family scroll from Emperor Hirohito, and further learns that her great-grandfather was actually one of Hirohito’s tutors. I do enjoy this series, especially the immersion into Japanese culture and history—something that I’d never been particularly interested in until I started this series, actually. This one wasn’t as good as some others in the series but still felt like a nice visit with old friends. ( )

Antiques dealer Rei Shimura is in San Francisco visiting her parents and researching a personal project to trace the story of 100 years of Japanese decorative arts through her own family's history. But Rei's work is interrupted by the arrival of her long-distance boyfriend, lawyer Hugh Glendinning, who is involved in a class action lawsuit on behalf of people forced to engage in slave labor for Japanese companies during World War II.
Suddenly, when one of Hugh's clients is murdered, their two projects intertwine. Before long, Rei uncovers troubling facts about her own family's actions during the war. As she starts to unravel the truth and search for a killer, the notions of family ties and loyalty take on an entirely new meaning.
Sujata Massey, whom critics consistently praise for her ability to balance murder and mystery with captivating cultural lore, is back with another gripping and provocative tale sure to keep readers charmed from start to finish.
Rei can be very exasperating at times - she seems to dither, and also go off on private projects which get her into predictable trouble. The novel gives interesting perspectives on slave labor, comfort women, and compensation for war-time profit making. ( )