Rei of Sunshine

I wish I were Rei Shimura. She's half Japanese, half American, is bilingual, and has lived in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, plus Yokohama. Also, she has a string of really かっこいい and ハンサム paramours. What a cool chick.

I love, love, loved this 10th installment of the Rei Shimura series, Shimura Trouble, by Sujata Massey. After poking around some sites, I found others weren't too happy with this offering that is slated to be the last in the collection.

But hey, a character's gotta grow, and that's exactly what Ms. Shimura has done ever since Massey introduced audiences to this plucky part-time antiques dealer and spy in the first novel, The Salaryman's Wife, a little over a decade ago.

A great friend and former student from my AEON teaching days turned me on to the Shimura mysteries. I devoured them instantly and always eagerly awaited the next book. For those of you who'd like to try them out, I do recommend reading in order.

Don't expect a great literary epiphany. They're just fun stories that you can breeze through in a day or two. For anyone who has a connection to the Kanto area in Japan, you'll revel in the detail that Massey provides about various areas in Eastern Honshu; she has both worked and studied extensively in that area throughout her career and the understanding and respect for Japanese culture shows.

One thing is for sure, Massey does plenty of research on her settings and topics. The particulars provided in each novel add narrative strength and build a clear picture for readers, regardless of if they are familiar with the subject and place at hand. Happy reading!