Shimura Trouble

This is a great read. I hope there are other books about Rei in

This is a great read. I hope there are other books about Rei in the works.

What a great find... This is the first book I've read of Sujata

What a great find... This is the first book I've read of Sujata Massey, and I can't wait to get the next. I also read it quickly, like a good page turner. Also, I learned a lot about the history of plantations in Hawaii. Thank you Ms. Massey!

Strongly recommended! I had trouble putting it down.

SHIMURA TROUBLE, the last book in Sujata Massey's mystery series about the sophisticated, brainy and sexy Rei Shimura, does not disappoint. Massey's deft plot-a long lost branch of the Shimura clan beckons Rei and her parents to Hawaii to celebrate an 88th birthday-leads to a surprisingly malevolent twist, as well as romance. The novel kept me turning pages and calculating who among the Hawaiian Shimuras had criminal motives at heart. As always with Massey's novels the historical subtext made the plot all the richer, and in this case, it was the issue of property stolen from Japanese American citizens during World War II. Percolating throughout is Rei's relationship with fellow spy and former Naval officer, Michael Hendricks of the ice blue eyes. Massey also juxtaposes everyday domestic life with suspenseful action, enhancing characterization and making the plot turns highly believable. Rei and Michael's romance is handled with dexterity-leading to an ending that truly surprised me. This was an absorbing and entertaining read with Massey's usual attention to Japanese mores, language and culture. Satisfying conclusion to her masterful series!

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another good one

Glad more of her books are coming out on e-book. Enjoyable read. Read it quickly because it held my interest. I like the details of culture and location Ms. Massey gives us, as well as a good story line.

strange and unsatisfying conclusion - if that's what it is - to the series

I have enjoyed most all of the Rei mysteries. [I was disappointed when she became a CIA contact as that seemed silly to me!] But I still enjoyed reading the series. This book, however, takes a strange turn. Overall there is the odd change of tone, almost as if a different writer took the pen. As a murder mystery, it isn't all that bad - and even has some nice action scenes one might expect from a Rei mystery. However, with all the research and background she put into it, this book is simply not well done. The first oddity is financial inconsistencies. In previous installments, the overall implication is the family comes from Old Money on both sides...However, in this book, the family has money worries as if they live paycheck to paycheck. An attempt to identify with readers or a nod to changing times? Along the same lines, how is it that Michael can suddenly jump from the Hale Koa to the five star Halekulani? Secondly Rei feels the need to explain every "local Hawaiian" term or custom. Being a California girl who is familiar with Japan, it feels: inauthentic, for her to be so foreign to island culture. Also, the "local" dialect is forced and often just plain wrong, which is very annoying! Third, her attempt to address the Sovereignty issue, mix in the plantation families, stir in prejudice and compile these with Land Rights takes on too much and ends up being offensive to all parties involved. Let me clarify by saying I am someone who understands the issues this storyline attempts to address because altho I was born in CA, my parents are both children who were born and raised on the plantations and experienced Pearl Harbor. These issues she attempts to combine (even throwing in some Kam School fights and High School rivalries) are very involved and deserve a much better context along with better understanding and depth.

Jump the Shark mean anything?

I have been an interested reader in the Rei Shimura series. The offbeat almost simplistic writing makes for a quick read on a plane. I have enjoyed most of the series. However, this one, it was painful. The characters were insipid. Rei, the main character, apparently suffered a lobotomy as she was flat and just annoying in this book.

I wish that Ms. Massey had ended the series in a better way. This was just horrible. The editing was grade-school level.

Do not waste your money!

This was a waste of time. I believe that jump the shark applies here. Ms. Massey should have quit with book #9.

UGH!

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