Shimura Trouble

SHIMURA TROUBLE, the last book in Sujata's Massey's mystery series about the brainy and dryly humorous Rei Shimura, does not disappoint! Her deft plot--a long lost branch of the Shimura clan beckons Rei to Hawaii to celebrate an 88th birthday--leads to a surprisingly malevolent twist, as well as possible love. The novel kept me turning pages and calculating who among the Hawaiian Shimuras had evil motives at heart. As usual 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 Americans during World War II. Percolating throughout is Rei's rocky relationship with fellow spy and former naval officer, Michael Hendricks. Massey has a talent for combining everyday domestic life with suspenseful action, which for me makes her plots highly believable. Rei and Michael's intensifying relationship was handled witth dexterity, leading to an ending that truly surprised me. This was an absorbing and entertaining read chock full of verdant Hawaiian setting as well as Massey's usual attention to Japanese mores and culture. A reveting conclusion to her masterful series.