The Pearl Diver

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: After the wretched Bride's Kimono, I was pretty uninterested in the further adventures of Rei Shimura--especially ones that weren't set in Japan, because I think the settings were one of the best thing about Sujata Massey's novels. I was surprised at how good the Pearl Diver was, though. The mystery was pretty thin, but Massey did a great job with the details of DC. Rei also shows maturity in her poignant observations about the love between mothers and daughters.

Rating:
Summary: A pearl in the series!
Review: As a long-time fan of Rei Shimura, I welcomed the appearance of the Pearl Diver -- and I wasn't disappointed. Over the years, Massey has honed her craft and developed her heroine. As a result, Pearl Diver is a page turner with depth.

As other reviewers have noted, Rae eagerly accepts a commission to design a new Japanese fusion restaurant in DC. She misses Japan and she really needs to work, so despite a contract (written with the help of her Scottish lawyer fiance, Hugh) she rushes into the job without qualifying her client carefully.

Things start to go wrong when Rae's upscale cousin Kendall gets kidnapped right outside the restaurant -- hardly a way to attract customers. Then Andrea, the restaurant's chilly hostess, asks Rae to help find her long-missing Japanese mother.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Hugh invites Rae's Aunt Norie to come for a visit. "She can't find out we're living together," says a horrified Rae, so the engaged couple play a ludicrous hide-and-seek game.

As a writer, Massey has set herself a real challenge: to make the heroine realistic, which means she has flaws, but at the same time keep heroine so likeable that we care what happens to her. To serious fans, Rae's like an old friend we've known so long, we don't care.

Over the series, Rae goes back and forth between being a strong, self-sufficient woman, and a girl who just can't say no. In Bride's Kimono, she allowed a flight attendant to move her seat, thereby endangering her mission and ultimately herself. Here she gets sucked in to the mystery of a rather unlikeable coworker, risking her relationship with Hugh and ultimately her life and more.

Frankly, I think Hugh is far more patient and understanding than most real life fiances. He's right to challenge her choice of solving a mystery that's really none of her business, rather than spending more time with him.

And if Rae really wants to be independent, she needs to build her business aggressively, not waste time haring after missing persons and soothing a client she should have turned down in the first place. But that's my business consultant persona coming through!

There's one intimate scene in the book (to put it delicately) where Hugh does show frustration in a way that's a little disturbing and out of character. I'm hardly an expert, but I'd encourage Rae to dig a little deeper into Hugh's past before she ties the knot, so to speak.

I loved Rae's disapproval of the modern Washington dress code. It seems like "dressing up" has gone the way of the dinosaur, and some of us couldn't be happier!

And I do have one rather strong quibble about this book. Rae's Aunt Norie is presented as old. She takes naps. She's too old-fashioned to accept Rae's living arrangements. In one scene, Rae regrets exposing these "older" people to danger.

But we learn Aunt Norie is in her early fifties! That's young enough to run all over Washington without naps.

In summary, Sujata Massey remains at the top of her form and I hope she continues to write more Rae Shimura mysteries, whether based in Tokyo, California, or DC.

A final scary thought. In an earlier review, I noted that several mystery heroines are not only engaged, but actually on the brink of matrimony! Will we have yet another wedding in the next volume?







Rating:
Summary: Rei gets older and wiser, but stays hip, smart and stylish
Review: I am a big fan of this series. Although I miss the descriptions of Tokyo (Rei is living in DC with hunky Hugh), this is a terrific addition to Rei's adventures. The description of Rei's Aunt Norie and her visit is comical and priceless. Rei is getting more mature and her evolving relationship with Hugh is bittersweet and not to be missed!

Rating:
Summary: Sujata Massey does it Again!
Review: I found this book to be stylish, well written, poignant and beautiful. Sujata Massey is a master of storytelling. She weaves such a beautiful mystery with astounding, life like characters that you feel for and want to know. Her prose is simple, to the point and absolutely gorgeous. I could not put this book down. It was intricate and I loved the ending. Rei Shimura and Hugh are characters I want to see much more of. Aunt Norie has to come back as well. She is wonderful!

Rating:
Summary: big disappointment: others in series are much, much better
Review: I have been a big fan of Sujata Massey's Rei Simura series, and eagerly anticipated this book. Maybe my expectations were too high, but "The Pearl Diver" was a big disappointment. Hackneyed dialogue, awkward characterizations, disjointed plot: I am not sure what happened here, but I would recommend you read ANY/ALL of Massey's other books before you settle into this one. The writing is is surprisingly poor. Pretty much all of the interpersonal relationships portrayed strain credulity. There is a unifying Japan-related conceit in each of Massey's books (kimono, tansu, manga) that holds the plot of each of the typically breezy entertainments (to borrow Graham Greene's term) together. Here, the focus on the hip restaurant scene in the nation's capital (and peripherally, politics) feels like it was written by a tourist. This is a bit surprising, as Massey was essentially only an extended tourist in Japan (perhaps the real subject of her other books, and one which she has rendered ably and deftly, if lightly), but has lived in the greater Washington area (Baltimore) for awhile. The second of Massey's books to be (mostly) set in Washington, DC, this reader hopes that future books will find Rei Shimura back in the Land of the Rising Sun, and with a subject matter that the author is able to render with a bit more skill. One sense that she had a lot of fun researching this book by dining at some of DC's culinary hotspots and chatting up their chefs, but, if so, her enjoyment did not translate into fun for this reader. I have read all of her other books in one sitting and enjoyed them immensely; this one I could not finish.

Rating:
Summary: A deeper look at Rei Shimura
Review: I've read all of Sujata Massey's books, starting with THE SALARYMAN'S WIFE. One of the real treats of this series is that unlike a lot of other mysteries with continuing characters, we've really gotten to see protagonist Rei Shimura grow and change. She started out as a callow young twentysomething; now she's nearing 30, engaged, and thinking of starting a family. This, combined with her involuntary exile from her beloved Japan, has really matured her. But an older, more grounded Rei doesn't make this book any less fun -- THE PEARL DIVER offers up a dishy look at the trendy restaurant scene, and will appeal to foodies as well as mystery fans. Rei's relationship with Hugh continues to be passionate yet stormy; and longtime fans will cheer the reappearance of Rei's beloved Aunt Norie. This book stands on its own, but will be particularly treasured by fans who have followed Rei's adventures throughout this engaging series.

Rating:
Summary: well written, totally abosrbing and wholly addicting
Review: Rei and Hugh are finally engaged, and Rei should be frantically preparing for her upcoming wedding. Except that a strange kind of malaise seems to have infected her: she's beginning to dislike living in Washington D.C. and she's really missing living in Japan. So that when (through her well connected cousin, Kendall) Rei is presented with the opportunity of decorating a new and trendy Japanese restaurant, Bento, Rei fairly leaps at the chance to earn some money. Plus she may actually latch onto a new market for her antique goods!

Working at Bento, Rei becomes acquainted with the restaurant's prickly hostess, Andrea -- a seemingly cold and standoffish individual, and not someone that Rei would want as a friend. So that when Andrea asks Rei to help her discover what happened to her mother, Rei is floored. But Andrea's story of how her Japanese mother, Sadako, broke with tradition in order to marry Andrea's father (an African American soldier) in the midst of the Vietnam war, of Sadako's subsequent disappearance almost 30 years ago, and her father's reluctance to divulge anything to Andrea that could help her understand Sadako's disappearance, moves and intrigues Rei; and she soon finds herself totally absorbed with Andrea's problem to the extent that she's even involved her wise and beloved visiting Aunt Norie in her investigation. The more Rei uncovers about Sadako and her early difficulties in trying to adapt to her life in America and as a new wife, the more Rei begins to question her the wisdom of getting married so soon. Defnitely, her love for Hugh is true and all consuming (as is his love for her) but is it enough? Can Rei give up her independence and become the perfect wife? And can she make do with life in America when she still wistfully yearns to return to Japan?

Like the previous reviewers, I'm a fan of Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura mystery novels. What I liked about them, other than that they're well written, totally absorbing and wholly addicting, is the manner in which the authour also makes the dilemmas that a young, not so well off, modern and independent woman would feel and go through as she tries to adjust to the many vagaries that life throws at her, an integral part of the series. The mystery of what happened to Andrea's mother (Is she alive or dead? Why did she disappear and is there some dark reason for her disappearance?) doesn't really get introduced until we're about 4 or 5 chapters into "The Pearl Diver;" however, because we are treated to an update on what's going on with Rei and Hugh, and a good and succinct description of the what's going on at the restaurant and the characters involved, the reader's interest is quickly snagged and engaged from the very first page. The mystery subplot dealing with the missing Sadako was a very intriguing and interesting one, and I rather wished that "The Pearl Diver" had dwelt solely on that mystery subplot instead of sharing it with the mysterious kidnapping subplot involving Rei's cousin, Kendall. On the whole, though, "The Pearl Diver" was a wonderful read, and one that I enjoyed completely, esp since the authour had thoughtfully included Rei's Japanese aunt, Norie (one of my favourite characters) in this installment.

Rating:
Summary: Search for a Missing Pearl
Review: Rei Shimura is living in Washington DC with her fiancé Hugh after being forced to leave Tokyo. She feels a little lost and aimless in her new home and isn't excited about planning her wedding, so she's delighted when the opportunity to decorate a new Japanese restaurant drops into her lap. Rei jumps into her work with both feet and things are going well until her cousin Kendall is abducted from the opening dinner. Was it politics, a restaurant rivalry, or something even more sinister?

While the police are investigating the kidnapping, the restaurant's snooty hostess asks Rei to investigate the decades-old disappearance of her Japanese war-bride mother. Andrea reached out to her because they are both half-Japanese, and Rei feels obligated to help. Just as they launch their plan to get more information from Andrea's father, Rei's Aunt Norie shows up from Japan to plan her wedding. Norie soon gets pulled into the missing-mother mystery. When Rei's investigations into the past turn dangerous in the present, it threatens to ruin her relationship with Hugh.

This is Massey's seventh Rei Shimura book, and although most of the others have taken place in Japan, Rei is no stranger to America. This can easily be read stand-alone, but it might be helpful to start earlier in the series to get a better feel for the relationship between Rei and Hugh.

Massey is very good at drawing tension from the conflict between Japanese traditionalism and American individualism and independence. On the one hand, Rei obviously finds it hard to say no to people and is horrified that Norie might find out about her living arrangements with Hugh. But at the same time she is reluctant to take on the role of a wife and wants to be in full control of her own destiny. Rei's turmoil about her future unfolds against the hectic whirlwind of restaurant crises and her investigations for Andrea. In a couple of places there was so much happening at once, it almost felt like I needed to catch my breath while reading.

Rei, Hugh and Norie are likeable and interesting characters, and Andrea became more sympathetic as events unfolded. However, I didn't like that most of the other characters with significant roles ranged from slightly unpleasant to over-the-top obnoxious. Still, it was an absorbing story, and I like Massey's insight into culture clash.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but....
Review: This one is not as interesting as the ones set in Japan...I enjoy them much more. Plot interesting and mostly good characters (I love Aunt Nori), Andrea changed from nasty and unappealling to pleasant and needy. BUT...was that unpleasant bondage sex scene with Hugh at all necessary to advance the story?? That dropped it down from 5 to 4 stars for me. I hope Rei thinks again about marrying a man who would do such a thing! As a lifelong Washington resident I enjoyed the local color. Not one of her best.

Rating:
Summary: Out of Japan
Review: Those of us who have read the wonderful Rei Shimura series from its inception have followed with great interest her adventures in Japan. Half Japanese, half American, Rei fits completely into neither culture, which is the main reason for her enormous charm. But in the last book or two, she is in the United States, and I hope this isn't forever.

Mindful of spoilers, I won't tell those who have not read the entire series the story of Rei's departure from Japan. It is mentioned in this book, but only in passing. Rei now lives in Washington, DC, with her hunky fiance, Scottish lawyer Hugh Glendenning. At the beginning of this book, they are planning their wedding, and as always, Rei is reluctant to commit (a trait that becomes annoying for the very first time, at least to me, in this installment).

A struggling antiques dealer, Rei is thrilled when she gets a commission to decorate an up-and-coming Japanese restaurant newly purchased by a trendy DC restauranteur. But as she becomes involved with the kitchen help, the nasty but interesting hostess Andrea, and a cast of other characters, Rei once again switches from onlooker to sleuth. Somebody kidnaps her wealthy cousin on the eve of the restaurant's gala opening, and the plot thickens from there.

Rei's delicious Aunt Norrie is in this book, fresh from Japan, and a welcome reminder of Rei's background--like a delicate spice in a Japanese soup. And Rei is her own difficult self, with the old push-pull of her traditional ways and her ultra modern self. But some of the piquancy of the earlier novels has been lost in the all-American venue, and I miss it.

I would never miss one of Sujata Massey's novels, and I eagerly look forward to the next one, but like other reviewers, I hope that she allows Rei and Hugh to go back to Japan--at least for the next few books!