Rating: 
Summary: Absorbing read
Review: A well-crafted suspense story revolving around Sujata's protagonist ReiShimura. I do not read fiction often, but this book was a racy, intelligently written story. The allure in the Rei-series is the characterisation and plot structure. On that count, Bride's kimono does not disappoint. The background on which the story is based is Kimono's and the musueum politics. Sujata has obviously done enough homework to fill pages of description on the kimonos without boring even a lay reader who is not inclined to read anything sartorial. There are enough sub plots in Bride's kimono - Rei's love life with her two boyfriends (Hugh makes a comeback here), her companion's disappearance, the lost kimono, the musuem poltics, the cops, the embassy folks, her parents and ofcourse her exhibition in the museum. The characters, tricky situations keeps piling on keeping the story moving at a fast pace. Unlike many other pulp suspense stories, there is some substance here - it is not just murder or sex- the author takes care to linger on describing the elegance of the Kimonos, their backgrounds; and also makes social observations on the American and Japanese behaviour. The hordes of Japanese tourists piling for a shopping binge is true. So is the description of the chaotic DC roads. I am giving it three stars , not because it was not a rewarding read. On the contrary, i could not wait till i completed it and would strongly recommend it to folks who have read Rei's previous "adventures". This book loses points because there is a feeling of being shortchanged when the denoument is known. cheers
-raj
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing read
Review: A well-crafted suspense story revolving around Sujata's protagonist ReiShimura. I do not read fiction often, but this book was a racy, intelligently written story. The allure in the Rei-series is the characterisation and plot structure. On that count, Bride's kimono does not disappoint. The background on which the story is based is Kimono's and the musueum politics. Sujata has obviously done enough homework to fill pages of description on the kimonos without boring even a lay reader who is not inclined to read anything sartorial. There are enough sub plots in Bride's kimono - Rei's love life with her two boyfriends (Hugh makes a comeback here), her companion's disappearance, the lost kimono, the musuem poltics, the cops, the embassy folks, her parents and ofcourse her exhibition in the museum. The characters, tricky situations keeps piling on keeping the story moving at a fast pace. Unlike many other pulp suspense stories, there is some substance here - it is not just murder or sex- the author takes care to linger on describing the elegance of the Kimonos, their backgrounds; and also makes social observations on the American and Japanese behaviour. The hordes of Japanese tourists piling for a shopping binge is true. So is the description of the chaotic DC roads. I am giving it three stars , not because it was not a rewarding read. On the contrary, i could not wait till i completed it and would strongly recommend it to folks who have read Rei's previous "adventures". This book loses points because there is a feeling of being shortchanged when the denoument is known. cheers
-raj
Rating:
Summary: Intense to pretense
Review: An expatriate American antiques dealer is given the chance of her life to return, for pay, to the United States as a guest speaker on antique kimonos at a cultural museum in Washington D.C. Rei Shimura, the aforementioned Japanese-American antiques dealer, soon finds that the offer was not as clean as it seemed. First, she finds herself as an oversea courier for the priceless Samurai-period kimonos she is to lecture about. Then one of the kimonos is stolen from her D.C. hotel room, a recent acquaintance is murdered, and she is suspected of involvement in the crime. To make matters worse, her romantic troubles are heightened by this trip stateside, and her estranged parents become involved as well. The juggling match of the varied plot elements makes for an enjoyable plotline with plenty of suspense. Unfortunately, acclaimed author Sujata Massey seems to have rushed through this novel somewhat and left behind several plot inconsistencies and provides a resolution based upon too many previously-unmentioned plot factors. As a fan of fiction based in Asian cultures, I was anxious to read this book after reading rave reviews of other Massey works. For 95% of the book I was not disapointed despite niggling plot and character inconsistencies scattered throughout the book. Massey writes a tight plot, melding several plot elements into a cohesive novel that gripped me and made me smile. Her coverage of Japanese culture and history were fantastic and added to the excellence of her writing. But there is always that 5%. Massey deftly leads the plot to a suspenseful denouement with our protagonist in mortal danger. The villain is a big surprise. And then the reader is confronted with a plethora of details uncovering the plot's veil of mystery. This is a common technique in mystery novels and not necessarily to be criticized. However, in this case, too many of those details arise from previously-unexplained or improperly-foreshadowed incidents in the book. Massey then provides a sappy tie-up ending to resolve the other noncrime-related storylines in her novel. I was deflated. This is certainly no novel to be trashed and Massey is well-deserving of the praise she receives. I recommend Massey as an author to seek for quality Asian-culture fiction. She merely stumbles with this novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Rei Comes Home to Trouble
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut novel in its initial release, I truly admire how skillfully Sujata Massey toughens her Rei Shimura series with THE BRIDE'S KIMONO. In this new novel, Rei, a Californian-born yet Tokyo-based antique dealer, accompanies a valuable collection of kimonos for display at a D.C. museum. Upon arrival in Washington, Rei finds nothing but trouble. Hugh Glendinning, her old lover, descends upon her at a social function, complicating her current relationship with Takeo Kayama. A priceless bridal kimono is stolen, and a member of Rei's traveling party is murdered. Rei becomes the chief suspect in the murder and the theft, as well as in a prostitution ring. THE BRIDE'S KIMONO is tougher and harder-edged than Ms. Massey's previous books, but it remains a top-notch mystery. I recommend it highly.
Rating: 
Summary: my favorite
Review: I read all of the series and I liked this one most. To me, everything was packed in this book. Romance, mistery, thrills and cultural history of Japanese people at the time.
I closed my eyes and turned the book down when Rei was caught snooping around the hotel room of Hugh's associate. I felt like I was there being caught of the act. I liked the story of the missing kimono, which Rei unfolded as she searched for it. As for romance, if you do not like Rei's ex-boyfriend Hugh, you probably don't like what happen or dislike him more for what he did.
Rating:
Summary: my favorite
Review: I so enjoy this series. As usual, this would make another good installment of a "Chungking Express"-style movie--I would so love to see that director make this into a film. Hip, funky, modern. I can relate to Rei, as sometimes things come out of her mouth that she should not say....It's like a slow-motion car wreck....
Parts are saddening, especially the scathing, degrading double-standard treatment, both Japanese and American, of Rei and the victim. Apparently it's ok if guys are "playboys", but if a girl is suspected of any "fun", well, she's a thorough skank and she loses all credibility---even if it's to help solve a murder. The victim was treated as sooo disposable.
The police department thought Rei was a prostitute and would not listen to her. They were VILE. I was only hoping she could sue them for something, anything. (My Dad was a cop, he could tell horror stories. One of my friends (a very innocent Mormon) saw an injured man alongside the road after a motorcycle accident, and gave him a ride to the hospital (Central Oregon). There was a cop trolling the entrance, he was super aggressive, accused them both of drinking, refused to help with loading the guy into the hospital, stalled the process with trying to interogate, sneered when my friend wanted to shake hands. So much for pre-hire psychological testing. He'll kill people soon enough.) RE: The train video: in the real world, that would've leaked to the press and overwhelmed all other details of her innocence or her work...
Takeo has an out-of-character behavior, that I didn't see coming as a so-called cultured, sophisticated Fortune 500 "playboy"...the only way I could justify it is if he'd been raised as a god by a male-as-god society, which could be anywhere, even my "Small Football town".
Hugh didn't get the punishment that he really deserved for running out on her, but overall, I think he cared more, based on this and previous books, than Takeo.
Hugh has a more approachable sincere personality, whereas Takeo cares about the environment and ickily obsessed with cleanliness (based on other books too) in a sort of praying-mantis way. I think Takeo has a hard time thinking about women's feelings, and would make a safer bet as a friend, but not nearly as self-sacrificing as Richard, her flamboyant friend in Tokyo. Too bad he doesn't get involved in more shenanigans.
The two cousins dating? Hmmmm, Interesting, kinda wierd, kinky.....
Finally, her parents are in this book.. They are cool and fun, I can see where her spunk comes from. It was hilarious when her parents were dealing with her romantic escapades, "only trying to help" but driving her nuts... Hilarious! My dad would've had a stroke.
Rating:
Summary: Hurrah! a new viewpoint to Washington DC!
Review: I so enjoy this series. As usual, this would make another good installment of a "Chungking Express"-style movie--I would so love to see that director make this into a film. Hip, funky, modern. I can relate to Rei, as sometimes things come out of her mouth that she should not say....It's like a slow-motion car wreck....
Parts are saddening, especially the scathing, degrading double-standard treatment, both Japanese and American, of Rei and the victim. Apparently it's ok if guys are "playboys", but if a girl is suspected of any "fun", well, she's a thorough skank and she loses all credibility---even if it's to help solve a murder. The victim was treated as sooo disposable.
The police department thought Rei was a prostitute and would not listen to her. They were VILE. I was only hoping she could sue them for something, anything. (My Dad was a cop, he could tell horror stories. One of my friends (a very innocent Mormon) saw an injured man alongside the road after a motorcycle accident, and gave him a ride to the hospital (Central Oregon). There was a cop trolling the entrance, he was super aggressive, accused them both of drinking, refused to help with loading the guy into the hospital, stalled the process with trying to interogate, sneered when my friend wanted to shake hands. So much for pre-hire psychological testing. He'll kill people soon enough.) RE: The train video: in the real world, that would've leaked to the press and overwhelmed all other details of her innocence or her work...
Takeo has an out-of-character behavior, that I didn't see coming as a so-called cultured, sophisticated Fortune 500 "playboy"...the only way I could justify it is if he'd been raised as a god by a male-as-god society, which could be anywhere, even my "Small Football town".
Hugh didn't get the punishment that he really deserved for running out on her, but overall, I think he cared more, based on this and previous books, than Takeo.
Hugh has a more approachable sincere personality, whereas Takeo cares about the environment and ickily obsessed with cleanliness (based on other books too) in a sort of praying-mantis way. I think Takeo has a hard time thinking about women's feelings, and would make a safer bet as a friend, but not nearly as self-sacrificing as Richard, her flamboyant friend in Tokyo. Too bad he doesn't get involved in more shenanigans.
The two cousins dating? Hmmmm, Interesting, kinda wierd, kinky.....
Finally, her parents are in this book.. They are cool and fun, I can see where her spunk comes from. It was hilarious when her parents were dealing with her romantic escapades, "only trying to help" but driving her nuts... Hilarious! My dad would've had a stroke.
Rating:
Summary: The Bride's Kimono
Review: I think that Sujata Massey has more than surpassed herself with her latest book, "The Bride's Kimono". The mystery form is more than enhanced by the 'mysteries' of the past and present. Rei is dealing with the parallels between the courtesans of Old Japan and the modern day 'shopping ladies', which is coupled with the complications of her own love life in the present. With my own interests in archaeology & anthropology, I seem to be drawn to the more 'female-oriented' and less studied side of things: textiles, clothing, weaving, jewellery. To me, a Japanese courtesan is every bit as interesting as an emperor. I felt an kind of unexpected sympathy towards the courtesans of Old Japan and for the lives of women today stuggling through the modern world which is often: complex, multi-cultural, challenging and untimately mysterious.
Rating:
Summary: This series keeps getting better and better!
Review: I've been following the Rei Shimura series since Book #1 (THE SALARYMAN'S WIFE), and while I've found all of the books to be enjoyable, Sujata Massey has really taken a great leap forward with her fifth mystery, THE BRIDE'S KIMONO. I couldn't put this book down -- I finished it in one marathon 6-hour session! Unlike the other books in the series, THE BRIDE'S KIMONO takes place in the U.S., Washington, D.C. to be specific. But if you love these books for their take on Japanese culture, don't worry -- there's still plenty of that here. Rei is hired by a museum in D.C. to travel from her home in Japan to give a lecture on kimono. Part of the job entails actually bringing several priceless kimono with her from Japan to the U.S. In order to get a cheap ticket, Rei joins a package tour of young Japanese "office ladies" who are heading to the U.S. to shop. When one of the valuable kimono disappears, along with one of the Japanese tourists, Rei suspects the two incidents are related. Things are further complicated when her old boyfriend, Hugh, turns up! There are SO many complications and twists and turns in this wonderfully complex novel. Massey is a master storyteller, and hopefully, this fabulous book will win her lots of new fans. It will certainly delight those who are already acquainted with Rei.
Rating:
Summary: A good one for the beach.
Review: Massey's stories of Rei Shimura attract legions of devoted fans, and it's easy to see why. Shimura is a charming and spunky young woman of bicultural heritage, an expert in Asian antiques, a fearless investigator of irregularities in the business, and a sexually liberated seeker of the right guy with whom to share her life. Here she is hired to act as a courier taking eight priceless kimono from a museum in Tokyo to a museum in Washington, D.C., where one of them quickly disappears. Soon afterward, Rei's passport turns up on the body of a murder victim. Many cultural differences are highlighted here. Flying with a tour group of Japanese "shopping ladies," who plan to mall-shop for four days, Rei comments on the role of women in Japan and the limitations of their lives and relationships. Her museum lecture on the history of the antique kimono illuminates aspects of the Tokugawa reign and the conflicting roles of wife and lover in that period. When Rei reconnects with her own former lover Hugh Glendinning, for whom she still has feelings, her almost-fiance from Japan appears in D.C. as a surprise--and a significant complication. The intricacies of museum power structures here and in Japan are explained, while her rude treatment by Americans on the plane, at the front desks of hotels, and, especially, by the D.C. police allows her to scrutinize American culture. Unfortunately, Rei's behavior sometimes defies common sense. With business class tickets both for herself and her hand-carried kimono, she agrees to move everything to coach because one rude American wants one seat. She "forgets" a priceless kimono in a restaurant and later leaves it and her passport unsecured in her hotel room. She signs documents she cannot read and gets no instructions from Tokyo when the D.C. museum refuses one kimono. If you are looking for something fun to read at the beach, this is different, and the action at the end is exciting, as long as you are willing to ignore clichés and stereotyped characters and to accept an unusual number of coincidences.
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