The Kizuna Coast — Sujata Massey

When a devastating earthquake rocks Japan's northeast coast, a tsunami follows and Rei Shimura is drawn into her most rugged adventure yet. The mystery begins with an SOS from Rei's friend, the antiques dealer, Yasushi Ishida, who's trapped among the displaced, injured and dead on the Tohoku coast. Rei rushes from Honolulu to Tokyo and discovers that Ishida-san's dog has been abandoned and the shop may have been burglarized. She takes the dog, Hachiko, with her on volunteer bus to the ravaged town of Sugihama. But Mr. Ishida's got more work for her. He's lost contact with his antiques apprentice, Mayumi, and is frantic with worry. He won't leave Sugihama without knowing the fate of the troubled 19-year-old girl from a famous lacquer-making family. Calling on disaster survivors and volunteers--and her own knowledge of Japanese manners and history--Rei investigates the suspicious journey. From Sugihama's muddy shops and shelters to the buzzing bars and bathhouses of Tokyo, it's a suspenseful journey. But as Rei draws closer to the truth, she realizes that she's being stalked. Who is following her--and can she survive the wave of danger she never saw coming? PRAISE FOR THE REI SHIMURA MYSTERIES "An appealing protagonist and memorable supporting characters blend smoothly with lessons in Hawaiian and Japanese history in a tale sure to win new readers for this series."--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on SHIMURA TROUBLE "Massey builds the bridge between mystery fiction and mainstream women's fiction . . . a lively, intuitive view of contrasting societies and a young woman trying to find her place in the world."--FORT LAUDERDALE SUN SENTINEL on THE TYPHOON LOVER "A gifted storyteller who delivers strong characters, a tight plot and an inside view of Japan and its culture."--USA TODAY on ZEN ATTITUDE "A totally captivating experience. A unique plot, exceptional protagonist, and some subtle cultural lessons are as beautifully arranged as a vase of cherry blossoms."--BOOKLIST on THE FLOWER MASTER "One can just about feel the cold draft blowing through the traditional house as Massey walks us through a foreign culture. Her description of the Tokyo that tourists don't see is intriguing, and her explanation of Japanese ways are enlightening and entertaining."--WASHINGTON TIMES "A nearly pitch-perfect voice in modern-day Japan."--THE JAPAN TIMES