Japanese American investigates murder of executive's wife at winter inn

1104 ( )

Kohtalaisen mukiinmenevää viihdettä. Kun ei juurikaan tunne japanilaista kulttuuria, ei myöskään tarvitse vaivata päätään Englannissa syntyneen intialais-saksalaisen ja Yhdysvalloissa asuvan kirjailijan välittämän Japani-kuvan todenmukaisuudella. Suomennos on paikoin kömpelö ja tahattoman koominen: jos vielä luen samaa sarjaa, tartun alkukieliseen versioon.

Just fun. ( )

The Salaryman's Wife is an entertaining first novel by Sujata Massey. The mystery is set in Japan and narrated through the character of Rei Shimura, a Japanese-American woman, born and raised in America but now teaching English in Tokyo and pursuing her passion for collecting Japanese antiques. Rei, shopping for antique folk art in the Japanese Alps, discovers the body of a woman in the snow behind the inn where she is staying. The local police enlist her services as a translator for the western guests staying at the inn, involving her in the investigation of the woman's death, a job that Rei continues to pursue on her own as the police settle for the quickest and easiest conclusions.

What follows are exposés of Japanese-American relations reaching back to the 1950s, of the Japanese Mafia, life on the streets and in the bordellos of Tokyo and of the difficulties facing a foreigner in Japan. Rei tries to fit in and behave, but is, by nature, more assertive than the typical Japanese woman. This behavior offers her opportunities as well as involving her in dire situations. This all adds up to an entertaining and educational experience for the reader who enjoys light mysteries with a strong ethnic slant.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )