The Samurai's Daughter

By Sujata Massey

A new crime–thriller full of suspense from Sujata Massey, the acclaimed author of The Bride's Kimono and The Floating Girl.

Antiques dealer Rei Shimura is in San Francisco visiting her parents and researching a personal project tracing the story of 100 years of Japanese decorative arts through her own family's experience. Her work is interrupted by the arrival of her boyfriend, lawyer Hugh Glendinning, who is involved in a class action lawsuit on behalf of aged Asian nationals forced to engage in slave labour for Japanese companies during

World War II.

These two projects suddenly intertwine when one of Hugh's clients is murdered and Rei begins to uncover unsavoury facts about her own family's actions during the war. Rei unravels the truth, finds the killer, and at the same time learns about family ties and loyalty and the universal desire to avoid blame.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780062218926

Sujata Massey

Sujata Massey was a reporter for the Baltimore Evening Sun and spent several years in Japan teaching English and studying Japanese. She is the author of The Salaryman's Wife, Zen Attitude, The Flower Master, The Floating Girl, The Bride's Kimono, The Samurai's Daughter, The Pearl Diver, and The Typhoon Lover. She lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews for The Samurai's Daughter

[nicolachampagne · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This novel is very poorly written. The rambling style of writing and the constant telling of obvious facts detracts from the story and interrupts any sense of suspense. As for informing the reader about Japanese culture, more stereotypes that cultural facts litter the writing and the history is inaccurate. The Scottish character is poorly researched – apparently not knowing the word 'Bingo' – and so uni-dimensional that it is impossible to imagine a relation whip with anyone, let alone the protagonist.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Antiques dealer Rei Shimura is in San Francisco visiting her parents and researching a personal project to trace the story of 100 years of Japanese decorative arts through her own family's history. But Rei's work is interrupted by the arrival of her long-distance boyfriend, lawyer Hugh Glendinning, who is involved in a class action lawsuit on behalf of people forced to engage in slave labor for Japanese companies during World War II. Suddenly, when one of Hugh's clients is murdered, their two projects intertwine. Before long, Rei uncovers troubling facts about her own family's actions during the war. As she starts to unravel the truth and search for a killer, the notions of family ties and loyalty take on an entirely new meaning. Sujata Massey, whom critics consistently praise for her ability to balance murder and mystery with captivating cultural lore, is back with another gripping and provocative tale sure to keep readers charmed from start to finish.Rei can be very exasperating at times - she seems to dither, and also go off on private projects which get her into predictable trouble. The novel gives interesting perspectives on slave labor, comfort women, and compensation for war-time profit making.