The Salaryman's Wife - (Severn House Large Print) by Sujata Massey (Paperback)

About the Book

Rei Shimura is a 27-year-old English teacher living in one of Tokyo's seediest neighborhoods. She doesn't make much money, but she wouldn't go back home to California even if she had a free ticket. Her independence is shaken, however, when a getaway to an ancient castle town is marred by the murder of the beautiful wife of a high-powered businessman. Rei suspects the police aren't looking in the right places, so she does. And she manages to piece together a strange, ever-changing puzzle--one that is built on lies and held together by years of sex and deception.

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Agatha Award.

"Sujata Massey blasts her way into fiction with The Salaryman's Wife, a cross-cultural mystery of manners with a decidedly sexy edge."-- Janet Evanonich

Japanese-American Rei Shimura is a 27-year-old English teacher living in one of Tokyo's seediest neighborhoods. She doesn't make much money, but she wouldn't go back home to California even if she had a free ticket (which, thanks to her parents, she does.) She's determined to make it on her own. Her independence is threatened however, when a getaway to an ancient castle town is marred by murder.

Rei is the first to find the beautiful wife of a high-powered businessman, dead in the snow. Taking charge, as usual, Rei searches for clues by crashing a funeral, posing as a bar-girl, and somehow ending up pursued by police and paparazzi alike. In the meantime, she attempts to piece together a strange, ever-changing puzzle--one that is built on lies and held together by years of sex and deception.

The first installment in the Rei Shimura series, The Salaryman's Wife is a riveting tale of death, love, and sex, told in a unique cross-cultural voice.

From the Back Cover

Japanese-American Rei Shimura is a 27-year-old English teacher living in one of Tokyo's seediest neighborhoods. She doesn't make much money, but she wouldn't go back home to California even if she had a free ticket (which, thanks to her parents, she does.) Her independence is threatened however, when a getaway to an ancient castle town is marred by murder.

Rei is the first to find the beautiful wife of a high-powered businessman, dead in the snow. Taking charge, as usual, Rei searches for clues by crashing a funeral, posing as a bar-girl, and somehow ending up pursued by police and paparazzi alike. In the meantime, she manages to piece together a strange, ever-changing puzzle--one that is built on lies and held together by years of sex and deception.

Review Quotes

"Sujata Massey blasts her way into fiction with The Salaryman's Wife, a cross-cultural mystery of manners with a decidedly sexy edge." -- Janet Evanonich

"A terrific debut, crafted with surprising twists and turns, and steeped in the flavor of contemporary Japan." -- Jonnie Jacobs

"A witty, perceptive take on how contemporary society clashed with traditional culture in modern Japan." -- Laura John Rowland

"This book is a magic carpet to the Japanese Alps, and serves up murder as well. Great reading!" -- Barbara D'Amato

"You can't find a better guide to the mean streets of Japan than Rei Shimura!...An excellent new series fro ma talented new writer." -- Marcia Muller