Tag: Japanese setting

Stephanie Scott’s—What’s left of me is yours *****

When Sato wants to divorce his wife, he first seeks the help of a wakaresaseya agent, Kaitaro who is valued for his ability at enticing unwanted wives, and gains evidence to support a husband’s favourable break-up. But when he meets Sato’s wife, Rina, there is something about her that makes him want to turn his back on this job. Forced to take on the assignment, he begins to admire, then fall in love with Rina and plans to do everything he can so she gains a favourable divorce, retains her daughter, and marries him. But something goes wrong, and Rina is found strangled and Kaitaro convicted of murder.

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Rin Usami—Idol Burning *****

Akari is so wrapped up in her obsession over Masaki Ueno who is a member of the J-pop band, Masa Masa, she cannot concentrate on her schoolwork, her room is a mess, and she forgets to eat. While her father works overseas, her mother and sister are frustrated by her forgetful ways. She works part-time in a seedy bar where all her earnings go into buying Masa Masa merchandise. And the only time she communicates with others is when she blogs and comments with other Masa Masa fans.

Can she overcome this obsession enough to complete her studies or will it take something out of her control to pull her back to reality?

Keigo Higashino’s—Malice*****

If you’re a mystery buff, you’ll want to read Malice.

When Nonoguchi’s friend, successful author, Hidaka is murdered in his home office, Detective Kaga is assigned to the case. He was once a teacher at the same school as Nonoguchi, and it doesn’t take him long to suspect Nonoguchi murdered the friend he has known since his school days. But Detective Kaga needs a motive otherwise the case will not hold up in court. What could Nonoguchi’s reason be to murder a friend who has helped him during his middle school years and introduced him to an editor so his children’s stories can be published? Detective Kaga is persistent, but can he outwit Nonoguchi?

Arthur Golden’s — Memoirs of a Geisha *****

When Sayuri is a child in a poor fishing village, she is sold into slavery to a Kyoto geisha house. As she grows, she is groomed to become a geisha and is soon visiting teahouses dressed in fine kimonos and competing with a jealous rival.

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