To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I had downloaded this book in preparation for a cruise just in case I had a lot of nothing to do. As it turned out I didn't read it until I got back.

This is the 7th in the series but the first Rei Shimura book for me. I started this book without reading any of the blurbs so I didn't really know what I was getting into, except that it was a mystery... kind of.

I was actually many chapters in the book before I remembered that it was a mystery book but by that time I was engrossed in Rei's everyday life, her struggles with her work and family life. By the time the "crime" events had occurred I was already deeply vested in Rei's story. In fact, so engrossed that I hadn't cared that this was a mystery book and not a drama book. That's how much I liked the writing, the characters and the setting.

The mystery element of the book was OK. There was some mystery but never the edge of the seat type and I liked the ending even though some of it didn't make a lot of sense. In fact, I liked the book so much that I immediately downloaded another one in the series... out of series order again but I'm not sure if it matters since this book can pretty much be read on its own.

Summary: Rei does some decorating for a new Japanese restaurant but she is caught up in the danger surrounding the hostess Andrea's life. Andrea was a foster child, now she wants to look up her missing mother and that seems to lead everyone looking into it into danger. Meanwhile Rei's aunt Norie is visiting from Japan and lots of things are happening with her cousin Kendall's life and Rei's own fiance.