In Agatha-winner Massey's winning eighth novel to feature Rei Shimura (after 2004's The Pearl Diver
), State Department official Michael Hendricks recruits the Japanese-American antiques dealer, who's just turned 30 and is feeling ambivalent about still being single, to locate an ancient ibex ewer that disappeared from a Baghdad museum and is believed to be in the possession of Japanese collector Takeo Kayama, an ex-boyfriend of Rei's. After arriving in Japan just hours ahead of a typhoon that paralyzes the transportation system, Rei contacts her aunt Norie, a teacher at Takeo's flower arranging school, who reveals to her that Takeo's engaged to be married. Only Rei would think the typhoon a perfect cover for checking Takeo's summerhouse for the stolen ewer, and the outcome disastrously affects all concerned. Massey gleefully contrasts the young, bizarrely garbed generation, including Rei's own cousin and Takeo's fiancée, with traditional Japanese society. Rei winds up with a badly bruised heart, but the ending hints at intriguing future possibilities. Agent, Kim Witherspoon
. (Oct.)
