January 25, 2010
Edgar-winner Hirahara once again provides a sensitive insider’s view of the Japanese-American subculture in her fourth Mas Arai mystery (after 2006’s Snakeskin Shamisen
), though series fans may find this entry less strong than some. When Mas, a Los Angeles gardener who as a boy survived the atom bomb attack on Hiroshima, accidentally drops the gold ring he’s supposed to hand to his closest friend, Haruo Mukai, into a fish pond, this is just one of many little disasters plaguing the wedding rehearsal in which Mas is the best man. Haruo’s elderly bride, Sumako Hayakawa, later calls the nuptials off, accusing Haruo of stealing two hina
dolls used in purification ceremonies belonging to her family. Mas’s inquiry into the theft leads him to drug runners and several murders. The author’s simple, expressive prose and her gift for creating memorable characters, notably her unusual detective, elevate this above most other contemporary puzzlers.