- Hardcover: 296 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Sep 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060765143
- ISBN-13: 978-0060765149
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,400,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
So I read this one before having read some of the other Rei Shimura books. So far I have never read them in order of the series but I just tuck into them when I find one of her books. Big mistake...Better tackle this one after reading the ones that come directly before it. I was quite bewildered to find that Rei is no longer engaged to Hugh, (something drastic happened but I have no idea what). Also Rei is no longer full time in Japan but is in USA undergoing training to be a spy and is asked to go Japan to work as a saleswoman in a shop to do some spying.
One problem that irritated me in this book was that text messages between Rei and her boss were written in "super short text code" where a letter could be for a word. Ok I could make out certain parts but there was no longhand translation for these which could be useful for the older reader who doesn't text or use the US shorthand with phones for differing reasons. (eg-Bilingual UK English & Italian who uses Italian every day )
One problem that irritated me in this book was that text messages between Rei and her boss were written in "super short text code" where a letter could be for a word. Ok I could make out certain parts but there was no longhand translation for these which could be useful for the older reader who doesn't text or use the US shorthand with phones for differing reasons. (eg-Bilingual UK English & Italian who uses Italian every day )
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
18 reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Rei goes undercover in a Japanese department store
31 Aug 2006
Format:Hardcover
I once heard a mystery author refer to "Jessica Fletcher Syndrome," named after the heroine of "Murder, She Wrote." She was referring to the way that amateur sleuths are constantly stumbling over dead bodies. A lot of mystery fans can just suspend their disbelief and enjoy the stories, but in some long-running series, the author acknowledges that constantly dealing with crime and murder has repercussions on their hero or heroine.
This is the ninth book in Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura series, and the young woman in her 20s making her way as an antique dealer in Japan is now 30 and working for the U.S. government as a spy. It sounds like a bit of a stretch, but two things make Rei perfect for the job: her mixed heritage, which allows her to be much less conspicuous in Japan than a Caucasian would be; and her experience investigating crimes.
In "Girl in a Box," Rei has to go undercover in a super-ritzy Japanese department store in order to discover some secrets. Her customers and co-workers think she's a simple salesgirl, but in fact, she's creeping around planting bugs and trying to overhear conversations. Naturally, her position is extremely precarious -- in fact, her predecessor died under mysterious circumstances.
People who love this series because of the cultural component will love finding out about the inner workings of a Japanese department store. It's pretty different than the American retail scene! And, of course, Rei fans will want to find out the latest about her love life. It can be read as a stand-alone but knowing everything about Rei's past as revealed in the previous books adds another layer of enjoyment.
This is the ninth book in Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura series, and the young woman in her 20s making her way as an antique dealer in Japan is now 30 and working for the U.S. government as a spy. It sounds like a bit of a stretch, but two things make Rei perfect for the job: her mixed heritage, which allows her to be much less conspicuous in Japan than a Caucasian would be; and her experience investigating crimes.
In "Girl in a Box," Rei has to go undercover in a super-ritzy Japanese department store in order to discover some secrets. Her customers and co-workers think she's a simple salesgirl, but in fact, she's creeping around planting bugs and trying to overhear conversations. Naturally, her position is extremely precarious -- in fact, her predecessor died under mysterious circumstances.
People who love this series because of the cultural component will love finding out about the inner workings of a Japanese department store. It's pretty different than the American retail scene! And, of course, Rei fans will want to find out the latest about her love life. It can be read as a stand-alone but knowing everything about Rei's past as revealed in the previous books adds another layer of enjoyment.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Ms. Massey needs to rethink...
6 Feb 2007
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to agree with J. Hammond. Rei working for an undercover agency -- certainly a government agency -- is not believable. But there are other objections, and some plusses.
Good Things: The story is interesting, and much less hackneyed than most mystery novels. Also, as usual, the information / culture about Japan is wonderful. I much enjoyed all the information about the department store, the needle blessing, etc.
Bad Things: I agree with Hammond: lose the labels. They make Rei seem shallow and pretentious, like a chick in bad chick lit. The occasional designer reference as appropriate to the story is OK, but the REI I know would not be plugging "comme des garcons". She'd be wearing jeans by someone normal, like JCrew, LLBean, etc.
Another bad thing: Even without the label-dropping, she is starting to seem really shallow to me. There is occasional lip service to how Hugh "broke her heart" but no real sense of missing him. Really! They were engaged! She ought to be remembering him and trying to get him to forgive her. No one gets over a REAL serious romance of long standing that fast. And she spends the book wanting to [bleep] her new boss. Come ON! This is not the Rei I used to like.
Also, she seems not to remember that SHE cheated on Hugh. No, she says He broke Her heart. A little honesty and regret would be nice.
Finally, I miss the antiques. Bring back the antiques and bring back Hugh. At least make Rei's emotional life a little more mature.
Good Things: The story is interesting, and much less hackneyed than most mystery novels. Also, as usual, the information / culture about Japan is wonderful. I much enjoyed all the information about the department store, the needle blessing, etc.
Bad Things: I agree with Hammond: lose the labels. They make Rei seem shallow and pretentious, like a chick in bad chick lit. The occasional designer reference as appropriate to the story is OK, but the REI I know would not be plugging "comme des garcons". She'd be wearing jeans by someone normal, like JCrew, LLBean, etc.
Another bad thing: Even without the label-dropping, she is starting to seem really shallow to me. There is occasional lip service to how Hugh "broke her heart" but no real sense of missing him. Really! They were engaged! She ought to be remembering him and trying to get him to forgive her. No one gets over a REAL serious romance of long standing that fast. And she spends the book wanting to [bleep] her new boss. Come ON! This is not the Rei I used to like.
Also, she seems not to remember that SHE cheated on Hugh. No, she says He broke Her heart. A little honesty and regret would be nice.
Finally, I miss the antiques. Bring back the antiques and bring back Hugh. At least make Rei's emotional life a little more mature.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Jumped the shark
17 Nov 2006
Format:Hardcover
I have read every book in this series and I think the last few have not been up to the early high standard. The plots have gotten away from the original idea of antique dealer/amateur slueth, which I really enjoyed.
I found the whole premise of Rei working for a fictional undercover agency ridiculous. I find very annoying the inclusion of the description and label of every garment Rei wears.
I found the whole premise of Rei working for a fictional undercover agency ridiculous. I find very annoying the inclusion of the description and label of every garment Rei wears.
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