The Fallen Persimmon

Japan 1985 - a young English woman battles her conscience. A page turning suspense novel.

Money blows across a field, the notes slapping against the stubble of dry rice stalks. Mr Ito walks towards the irrigation ditch at the end of his field, his rubber boots kicking up dust.

When he gets there, he remembers the rumour; the one about the missing English woman.

But this is Mari’s story. She knows it's her fault that her sister died, and trying to move on, she takes a dream job teaching English in small-town Japan. It turns into a nightmare when Mari learns that she’s employed by the yakuza (Japanese mafia), and that the man she loves has his own dark secrets. When the yakuza play their final hand, Mari believes that once again, it's all her fault.

If you like a novel that builds suspense, is set in an unusual location, has a strong female lead, and a pinch of romance; then this book is for you.

An intriguing story in a vividly realised exotic setting." Cherith Baldry, author