What's Left Of Me Is Yours by Stephanie Scott

Based on a real legal case this clever debut focuses on Japanese law and customs and their place in modern day relationships. It is told from the viewpoint of mother, daughter and the man who would both save and sacrifice the mother. There is a practice called "Wakaresaseya" where one spouse can hire someone to seduce and get dirt on the other spouse to pave the way for divorce. This is life changing because there is no such thing as no-fault divorce or shared custody of children. Sato hires Kaitaro to seduce his wife Rina but Kaitaro changes the game by falling in love with her for real. When Rina is murdered and Kaitaro is charged with the murder, what could have been a perfect new life for Rina, Kaitaro and Rina's young daughter is crushed forever. Years later, Rina's daughter is grown up and is trying to come to terms with her mother's death and understand her relationship with Kaitaro. Even with the violence of the murder, this is a quiet love story full of contradictions the beauty and grace of Japan mixed with deceit. This is one author I am eager to read more of.
4 stars