Top ten New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance's classic tale of suspense featuring Seattle detective J.P. Beaumont and his desperate race to track down a twisted killer. Japanese businessman Tadeo Kurobashi had many passions, including computers, poetry, money, and Samurai lore. So his suicide method of choice would naturally be the ancient art of seppuku -- what the uninitiated call a?!ra--kiri.a'ut despite the bloody Samurai sword Kurobashi clutches tightly in his lifeless hand, Seattle detective J.P. Beaumont senses the dead software magnate played a less active role in his own demise. Because glaring errors have been made in the time--honoured Asian death ritual -- which has Beau looking for someone with a less traditional passionaY'r cold--blooded homicide.