Aiko

by Stephen Swartz

When the handwritten letter from Japan arrives, Benjamin cannot help but flash back to when he lived in Hawaii and met Hanako, a Japanese stewardess. But Addy, Benjamin's wife of three years, knows what the letter really means: a love child was born. Now Benjamin must save a child he has never met, learn the truth behind Hanako's death, and risk his marriage and his career to do the right thing. But venturing into the lonely woods of northern Ishikawa throws him into an ancient world of strict customs and tight-lipped villagers.

AIKO, a love story wrapped around a mystery, is a modern version of the Madame Butterfly story told from his side.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Stephen Swartz grew up in Kansas City where he was an avid reader of science-fiction and quickly began emulating his favorite authors. Since then, Stephen studied music in college and, like many writers, worked at a wide range of jobs: from French fry guy to soldier, to IRS clerk to TV station writer, before heading to Japan for several years of teaching English. Now Stephen is a Professor of English at a university in Oklahoma, where he teaches many kinds of writing. He still can be found obsessively writing his latest manuscript, usually late at night. He has only robot cats.

Reviews

[Connie Jasperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blurb:
When the handwritten letter from Japan arrives, Benjamin cannot help but flash back to when he lived in Hawaii and met Hanako, a Japanese stewardess. But Addy, Benjamin's wife of three years, knows what the letter really means: a love child was born.
Now Benjamin must save a child he has never met, learn the truth behind Hanako's death, and risk his marriage and his career to do the right thing. But venturing into the lonely woods of northern Ishikawa throws him into an ancient world of strict customs and tight-lipped villagers.

AIKO, a love story wrapped around a mystery, is a modern version of the Madame Butterfly story told from his side.

My Review:

Aiko is a wonderful contemporary novel set in the 1990s. Benjamin is a man who means well, and Addy is struggling with several issues that have brought their relationship to the edge. When the letter arrives, there is no good choice, no decision Benjamin can make that will not threaten everything he cares about.

This is a well-written book about good people, facing difficult issues. I found myself thinking about this novel long after I put it down. I've always enjoyed Swartz' work, and this book definitely ticks all the boxes.

[Chantal Bellehumeur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story!

In the first pages of the book, the reader finds out that a married couple, Ben and Addy, have been trying to have a baby for two years and decided to get medical help to make their desire happen. Letters from Japan which were mailed to Ben's parents included something that ended up causing tension between Ben and Addy. Hanako, Ben's old flame from a time he worked in Hawaii, is seen holding a baby in a picture. Unsure if the baby is his or what to do about it, Ben decides to take a trip to Japan.
I liked how the author brings the reader to the past where he first met Hanako and back to the present rather than start the story years before and make it chronological. The initial drama gets you hooked right away.
The author actually makes the main character relive his past a few times and I thought it was a nice touch; making everything feel real and sentimental.
The interesting story was very well written, and the author made good use of the Japanese language (phonetically) as well as the english translation for the reader to understand. He has obviously visited Japan or has done the necessary research to properly portray the Japanese culture and also be able to give good descriptions of the main character's whereabouts in the foreign Country. The same can be said for Hawaii.
I highly enjoyed reading this book, and recommend it to anyone who likes romance mixed with mystery.