"The Piano Teacher" is a very intriguing book that takes place in 1953 with flashbacks to 1041 and 1942.

In 1942 and 1942 the city of Hong Kong is the home of a high concentration of Americans, and an even higher number of British subjects. These people, regardless of their status in life, were living a life of luxury. The pretty much answered only to themselves and had an aversion to Orientals.

Will Truesdale, an Englishman, becomes romantically involved with Trudy Liang, a Eurasian. Will and Trudy are living in luxury and making the social rounds. Trudy and her brother become involved with a Chinese businessman, Victor Chen, that will prove to have dire consequences for them both.

In 1942 the Japanese invade Hong Kong and place all non-Orientals in squalid hotels that put the high living foreigners under duress. Will, who is interred, becomes a spokesman for the prisoners, and Trudy, because she is Eurasian, has caught the fancy of the Japanese commander. Trudy and Will are both trying to make the best of a bad situation.

In 1953 Claire Pendleton, who has recently married, arrives in Hong Kong and finds herself romantically involved with the same Will Truesdale. She also finds herself teaching piano to the Chen's daughter, Locket.

It is through the eyes and actions of Claire Pendleton that the reader will see what has happened in the lives or these people from 1942 to 1953.

"The Piano Teacher" is well written and gives an insight into how life was lived in Hong Kong during these two periods of time. The reader will be absolutely entralled by these people and how they interact among themselves. The best part will be the unexpected participation some of these people played and the reason for their actions. The ending has several surprises for the reader.