Valynne E. Maetani's debut novel Ink and Ashes is unique for the way it grounds the murder mystery aspect of the story in a daughter's search for answers about her father. On the 10th anniversary of her father's death, Claire Takata finds a letter from her father to her stepfather which leads to the revelation that her dad was part of a Japanese organised crime syndicate. Soon, Claire finds herself going down a dangerous path in search of answers about her father's past.