When English teacher Mona Marshall moves into a 19th century Tokyo teahouse, the threats begin. Befriended by sumo wrestlers and stalked by a yakuza Mona’s peril goes from bad to worse. During the night of the blood-red moon, an earthquake opens a cavity in Mona’s garden- where hidden for a century and a half- is the priceless sword of Musamune, Japan’s greatest sword maker.

Mona unsheathes the sword and the ghost of Emperor Meiji appears. The sword entangles her in the emperor’s curse and the witch’s web. To save her life she must solve two murders and break the witch’s curse placed on the emperor before the last bell tolls in the New Year.