A friend pointed out that the four most important words in any relationship -- even more than "I love you," -- are, "I've got your back."

I've been a fan of S.J. Rozan's Lydia Chin & Bill Smith series of contemporary mysteries for quite some time, primarily because these two sometime partners truly embody the essence of "I've got your back" which, for me, is far sexier than 92% of the so-called "romance" novels lining the shelves of the average bookstore.

The plot of Rozan's latest book, The Shanghai Moon, ostensibly revolves around a legendary piece of missing jewelry. However, the real story is about complex loyalties and human connections. What secrets do we hide to protect ourselves? What secrets do we hide to protect others? And what happens when these secrets collide?

Through letters, diaries, and government records, Bill and Lydia strive to untangle the path of the Shanghai Moon from its birth in the Jewish/European expatriate community of WWII Shanghai to a murder in modern day New York City. Rozan manages to seamlessly weave the various narratives to provide a depth of motivation, perspective, and humanity beyond a simple whodunnit.

I'll be honest: I love these books, and if you haven't read the others in the series, I highly recommend them. At the same time, other than the context of some of the ongoing relationships, The Shanghai Moon easily stands on its own. It's fascinating, heartbreaking, fun, and real. I hope it finds the audience it deserves.