Scan barcode
samdalefox's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The final entry to the China Thriller series! I'm sad it's over, I grew quite attached to Li Yan and Margaret Campbell. I'm glad that this edition also includes the short story 'The Ghost Marriage' because the final book ended very abruptly. I would have been disappointed if that was it for the series. However in the short story, we get a glimpse of the protagonists a few years in the future so we get a sense of how they've settled down and what chocies they've made. I'm so glad Margaret finally learns to speak Mandarin! . The short story contains almost the same depth of mystery as the main novels, which shows how succinct the detective part of the story is and how much May focused on Li and Maragret's relationship and including Chinese culture into the main body of the China Thrillers.
The novel 'Chinese Whispers' was good, and made sense as the final installment since it had a big ramp up on the personal toll the main murder mystery took on the protagnists. However, it didn't feel like a closing book to me and the ending was VERY sudden. I was surprised there wasn't another book afterwards. One point that I think was a particularly nice edition was the time spent on Dai Lao and Li's dad. All in all, another enjoyable edition, and I'm sad to see the series over.
The novel 'Chinese Whispers' was good, and made sense as the final installment since it had a big ramp up on the personal toll the main murder mystery took on the protagnists. However, it didn't feel like a closing book to me and the ending was VERY sudden. I was surprised there wasn't another book afterwards. One point that I think was a particularly nice edition was the time spent on Dai Lao and Li's dad. All in all, another enjoyable edition, and I'm sad to see the series over.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Medical content, Murder, and Death
There are very vivid descriptions of the mutilation of women bodies, more so than in previous books.kurwaczytaj's review against another edition
4.0
Pekingský rozparovač měl být již závěrečný díl série čínských thrillerů z pera či spíše klávesnice Petera Maye. Ale v angličtině je již venku další díl jménem The Ghost Marriage.
Osobně sice mám na prvním místě trilogii z ostrova Lewis ale čínské thrillery mám také rád. Je pravda, že zejména čtvrtý díl Hadohlavec mne dost zklamal, další díl Běžkyně znamenal mírné zlepšení a Rozparovač je ještě o něco lepší ale stejně mě už nebavil tolik jako první díly.
— V tomto díle je Margaret Campbell v Číně víceméně načerno a víceméně jen pečuje o svého syna. Li dále slouží u čínské policie a má před sebou největší výzvu své kariéry: sériového vraha, který velice bizarním způsobem vraždí mladé prostitutky. Navíc se zdá, že někdo hodně vysoko postavený mu hází klacky pod nohy.
— Pokud jste četli všechny předchozí díly, tak asi ví, co může od Petera Maye čekat. Opět je to o malinko lepší ale to kouzlo úplně prvních dílů je už pryč. Ale to možná není tak o kvalitě psaní ale prostě už jsme si na to zvykli a navíc ta první jiskření mezi Margaret a Lim už není tak nové a neokoukané.
— Takže není moc co řešit. Pokud tuto sérii čtete, tak si přečtete i Rozparovače a nejspíše budete mít stejný pocit jako já. Pokud tuto sérii neznáte, tak vám knihu sice doporučím ale hodně doporučuji číst tuto sérii od první série, protože je zde vztah mezi dvěma hlavními postavami dost důležitý a vine se celou sérií jako červená nit.
Osobně sice mám na prvním místě trilogii z ostrova Lewis ale čínské thrillery mám také rád. Je pravda, že zejména čtvrtý díl Hadohlavec mne dost zklamal, další díl Běžkyně znamenal mírné zlepšení a Rozparovač je ještě o něco lepší ale stejně mě už nebavil tolik jako první díly.
— V tomto díle je Margaret Campbell v Číně víceméně načerno a víceméně jen pečuje o svého syna. Li dále slouží u čínské policie a má před sebou největší výzvu své kariéry: sériového vraha, který velice bizarním způsobem vraždí mladé prostitutky. Navíc se zdá, že někdo hodně vysoko postavený mu hází klacky pod nohy.
— Pokud jste četli všechny předchozí díly, tak asi ví, co může od Petera Maye čekat. Opět je to o malinko lepší ale to kouzlo úplně prvních dílů je už pryč. Ale to možná není tak o kvalitě psaní ale prostě už jsme si na to zvykli a navíc ta první jiskření mezi Margaret a Lim už není tak nové a neokoukané.
— Takže není moc co řešit. Pokud tuto sérii čtete, tak si přečtete i Rozparovače a nejspíše budete mít stejný pocit jako já. Pokud tuto sérii neznáte, tak vám knihu sice doporučím ale hodně doporučuji číst tuto sérii od první série, protože je zde vztah mezi dvěma hlavními postavami dost důležitý a vine se celou sérií jako červená nit.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘It is in the detail that you will find the devil.’
Li Yan, the head of Beijing’s serious crime squad, is under the spotlight. His bosses, the media and the public are all demanding answers. A serial killer, calling himself the Beijing Ripper, is copying the murders of the 19th century Jack the Ripper. Any hope of keeping the murders out of the media spotlight ends when a visiting Chinese-American professor is murdered. When American pathologist Margaret Campbell (who is Li Yan’s partner and the mother of his son) is invited to perform this autopsy, the results are not what the investigation was anticipating.
Li Yan is also receiving personal letters from the killer, and his life, family and career are under threat. It seems like the killer may have a vendetta against Li Yan and he begins to suspect that someone in the police department is the killer. Unfortunately, Li Yan is fired from his job before he can finish his investigation, which leads him to investigate ‘unofficially’. Will Li Yan be able to catch the murderer, and prevent more deaths?
This is the sixth novel in a series: I’ve added the others to my ‘rainy day’ reading list. While I suspect it is preferable to read the novels in order to fully appreciate the characters, this didn’t prevent me from enjoying this fast paced and at times quite gruesome novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Li Yan, the head of Beijing’s serious crime squad, is under the spotlight. His bosses, the media and the public are all demanding answers. A serial killer, calling himself the Beijing Ripper, is copying the murders of the 19th century Jack the Ripper. Any hope of keeping the murders out of the media spotlight ends when a visiting Chinese-American professor is murdered. When American pathologist Margaret Campbell (who is Li Yan’s partner and the mother of his son) is invited to perform this autopsy, the results are not what the investigation was anticipating.
Li Yan is also receiving personal letters from the killer, and his life, family and career are under threat. It seems like the killer may have a vendetta against Li Yan and he begins to suspect that someone in the police department is the killer. Unfortunately, Li Yan is fired from his job before he can finish his investigation, which leads him to investigate ‘unofficially’. Will Li Yan be able to catch the murderer, and prevent more deaths?
This is the sixth novel in a series: I’ve added the others to my ‘rainy day’ reading list. While I suspect it is preferable to read the novels in order to fully appreciate the characters, this didn’t prevent me from enjoying this fast paced and at times quite gruesome novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
lrconnol's review
5.0
All I can say is wow! I started this book yesterday afternoon and just finished it. I could not put it down. It was fast paced and compelling with a fast moving plot line and lots of twists and turns. It is one of the best mysteries I have read in quite some time and kept me intrigued right up to the last page. If you like fast paced plots and foreign settings, this is the book for you. I started this book for a book challenge that said read a book set in Asia. I discovered an author, new to me, that I will be revisiting often.
jacpam0521's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
traceymlee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lydie_f's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
More...