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italapas's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I picked this up to reread because I've been watching the new Judge Dee's Mystery show on Netflix. It's definitely a very different experience, for sure, but I really enjoy both. The books in this series are European take on Ming era novels about a Tang era magistrate. Judge Dee shows up in a fair amount of media. He was an actual historical person, but is more of a folk hero at this point. Each novel has several different cases running concurrently, with Dee being one of the main active characters. Magistrates of that era were in charge of investigating crimes, as well as ruling on cases. The books are great fun to read!
paul_cornelius's review
5.0
Fun. Engrossing. Impossible to put down. This particular Judge Dee mystery is the best of the three I've so far read. Yes, somehow you mostly know who is guilty from very early on. But the joy is watching the judge work and even observe how he becomes shocked at realizations you've already come to. This like I suppose most of these Judge Dee novels is about process. But that doesn't mean the stories don't tantalize you. Not only that, but only three books in, Dee is becoming a character you're comfortable with, someone you can't wait to have over for yet another visit. One thing different I did notice this time, is that the dialogue and even narrative is much more slangy. At times, it sounds like Humphrey Bogart is talking. That separates this from the first two books I read, where Van Gulik pulls a neat trick to create a sense of distance and ancient China: he has Dee talk and think without the use of contractions--yes, this device works--and he uses older idioms instead of more modern ones. That is all out the window in Lacquer Screen. This is a novel that presents us with a Chinese Sam Spade.
roshk99's review
3.0
The setting is fantastic, not many mystery books are set in China. Judge Dee is a decent main character and the plot moved quickly. A good, short read.
casmirdonna's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
avera's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Es war sehr interessant, diese Geschichte des Richters Di aus dem alten China zu lesen. Das Konzept war zwar gut durchdacht und hatte Potenzial zur Spannung, allerdings ging es mir auf nur 200 Seiten bei so vielen Handlungssträngen etwas zu schnell. Dadurch war es teilweise kompliziert, einen Überblick für das große Ganze zu behalten. Trotzdem mochte ich die Lektüre gern, denn die Charaktere sind lebhaft und liebenswert.
bev_reads_mysteries's review
3.0
The Lacquer Screen by Robert Van Gulik was published in 1962, but is set in the China of about the 7th century. Van Gulik was not only a Dutch diplomat, but also a well-known authority on Chinese history and culture. He drew his background from Chinese literature of the period and used the actual historical figure of Judge Dee (Ti Jen-chieh or Di Renjie), a magistrate of the Tang court. This particular book finds his protagonist, Judge Dee, and his right-hand man Chiao Tai taking a break from magisterial duties and arriving incognito in the small town of Peng-lai. He pays a courtesy call on the senior magistrate of the town who is feeling quite unwell. Teng Kan, the magistrate, shows Judge Dee a beautiful lacquer screen that originally portrayed two lovers. Now it has been changed to show one lover stabbing the other. Teng Kan fears that he is going insane and is doomed to murder his wife as depicted on the screen. It seems he is right when Silver Lotus, the wife, is found murdered in the marshes. Judge Dee is determined to discover the truth of this murder and also finds himself involved in the death of a local banker. He continues to act undercover--even to the extent of insinuating himself into a gang of robbers--in order to get to the bottom of it all.
I have to admit that Van Gulik obviously knows his stuff. He produces the China of the period with great detail and flair and I fel as though I were really visiting a small town of the time period. He gets full marks for historical detail and atmosphere. He is also very adept at writing in what purports to be the style of the period. However, as I mentioned in my first review of his work, I just don't think the style of the period is for me. It's not that it's bad; it's just not that gripping and the method of building the story isn't quite to my liking. It's certainly not in the classic detective style where clues are paraded before the reader and misdirection is employed to lead us up the garden path. It's pretty obvious who killed Silver Lotus--but it's not quite so obvious what the motive is. But Judge Dee (who is perceptive enough to see all) will explain it to us. A middle-of-of the road read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
I have to admit that Van Gulik obviously knows his stuff. He produces the China of the period with great detail and flair and I fel as though I were really visiting a small town of the time period. He gets full marks for historical detail and atmosphere. He is also very adept at writing in what purports to be the style of the period. However, as I mentioned in my first review of his work, I just don't think the style of the period is for me. It's not that it's bad; it's just not that gripping and the method of building the story isn't quite to my liking. It's certainly not in the classic detective style where clues are paraded before the reader and misdirection is employed to lead us up the garden path. It's pretty obvious who killed Silver Lotus--but it's not quite so obvious what the motive is. But Judge Dee (who is perceptive enough to see all) will explain it to us. A middle-of-of the road read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
magic_zlatan's review against another edition
4.0
Πολύ ευχάριστο, έξυπνο κι ευκολοδιάβαστο βιβλίο. Πρώτη μου επαφή με τον Δικαστή Τι και ανυπομονώ να διαβάσω κι άλλες περιπέτειες του. Απλή γραφή με ενδιαφέροντα ιστορικά στοιχεία και άκρως συμπαθητικούς πρωταγωνιστές, τον δικαστή και τον ακόλουθο του. Σαν να έπαιζα, προ αμνημονεύτων ετών, το επιτραπέζιο 50 Μυστήρια στο Πεκίνο!
Βαθμολογία: 7,5/10
Βαθμολογία: 7,5/10
writerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is Judge Dee the undercover edition. While in vacations after a series of days of meetings with officials, the judge stops in a town where murder, fraud and déception are just below the surface. Dee and his trusted sergeant find the culprits despite being on Holiday.
van Gulik follows the traditional form of the medieval chinese tale and entertains the western reader without any problems.
These are classic mystery trope that van Gulik uses very well. It's a delight to read or revisit.
van Gulik follows the traditional form of the medieval chinese tale and entertains the western reader without any problems.
These are classic mystery trope that van Gulik uses very well. It's a delight to read or revisit.
cspiwak's review
4.0
Characters, provided you make allowances for the time and cultural differences, are likable. There is some humor and a nice , twisty mystery with even a slightly gothic flavor. Satisfying ending, as in all the judge dee I have read, with the good rewarded and the bad punished
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