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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book from the fine folks at goodreads through their giveaway program early last year and finally got around to reading it.
This non-fiction tale of murder and intrigue takes place in Peking in the early 20th century. The book Tells of the investigation into the murder of 20-year-old Pamela Werner. Pamela's Mutilated body was found one morning by the Fox Tower. Investigators attempted to uncover the truth about how she died and are blocked by various higher ups.
I found this book to be very readable and not bogged down with lots of tedious details. It's in a similar vein to Devil in the White city and midnight in the Garden of good and evil... two other nonfiction works that I enjoyed.
This non-fiction tale of murder and intrigue takes place in Peking in the early 20th century. The book Tells of the investigation into the murder of 20-year-old Pamela Werner. Pamela's Mutilated body was found one morning by the Fox Tower. Investigators attempted to uncover the truth about how she died and are blocked by various higher ups.
I found this book to be very readable and not bogged down with lots of tedious details. It's in a similar vein to Devil in the White city and midnight in the Garden of good and evil... two other nonfiction works that I enjoyed.
megmoo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
The writing is quite dry for the first half, a reporting of the facts, but the pace picks up in the latter half. Goodness bless Pamela and E.T.C Werner.
claudiamccarron's review against another edition
4.0
Like a lot of my favorite true crime, Midnight in Peking uses the murder as a jumping-off point to explore a fascinating time in history. Its also beautifully structured, starting out as detective story and turning into a family drama as Pamela's father picks up where the investigation left off. Sparked my interest in China during the world wars, and I would love to read more set during this period.
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
I have read several nonfiction books recently and they really intrigued me into checking this genre out more. That is why I wanted to check out Midnight in Peking. I thought the unsolved murder of a young Pamela Werner sounded intriguing. I was not the only one as Mr. French was also intrigued by Pamela’s story and felt that he wanted to research her story himself and see if he could once again give Pamela a voice.
Pamela was the daughter of E.T.C. Werner, a former British consul at Foochow. Back in 1937, Pamela’s body was found lying on the ground near the Fox Tower outside the Legation Quarter. Pamela was almost unrecognizable due to all the stab wounds. In addition, her abdomen was spilt open with her heart and other organs removed and her clothing ripped to shreds. British Chief Detective Dennis and Chinese Detective Han work to try and solve the murder of Pamela. Unfortunately, Pamela’s body is laid to rest and her case is closed.
While, I did find Pamela’s murder interesting, especially how another country handles their protocol for solving murders. I must admit that I did struggle to get through this book. I started it and than had to put it down and read something else before going back to it. This book kind of felt like a non/fiction book versus just a non fiction book. What with the fox spirits and such that this culture believes in. Also, it felt like it was really important to inform the reader about China and the detectives and their lives. Not a lot was shared about Pamela. Her story was intertwined in bits and pieces through out this book.
Pamela was the daughter of E.T.C. Werner, a former British consul at Foochow. Back in 1937, Pamela’s body was found lying on the ground near the Fox Tower outside the Legation Quarter. Pamela was almost unrecognizable due to all the stab wounds. In addition, her abdomen was spilt open with her heart and other organs removed and her clothing ripped to shreds. British Chief Detective Dennis and Chinese Detective Han work to try and solve the murder of Pamela. Unfortunately, Pamela’s body is laid to rest and her case is closed.
While, I did find Pamela’s murder interesting, especially how another country handles their protocol for solving murders. I must admit that I did struggle to get through this book. I started it and than had to put it down and read something else before going back to it. This book kind of felt like a non/fiction book versus just a non fiction book. What with the fox spirits and such that this culture believes in. Also, it felt like it was really important to inform the reader about China and the detectives and their lives. Not a lot was shared about Pamela. Her story was intertwined in bits and pieces through out this book.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
3.0
China expert French’s historical whodunnit is a noirish true-crimer. A British schoolgirl is gruesomely murdered in 1937 Peking against the backdrop of a looming Japanese invasion & the onset of WWII. The murder remains unsolved—but not according to French. He uses newspapers, court records & the dad’s own sleuthing to crack the case. Journalistically, the recreations—including the murder scene itself—are questionable, to say the least. He’s also eager to show off his geographical mastery of the city—every rickshaw route, brothel & dive bar. Not uninteresting, but repetitive. There’s only enough material for half a book.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
4.0
At the end of MIDNIGHT IN PEKING, French writes "I first read of Pamela Werner in a biography of the American journalist Edgar Snow, whose best selling RED STAR OVER CHINA introduced the world to Mao Tse-tung in the late 1930s. A footnote made reference to Edgar's wife Helen feeling nervous after Pamela's mutilated body was found not far from the Snows' house in Peking....". I'm guessing it's not everyone who would turn such a footnote into an indepth investigation and analysis of a case, although this is a particularly fascinating case.
MIDNIGHT IN PEKING is a combination of what happened, analysis of the police investigation, and guide to 1937 Peking. The book takes the reader into the intricacies of the foreign Legation Quarter, and the lives that the areas inhabitants lived, surrounded by the poorer areas of Peking, on the verge of the Japanese invasion of China.
Whilst the investigation into the death of Werner was never officially resolved, her case garnered a very high profile - her father was a long-time resident and former British Consul in China, an interesting, complex man. Local police were assigned to the case, as well as a representative of the British Law Enforcement authorities, although everything was complicated by the us and them nature of the society within and external to the special Legation Quarter - the walled city if you like - where foreign nationals lived a privileged, materially spoilt, but rather confined lifestyle.
Long past the official investigation being abandoned, Pamela's father, E.T.C. Werner, continued his own efforts to bring her killer to justice, and it is partially his writings on the subject that the author uses in discussing the various aspects of the case, as well as the likely killer and their motivations. Based on those writings, correspondence, police reports and newspaper articles, this book carefully pieces together the life and death of one woman, and the society and circumstances in which it occurred.
This doesn't mean that the book reads like an historical overhaul of the facts, the story is beautifully put together, bringing not just Peking from that period to life, but many of the people who populated the place and time. MIDNIGHT IN PEKING is really a very fascinating book - whilst it's definitely a book about a crime that happened, it's also a glimpse into a period of history and a place that's so very different from the way it is now. It's also a story about a series of people who tried to do the right thing, and a few that obviously weren't quite as genuine as they may have seemed.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/midnight-peking-paul-french
MIDNIGHT IN PEKING is a combination of what happened, analysis of the police investigation, and guide to 1937 Peking. The book takes the reader into the intricacies of the foreign Legation Quarter, and the lives that the areas inhabitants lived, surrounded by the poorer areas of Peking, on the verge of the Japanese invasion of China.
Whilst the investigation into the death of Werner was never officially resolved, her case garnered a very high profile - her father was a long-time resident and former British Consul in China, an interesting, complex man. Local police were assigned to the case, as well as a representative of the British Law Enforcement authorities, although everything was complicated by the us and them nature of the society within and external to the special Legation Quarter - the walled city if you like - where foreign nationals lived a privileged, materially spoilt, but rather confined lifestyle.
Long past the official investigation being abandoned, Pamela's father, E.T.C. Werner, continued his own efforts to bring her killer to justice, and it is partially his writings on the subject that the author uses in discussing the various aspects of the case, as well as the likely killer and their motivations. Based on those writings, correspondence, police reports and newspaper articles, this book carefully pieces together the life and death of one woman, and the society and circumstances in which it occurred.
This doesn't mean that the book reads like an historical overhaul of the facts, the story is beautifully put together, bringing not just Peking from that period to life, but many of the people who populated the place and time. MIDNIGHT IN PEKING is really a very fascinating book - whilst it's definitely a book about a crime that happened, it's also a glimpse into a period of history and a place that's so very different from the way it is now. It's also a story about a series of people who tried to do the right thing, and a few that obviously weren't quite as genuine as they may have seemed.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/midnight-peking-paul-french
mwgerard's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book. Win a copy here: http://mwgerard.com/giveaway-midnight-in-peking/
spaulk57's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about the horrific murder of a young girl living in 1937 China. There’s interesting family, colonial pre-Communist China, Japanese invasion and WWII historical background information. If true crime and history are your jam, this is a book for you.