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pendar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pillywiggin's review
5.0
This is absolutely the best Inspector Chen book so far. I am reading them in order of publication, so hopefully more really good mysteries are yet to come.
jess92's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
roshk99's review against another edition
4.0
The best part about this book is that it gives the reader a window into the culture and history of China, especially suring the time of Mao. All the little details about the poltics and history just make it all the more interesting, considering that there are not many books set in this cultural or historical time frame
margaretefg's review against another edition
3.0
This time, Inspector Chen has to solve a puzzle relating to something potentially damaging to Mao's reputation, a case an important Party official wants him to undertake. He's not sure whether he supports the Party's line, and then there are all kinds of tangled connections...to Mao, to Shanghai in the 30s, to real estate deals in the New China and, inevitably, to the Cultural Revolution. Chen puzzles through the case (and sort of addresses his love life or lack thereof) with his usual wry attitude and plenty of quotations from poetry.
mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
Chen gets a politically important case connected to Mao to solve. This one is kind of vague at the beginning, with a classic MacGuffin and everything. Yu and Old Hunter make appearances, though regrettably there is no Overseas Chinese Lu. But the supporting characters don't seem to have all that much to do.
As usual, Chen works to solve the case with his usual combination of doggedness in the face of duty, guangxi and thinking about poetry.
Chen finds himself stuck in small rooms from time to time. Not quite sure why. Anyway, looking forward to moving on to the next entry in the series.
Revision: OK, I added one more star on further thought. My Chinese history knowledge is not very encyclopedic, but the amount of criticism of Mao in this story is pretty constant and extensive. I wish I knew more to put it in context. In that sense, you could almost say this is kind of Qiu's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in it's criticism, just without the overwriting and heavy-handed symbolism.
As usual, Chen works to solve the case with his usual combination of doggedness in the face of duty, guangxi and thinking about poetry.
Chen finds himself stuck in small rooms from time to time. Not quite sure why. Anyway, looking forward to moving on to the next entry in the series.
Revision: OK, I added one more star on further thought. My Chinese history knowledge is not very encyclopedic, but the amount of criticism of Mao in this story is pretty constant and extensive. I wish I knew more to put it in context. In that sense, you could almost say this is kind of Qiu's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in it's criticism, just without the overwriting and heavy-handed symbolism.
saiita's review against another edition
The writing is fine but I didn't care for the story. Also didn't know this was a part of a series until now and I don't like reading stuff out of order if I can avoid it.
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Chen is a chief inspector detective in Shanghai, China. He's also an amateur poet/writer, and a man nursing a broken heart. He's called by higher ups to investigate a young woman who's grandmother is believed/presumed to have had a sexual relationship with Chairman Mao, back in the day, before the Cultural Revolution destroyed her and her daughter. Party leaders believe that the granddaughter, Jiao, has some relic from Mao that could be embarassing to Mao and the Communist party. Chen is given a chance to investigate and figure out what it is before Internal Security takes "extreme measures."
I was interested by how much the memory of Mao continues to haunt Chinese politics. People are murdered and persecuted because of an imagined potential connection. Even Chen is potentially at risk, simply because he is being asked to investigate a case that may involve some former, potentially compromising, possession of Mao's that the grandmother may have acquired.
I found Mao's hypocrisy intriguing, as he tore down everything related to Imperial China, and then established himself as a man as powerful as any emperor ever was. In reading this book, the difference to me between any rotton American president and an actual dictator is made crystal clear.
Also clear is the difference in Chinese poetry and Western traditional poetry. I've never been a big fan of poetry anyway, but the poetry in this book pushes my pitiful tolerance to its absolute limits.
I was interested by how much the memory of Mao continues to haunt Chinese politics. People are murdered and persecuted because of an imagined potential connection. Even Chen is potentially at risk, simply because he is being asked to investigate a case that may involve some former, potentially compromising, possession of Mao's that the grandmother may have acquired.
I found Mao's hypocrisy intriguing, as he tore down everything related to Imperial China, and then established himself as a man as powerful as any emperor ever was. In reading this book, the difference to me between any rotton American president and an actual dictator is made crystal clear.
Also clear is the difference in Chinese poetry and Western traditional poetry. I've never been a big fan of poetry anyway, but the poetry in this book pushes my pitiful tolerance to its absolute limits.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the mystery in this one. Finally! *laughs* Although I'd like that there were fewer women horribly killed. Just saying.
But still, it's the deep recount of the effects of political change in people's lives that shines for me.
Chen's state of mind is getting worse, as he is doing nothing to deal with it. And yes, I know he has told us that there is no therapy in China, but still... something!
But even with all my complaints, I really liked it *laughs*
And, as this is the last audiobook I have of this series, so I'll take the chance to take a break from it.
But still, it's the deep recount of the effects of political change in people's lives that shines for me.
Chen's state of mind is getting worse, as he is doing nothing to deal with it. And yes, I know he has told us that there is no therapy in China, but still... something!
But even with all my complaints, I really liked it *laughs*
And, as this is the last audiobook I have of this series, so I'll take the chance to take a break from it.
kuub's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
For me the most interesting thing was the glumpse into Chilessä historia and politics. Also liked the way poetry was used in the investigating the crime