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lynguy1's review against another edition
3.0
Thief of Souls by Bring Klingborg is a police procedural set in contemporary times in a rural township in Northern China. 3.5 stars rounded to 3 stars. The book opens with a call to Inspector Lu Fei (deputy chief) on his day off. The local Public Security Bureau station lets him know that there has been a murder.
Despite graduating from China’s top police college, Lu has been assigned to this rural community where calls are normally for the theft of a chicken or help with someone’s internet. What went wrong with his career? Lu’s character has depth and shows growth over the course of the book. He also has some character flaws that make him seem more realistic. How does he handle facing an old enemy?
Due to the nature of the death, Lu contacts the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Beijing. Superintendent Song, deputy director of the CIB and his team arrive to help. How well do different branches of police work together in China?
The author does a great job of giving the reader a sense of time and place as well as people. He is quite descriptive, but sometimes ‘tells’ rather than shows. However, I easily pictured the small patrol car coming to pick up Lu with Sergeant Bing and four constables already in it. He also provided a look at some of the legal and cultural differences in China versus the United States.
Interspersed throughout the book, the reader gets to hear the killer’s thoughts and actions. The author does a good job of not telling the reader who this is, but I did determine the killer by the halfway point. Themes include corruption, theft, murder, lies, stigmas attached to certain professions, and much more. Will you guess the unique reason for the murder?
The plot is well done with lots of unknowns and some twists. One of the fascinating things about this book was the interactions of the characters as the stakes got higher. Will you be surprised by some of the events? The ending was dramatic.
Overall, this book is entertaining and suspenseful. This is the first novel in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. I definitely want to read the next book in the series. If you like mysteries or police procedurals set in other countries, then you may enjoy this one as much as I did.
I received a digital copy of this book from the St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Brian Klingborg in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is scheduled for May 4, 2021.
Despite graduating from China’s top police college, Lu has been assigned to this rural community where calls are normally for the theft of a chicken or help with someone’s internet. What went wrong with his career? Lu’s character has depth and shows growth over the course of the book. He also has some character flaws that make him seem more realistic. How does he handle facing an old enemy?
Due to the nature of the death, Lu contacts the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Beijing. Superintendent Song, deputy director of the CIB and his team arrive to help. How well do different branches of police work together in China?
The author does a great job of giving the reader a sense of time and place as well as people. He is quite descriptive, but sometimes ‘tells’ rather than shows. However, I easily pictured the small patrol car coming to pick up Lu with Sergeant Bing and four constables already in it. He also provided a look at some of the legal and cultural differences in China versus the United States.
Interspersed throughout the book, the reader gets to hear the killer’s thoughts and actions. The author does a good job of not telling the reader who this is, but I did determine the killer by the halfway point. Themes include corruption, theft, murder, lies, stigmas attached to certain professions, and much more. Will you guess the unique reason for the murder?
The plot is well done with lots of unknowns and some twists. One of the fascinating things about this book was the interactions of the characters as the stakes got higher. Will you be surprised by some of the events? The ending was dramatic.
Overall, this book is entertaining and suspenseful. This is the first novel in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. I definitely want to read the next book in the series. If you like mysteries or police procedurals set in other countries, then you may enjoy this one as much as I did.
I received a digital copy of this book from the St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Brian Klingborg in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is scheduled for May 4, 2021.
jyaremchuk's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting procedural in a different setting from the usual Scotland, Scandinavia, Britain. Enjoyable characters and a sweet love interest angle.
sarahberry_reads's review against another edition
not interested in a white man's idea of china
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Thief of Souls (Inspector Lu Fei Mystery) by Brian Klingborg
I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in China and certainly not a modern day story. Inspector Lu Fei, who graduated from the police academy at the top of his class, has been exiled to a tiny rural town where nothing much happens. But Lu is happy here, he has his work, which he does with great attention to doing the job well, he has his drink and his favorite drinking location, a bar owned by a young widow. Unlike most men in his circumstances, he doesn't want a trophy wife, he wants to marry for love even if that means not ever marrying at all.
This is a dark story with explicit violence. The temps hover below freezing and even indoors can be freezing. When a woman is found murdered in her home, with her organs removed, the body is well preserved due to the temps. Outside help is summoned and Lu then has to answer to Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Politics play heavily in every aspect of life in China and that fact drives the investigation, whether it means ignoring the misdeeds of those in power or trying to railroad persons of interest into confessing something they might not have done. This is not Lu's way and he butts heads with Song, until they develop an uneasy partnership.
Soon, Lu is checking on other murders that are similar to the one in his town. Lu is a good cop but he's not adverse to finding the information he needs even if he has to slip through the cracks to get past his superiors. He wants to find the killer and he wants to keep more women from dying. We are there for the violence against women but also for the violence inflected on Lu by members of the police force who do not like him. I did see humor in the story at times but mostly I was sad at how hard things appear to be for the people and how much corruption thrives in the politics of the country and those who have power over others.
Pub May 4, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in China and certainly not a modern day story. Inspector Lu Fei, who graduated from the police academy at the top of his class, has been exiled to a tiny rural town where nothing much happens. But Lu is happy here, he has his work, which he does with great attention to doing the job well, he has his drink and his favorite drinking location, a bar owned by a young widow. Unlike most men in his circumstances, he doesn't want a trophy wife, he wants to marry for love even if that means not ever marrying at all.
This is a dark story with explicit violence. The temps hover below freezing and even indoors can be freezing. When a woman is found murdered in her home, with her organs removed, the body is well preserved due to the temps. Outside help is summoned and Lu then has to answer to Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Politics play heavily in every aspect of life in China and that fact drives the investigation, whether it means ignoring the misdeeds of those in power or trying to railroad persons of interest into confessing something they might not have done. This is not Lu's way and he butts heads with Song, until they develop an uneasy partnership.
Soon, Lu is checking on other murders that are similar to the one in his town. Lu is a good cop but he's not adverse to finding the information he needs even if he has to slip through the cracks to get past his superiors. He wants to find the killer and he wants to keep more women from dying. We are there for the violence against women but also for the violence inflected on Lu by members of the police force who do not like him. I did see humor in the story at times but mostly I was sad at how hard things appear to be for the people and how much corruption thrives in the politics of the country and those who have power over others.
Pub May 4, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
lgpiper's review against another edition
4.0
Basically, this is one of those police procedural books. Perhaps it's a bit hardboiled in that we have some crude language and sketchy situations.
But, there's a big difference from your garden-variety procedural: the action and events take place in northeast China, up near Mongolia. Yes, there is a large city nearby, Harban, but most of the activity takes place in a much smaller burg, Raven Valley Township. I don't know enough about modern China to know if the descriptions of life there is somewhat realistic, but I'm guessing the author did a decent job of research. Things feel realistic.
So, a young woman, Yang Fenfang, is found murdered in her house. She has also been eviscerated, i.e. her organs "harvested". In addition, her TV and laptop appear to have been stolen, and later on, we learn that she used to have a fancy pair of red shoes, which are also missing. The cops figure to finger a local, Zhang Zhaoxing, who seems to have had rather a fetish regarding Yang Fenfang. But Inspector Lu Fei isn't sure they guy has either the smarts to pull off the murder, nor the skills to do the evisceration, even though the guy worked as a butcher. So, he looks further afield.
It seems that Yang Fenfang had previously worked as a hostess of some sort in the large city near by, Harban. She had come home recently to help ease her mother's last days and prepare her for a proper funeral. In looking into the goings on in Harban, Inspector Lu discovers several similar murders of young women, each of whom were eviscerated, each of whom had some attachment to an item that was red, and each of whom had recently been involved in the funeral rights of a close family relative.
Well, no need to go on. It's a pretty engaging story which also involves a spot of romance, in that Inspector Lu Fei has become a bit soft on the young widow, Ms. Luo Yanyan, who is the owner of the Red Lotus, the bar where Inspector Lu likes to while away his idle hours drinking.
Assuming this novel turns out to be part of a series, I'll be looking forward to further adventures of Inspector Lu Fei.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley
But, there's a big difference from your garden-variety procedural: the action and events take place in northeast China, up near Mongolia. Yes, there is a large city nearby, Harban, but most of the activity takes place in a much smaller burg, Raven Valley Township. I don't know enough about modern China to know if the descriptions of life there is somewhat realistic, but I'm guessing the author did a decent job of research. Things feel realistic.
So, a young woman, Yang Fenfang, is found murdered in her house. She has also been eviscerated, i.e. her organs "harvested". In addition, her TV and laptop appear to have been stolen, and later on, we learn that she used to have a fancy pair of red shoes, which are also missing. The cops figure to finger a local, Zhang Zhaoxing, who seems to have had rather a fetish regarding Yang Fenfang. But Inspector Lu Fei isn't sure they guy has either the smarts to pull off the murder, nor the skills to do the evisceration, even though the guy worked as a butcher. So, he looks further afield.
It seems that Yang Fenfang had previously worked as a hostess of some sort in the large city near by, Harban. She had come home recently to help ease her mother's last days and prepare her for a proper funeral. In looking into the goings on in Harban, Inspector Lu discovers several similar murders of young women, each of whom were eviscerated, each of whom had some attachment to an item that was red, and each of whom had recently been involved in the funeral rights of a close family relative.
Well, no need to go on. It's a pretty engaging story which also involves a spot of romance, in that Inspector Lu Fei has become a bit soft on the young widow, Ms. Luo Yanyan, who is the owner of the Red Lotus, the bar where Inspector Lu likes to while away his idle hours drinking.
Assuming this novel turns out to be part of a series, I'll be looking forward to further adventures of Inspector Lu Fei.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
4 solid stars for an engrossing mystery set in rural Northern China. Raven Valley is 70 Kilometers from Harbin and Lu Fei is the Deputy Chief of the township PSB(Public Security Bureau) station. PSB is analogous to a Western Police Department. Winters in this area are very cold, and houses are poorly heated. Lu Fei gets a call on his night off, because the duty constable cannot find the chief. There has been a murder. Yang Fenfang has been found dead. She is from this small village but moved to Harbin several years ago. She returned to Raven Valley to care for her sick mom, who died just 1 week ago..
While the initial suspect is an ex boy friend of Yang Fenfang, there are many twists and turns in the plot. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end. I liked the characters, especially Lu Fei, a lonely, but dedicated policemen. Lu Fei calls this in to the Beijing PSB headquarters and Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau decides to bring his team to investigate. Song and Lu form an unlikely partnership. The PSB is riven with corruption and interfering politicians. How Lu manages to find the killer makes for a very good read. There is some side story about his non existent love life.
The author is an American who has studied Chinese literature at Harvard. He has done much research and portrays life in rural China authentically to this reader. I have only been to China once, as a tourist, but I have read other mysteries by Chinese authors. His description of Chinese customs and beliefs, particularly ancestor worship, ring true to me. The book is divided into days, as the investigation progresses.
Two quotes:
PSB entering a house: "Lu doesn't bother to knock. In the People's Republic, private property remains a loosely interpreted concept. He opens the door and yells, 'Public Security Bureau!"
Interrogation: "In the people's Republic, there is no legal 'right to remain silent" and no law that requires a lawyer to be present during initial police questioning, so Song launches right in."
I will read more of this author's books if he publishes more. I read this book in 3 days.
Thanks to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley
While the initial suspect is an ex boy friend of Yang Fenfang, there are many twists and turns in the plot. I was not sure who the killer was until near the end. I liked the characters, especially Lu Fei, a lonely, but dedicated policemen. Lu Fei calls this in to the Beijing PSB headquarters and Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau decides to bring his team to investigate. Song and Lu form an unlikely partnership. The PSB is riven with corruption and interfering politicians. How Lu manages to find the killer makes for a very good read. There is some side story about his non existent love life.
The author is an American who has studied Chinese literature at Harvard. He has done much research and portrays life in rural China authentically to this reader. I have only been to China once, as a tourist, but I have read other mysteries by Chinese authors. His description of Chinese customs and beliefs, particularly ancestor worship, ring true to me. The book is divided into days, as the investigation progresses.
Two quotes:
PSB entering a house: "Lu doesn't bother to knock. In the People's Republic, private property remains a loosely interpreted concept. He opens the door and yells, 'Public Security Bureau!"
Interrogation: "In the people's Republic, there is no legal 'right to remain silent" and no law that requires a lawyer to be present during initial police questioning, so Song launches right in."
I will read more of this author's books if he publishes more. I read this book in 3 days.
Thanks to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#ThiefofSouls #NetGalley
kaleenazagrzebski's review against another edition
3.0
Thief of Souls is a debut and new crime fiction series by Brian Klingborg that follows Lu Fei, a newly graduated police officer in China. After a young woman is found dead with her organs removed, Lu is determined to try and find the true killer, but the CID head is determined to pin it on the first available suspect.
The storyline of this book was intriguing to me; however, I found myself struggling to really become hooked and invested in the characters. I did find some of the political aspects and how the police force in China differs from that of the United States interesting (unsure how true this depiction is though) The book sped up a bit towards the end, but overall, I felt ‘meh’ towards it. I’ll look for the next book to come out by this author, but am undecided on if I will pick it up or not.
The storyline of this book was intriguing to me; however, I found myself struggling to really become hooked and invested in the characters. I did find some of the political aspects and how the police force in China differs from that of the United States interesting (unsure how true this depiction is though) The book sped up a bit towards the end, but overall, I felt ‘meh’ towards it. I’ll look for the next book to come out by this author, but am undecided on if I will pick it up or not.
azzurri's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
well written, crisp, tense. It draws you in and keeps you there. A true detective book without gimmicks. I ordered the next 2 books in the series halfway through this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Minor: Rape and Violence
zeeky63's review against another edition
3.0
Very well written. I was pleased that I couldn’t solve The “who did it?” question throughout the entire story. Most books I can figure out by the halfway point, but I really had to think about this story.
sarag19's review against another edition
4.0
***ARC received from Minatour Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***
I will admit, police procedural mysteries are not a book I would normally reach for but I do love reading books set in Asian setting and this does have an interesting premise and for the most part, it works.
We are introduced to Inspector Lu in a bar because all good leads in a detective (inspector) story has to have a vice. I really liked Lu he’s not a disgruntle disillusioned inspector, he’s a good guy that just wants to see justice for the victims. He’s not 100% by the books though but he isn’t about underhanded tactics or holding innocent people. Its an interesting comparison to others that he works with, many who are all about climbing the ladder so when a murder happens in his small town he is out to see justice done for the murder victim.
The first half of the book is easily the slowest, it has a good start and then slowly begins to drag. I felt at times like the author was more interested in giving backstory and trying to tell more than show. Its clear that the author has knowledge and respect for the Chinese culture but at times I felt like I was getting more of a history lesson than reading a story. Its very jarring to get dragged out of the story for a few paragraphs so you can get an explanation about how the government system works. Lu also quotes lots of sayings and it sometimes feels like an excuse to show the whole poem. This does settle down in the second half and feels more like a character trait. Its about at the half way point that the mystery really gets going and the book settles in with a little less telling and letting the story just flow more freely.
When we do get more explanations in the second half they feel more like a natural part of the story and I didn’t find myself getting pulled out as I did in the first half. Its really fun to learn many of the interesting histories regarding China and Lu’s view of them both positive and negative. One of the strongest points of the story is the dialogue and that was really what kept me interesting when the book began to drag for me. The characters each have a unique voice and the descriptions of the cramped setting of Raven Valley make the city come alive. I am looking forward to reading more on Inspector Lu.
I will admit, police procedural mysteries are not a book I would normally reach for but I do love reading books set in Asian setting and this does have an interesting premise and for the most part, it works.
We are introduced to Inspector Lu in a bar because all good leads in a detective (inspector) story has to have a vice. I really liked Lu he’s not a disgruntle disillusioned inspector, he’s a good guy that just wants to see justice for the victims. He’s not 100% by the books though but he isn’t about underhanded tactics or holding innocent people. Its an interesting comparison to others that he works with, many who are all about climbing the ladder so when a murder happens in his small town he is out to see justice done for the murder victim.
The first half of the book is easily the slowest, it has a good start and then slowly begins to drag. I felt at times like the author was more interested in giving backstory and trying to tell more than show. Its clear that the author has knowledge and respect for the Chinese culture but at times I felt like I was getting more of a history lesson than reading a story. Its very jarring to get dragged out of the story for a few paragraphs so you can get an explanation about how the government system works. Lu also quotes lots of sayings and it sometimes feels like an excuse to show the whole poem. This does settle down in the second half and feels more like a character trait. Its about at the half way point that the mystery really gets going and the book settles in with a little less telling and letting the story just flow more freely.
When we do get more explanations in the second half they feel more like a natural part of the story and I didn’t find myself getting pulled out as I did in the first half. Its really fun to learn many of the interesting histories regarding China and Lu’s view of them both positive and negative. One of the strongest points of the story is the dialogue and that was really what kept me interesting when the book began to drag for me. The characters each have a unique voice and the descriptions of the cramped setting of Raven Valley make the city come alive. I am looking forward to reading more on Inspector Lu.