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A review by niakantorka
In the Dark: Volume 1 by Jin Shisi Chai
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is the first book of three and it delivered a great start into the story. I loved our MC Xie Lanshan. He’s a funny and kind-hearted cop as long as he doesn’t have to see blood through which his gruesome and mysterious past as the undercover second in command of a drug lord is triggered. If that happens he turns to this ice cold and frightening persona and I’m not sure if he’s got some form of split personality (or his mother who swears this guy is not her son).
And if that weren’t already a complex character his love interest (Shen Liufei) is even more mysterious and strange. You can see he’s got the hots for Xie Lanshan (same the other way around), but where Xie Lanshan accepts it and pursues Shen Liufei the latter sends out mixed signals or plain out rejects XLS. I know they have had a past encounter which Xie Lanshan only unconsciously remembers. Whatever has happened it wasn’t good because SLF is definitely a pissed off love interest right now.
Then there is Mu Kun our apparently psychopathic drug lord who didn’t die when Xie Lanshan toppled his drug empire in the golden triangle and who now seems to be less pretty than he was before and who is out for Xie Lanshan’s blood or body or both.
Yeah, excuse me while I hurry up to buy the next part(s).
The book was good but not perfect. Most of the crimes were foreseeable and especially at the beginning a bit slow in their development. Also, the reader hasn’t got much closer to solve the mystery between our two male protagonists. Anyway, this book has caught me hook, line, and sinker.
And if that weren’t already a complex character his love interest (Shen Liufei) is even more mysterious and strange. You can see he’s got the hots for Xie Lanshan (same the other way around), but where Xie Lanshan accepts it and pursues Shen Liufei the latter sends out mixed signals or plain out rejects XLS. I know they have had a past encounter which Xie Lanshan only unconsciously remembers. Whatever has happened it wasn’t good because SLF is definitely a pissed off love interest right now.
Then there is Mu Kun our apparently psychopathic drug lord who didn’t die when Xie Lanshan toppled his drug empire in the golden triangle and who now seems to be less pretty than he was before and who is out for Xie Lanshan’s blood or body or both.
Yeah, excuse me while I hurry up to buy the next part(s).
The book was good but not perfect. Most of the crimes were foreseeable and especially at the beginning a bit slow in their development. Also, the reader hasn’t got much closer to solve the mystery between our two male protagonists. Anyway, this book has caught me hook, line, and sinker.