A review by skconaghan
The Interior by Lisa See

adventurous challenging informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Social justice and human rights are at the core of this 90s cross-culture thriller that binds a Chinese inspector and an American lawyer in a web of lies and misinformation that stack layer upon layer to hide the truth about child labour and inhumane conditions in the American factories operating on Chinese soil. 

The characters are a mesh of peasants and Red Royalty, privileged city dwellers, hardworking simple farmers, the internationally educated, the indignant, and the benign, peppered with unethical journalism that justifies itself by standing upon pop-righteousness as the voice of amnesty and humanity—and the mystery remains about who is doing the murdering and why… 

Political and social issues are raised surrounding the westernisation of China, and the people are divided in their sentiments. The uprising that rails against an oppressive patriarchal legacy bathed in both communism and capitalism, and yet influenced to change by neither, is slowly gathering, despite the opposition. The novel weaves a plot of deception around very real issues that plague both Chinese and American history and current culture, issues that still have relevance these 20+ years beyond the writing of this story. And no one comes out innocent in the exposé.

Looking forward to reading the third instalment in this series.