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A review by amyteurhour
The Murder of Mr. Ma by S.J. Rozan, John Shen Yen Nee
3.5
Content warning: racism, racial slur, classism, xenophobia, colonialism, imperialism, PTSD, substance use (opium), substance dependence, infidelity, sexism, evangelicalism
This was entertaining, albeit a bit predictable--especially if you are familiar with the genre. I would classify this as being cozy-adjacent within the murder mystery genre (although not that cozy; there's lots of action scenes that give it a martial arts/wuxia feel). The authors also include quite a few heavier topics, but if you're looking for deep analysis or in-depth/nuanced social commentary don't be too surprised that you're unlikely to find it in a murder mystery novel. The pacing felt kind of wonky at times going from high action immediately to something mundane (although tbh I've been so sleep deprived lately that I can't remember any specific examples at this point). I enjoyed the audiobook read by Daniel York Loh.
Overall, my biggest criticism isn't even about the book/writing itself (and why this did not impact how I rated it), but rather how it's being marketed as Chinese Sherlock Holmes. I think is both a disservice to the actual historical figures Detective Dee and Lao She are based off of, as well pretty ironic that it parallels exactly what in-book Dee and Lao She find so frustrating about the British society they live in--where the British characters associate value with "Western" culture and ideals and dismiss/undervalue the history and tradition of other cultures. It's frustrating to read about how this is "tantalizingly new" and "groundbreaking", when honestly the story seems it could have been a period drama aired on CCTV or Hunan TV within the last few years (again, this comparison wasn't a con for me, just using it to illustrate my point about how the book is being promoted).
This was entertaining, albeit a bit predictable--especially if you are familiar with the genre. I would classify this as being cozy-adjacent within the murder mystery genre (although not that cozy; there's lots of action scenes that give it a martial arts/wuxia feel). The authors also include quite a few heavier topics, but if you're looking for deep analysis or in-depth/nuanced social commentary don't be too surprised that you're unlikely to find it in a murder mystery novel. The pacing felt kind of wonky at times going from high action immediately to something mundane (although tbh I've been so sleep deprived lately that I can't remember any specific examples at this point). I enjoyed the audiobook read by Daniel York Loh.
Overall, my biggest criticism isn't even about the book/writing itself (and why this did not impact how I rated it), but rather how it's being marketed as Chinese Sherlock Holmes. I think is both a disservice to the actual historical figures Detective Dee and Lao She are based off of, as well pretty ironic that it parallels exactly what in-book Dee and Lao She find so frustrating about the British society they live in--where the British characters associate value with "Western" culture and ideals and dismiss/undervalue the history and tradition of other cultures. It's frustrating to read about how this is "tantalizingly new" and "groundbreaking", when honestly the story seems it could have been a period drama aired on CCTV or Hunan TV within the last few years (again, this comparison wasn't a con for me, just using it to illustrate my point about how the book is being promoted).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, War, Classism